Alan Towe’s The Line On Darts
One hundred of the scheduled one hundred and twenty eight players turned out for the finals of the Riley’s Masters competition staged at Riley’s, Wolverhampton and with players taking part from around the country, plus a top prize of £1,000 it turned out to be a fantastic day of darts.
In the best of eleven legs the first of the semi finals saw Phil Daniels from Wales take on Evesham’s Mike Marshall, the result, a 6-2 win for Daniels, the second of the last four play off’s was a closer affair between Richie Edhouse, from Essex and West Midlands star Ian Jones. The game went to the penultimate leg before a verdict was achieved, Edhouse getting the better of the 6-4 result to book his final spot.
The final, between Phil Daniels and Richie Edhouse was extended to the best of thirteen legs and like the second semi final went to the last but one leg before a decision was reached, again it was Edhouse who got the result, a 7-5 win plus the title and £1,000 prize money. As runner up Daniels received £550, the losing semi finalists, Mike Marshall and Ian Jones each received £230.>
The quarter finalists, Conan Whitehead, James Richardson, Gary Swann and Rob Alford each picked up £85, there was £50 each for Mark Wilson, Lionel Sams, Simon Rammage, Liam Kipling, Mark Westgarth, Paul Rowe, Stuart Lowe and Jason Mold, all losers in the last sixteen, and finally for reaching the last thirty two there was £35 for Paul Daniels, Mick Malone, Mark Barilli, Nick Fullwell, Jason Lovett, Stuart Graham, Dave Solly, Dave Ladley, Andy Roberts, Barrie Webb, Mark Carter, Lee Hanley, Dennis Harbour, Sam Head, Scott Ridler and Stewart Ritchie.
Another Riley’s event is planned in August with qualifying rounds to be played around the country, each winning qualifier to collect £260 and the runner up £100, losing semi finalists £40 and losing quarter finalists £15. The last four from each venue will then qualify for the national finals on the 23rd November, which will be staged at the Riley’s Club in Wolverhampton.
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With the Ripley Elite Darts Singles League at the half way stage of the season both divisions are wide open, the premier is headed by the only undefeated player in the league Daz Brown, who has won all twelve of his games at the time of going to print.
Ash Spencer has been in impressive form and is on the same 47 points as Brown, but he has played one game more. Third placed Pete Slater is still in the mix having lost just twice in his thirteen games and is on 44 points. Brian Kirk and Dave Allcock, who is playing some of his best ever darts are both on 40 points, Kirk having played 14 games.
Young Aden Kirk is a few points adrift but has games in hand over all above him and another player who is currently lying in sixteenth position out of twenty five players is Gary Fenn, who has only played eight games so far and will almost certainly be in the mix come the end of the campaign.
The most 180’s so far is eleven, held by Paul Baker, while the highest finish of 161 was supplied by Pete Slater. Eleven is the least darts and that feat has been achieved by Ash Spencer and Pete Slater. Best average to date is 32.11 by Gary Fenn.
Currently any one of three players could win the division one title, Steve Pashley, who is the current leader on 51 points, followed by Dean Allsopp on 48 and in third spot the Derbyshire legend Jim Beardmore with 46.
On the personal achievement side Dean Allsopp and Tony Jacklin have both hit six maximums, while Jim Beardmore holds the highest finish of 140. Dean Allsopp adds to his highest score with the best average of 28.46 and also the least darts which is twelve.
With lots of twists and turns expected before the end of the season it’s anyone’s guess who will finish top of either division.
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The Raven, Hodge Hill, Birmingham was the venue to stage the annual Dougie Bowen Memorial Trophy and scooping the title with a final victory over Dave Mortiboys was Wayne Mynard. The champion raced through his rounds dropping just one leg in the competition up to the semi finals. In the preliminary round he won 2-1 against Alan Blythe, he followed that up with wins over M.Earl (2-0) and A.Bowen (2-0) before beating Robbie Earl 3-2 in the last four. The final score was a straight 4-0 to Mynard, with Mortiboys runner up.
Full Results:Preliminary Round:- A.Blythe 1 W.Mynard 2, T.Blakemore 2 K.Bowen 0, G.Taylor 0 M.Earl 2, Round One:- D.Baldock 2 S.Grayson 1, D.Mortiboys 2 K.O’Donnell 0, T.Blakemore 0 M.O’Donnell 2, S.O’Donnell 2 S.Bowen 0, B.Grayson 1 A.Bowen 2, M.Earl 0 W.Mynard 2, K.Alford 0 W.Bowen 2, R.Earl 2 M.Wright 0, Round Two:- D.Baldock – D.Mortiboys 2, M.O’Donnell 1 S.O’Donnell 2, A.Bowen 0 W.Mynard 2, W.Bowen 1 R.Earl 2, Semi Finals:- D.Mortiboys 3 S.O’Donnell 1, W.Mynard 3 R.Earl 2, Final:- W.Mynard 4 D.Mortiboys 0.
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With many league’s coming to the end of their season cup matches have taken over and in the Tamworth League the latest has been the doubles knockout, which with a final success against Sam Whittaker and Simon Caswell, it was Alan Carter and Martin Edwards who took the title. Losing semi finalist were, Paul Butler and Simon Adcock, who lost out to Carter and Edwards, and Darren Hunt and Ron Hunt.
Full Results:- Round One:->Martin Watts & Phil Jones - bye, Pete Taft & Dave Aucote beat. Dave Tallis & Jamie Hopkins, Dave Jones & Wayne Deeley – bye, Paul Butler & Simon Adcock Bt. Paul Richards & Daz Morris, Baz Wright & John Lewin – bye, Alan Carter & Martin Edwards beat Debbie Tallis & Mandy Evans, Mark DeLeon & Simon Smith – bye, Mac Tarbuck & Mark Tomlinson beat Andy Woods & James Richardson, Martin Young & Chris Young – bye, Darren Hunt & Ron Hunt beat Simon Shorthouse & Lee Kirkham, Andy Brennan & Grant Harris – bye, Clyde Hooper & Paul Smallwood beat Steve Taft & Rob Taft, Trevor Barrs & Chris Purkiss – bye, Sam Whittaker & Simon Caswell beat Terry Luke & Steve Marshall, Geggy Wright & Paul Thompson – bye, Kevin Clubley & Darren Massey beat Keith Smith & Dave Owen, Round Two:- Martin Watts & Phil Jones beat Pete Taft & Dave Aucote, Paul Butler & Simon Adcock beat Dave Jones & Wayne Deeley, Alan Carter & Martin Edwards beat Baz Wright & John Lewin, Mark DeLeon & Simon Smith beat Mac Tarbuck & Mark Tomlinson, Darren Hunt & Ron Hunt beat Martin Young & Chris Young, Clyde Hooper & Paul Smallwood beat Andy Brennan & Grant Harris, Sam Whittaker & Simon Caswell beat Trevor Barrs & Chris Purkiss, Kevin Clubley & Darren Massey beat Geggy Wright & Paul Thompson, Quarter Finals:- Paul Butler & Simon Adcock beat Martin Watts & Phil Jones, Alan Carter & Martin Edwards beat Mark DeLeon & Simon Smith, Darren Hunt & Ron Hunt beat Clyde Hooper & Paul Smallwood, Sam Whittaker & Simon Caswell beat Kevin Clubley & Darren Massey, Semi Finals:- Alan Carter & Martin Edwards beat Paul Butler & Simon Adcock, Sam Whittaker & Simon Caswell beat Darren Hunt & Ron Hunt, Final:- Alan Carter & Martin Edwards beat Sam Whittaker & Simon Caswell.
Three Horse Shoes won the league title with Old Liberal House runners up. The players league title went to Tam O’Shanter’s Paul Smallwood, who with 36 points was three ahead of Mark DeLeon from the Anchor Inn.
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The Tettenhall Wednesday Night League played off their singles competition and it was Wednesfield FC man Mick Baker who picked up the winner’s silverware after a final win over Nathan Morris from Riley’s ‘A’.
Losing semi finalists were Charlie Atkins (Riley’s ‘A’) and Jon Cunningham (Moreton), while Phil Mayo (Riley’s ‘B’), Rob Morris (Wednesfield FC), Paul Millington (Bull) and Sam Guest (Whitmore Reans WMC) all made their exits in the quarter finals.
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The Aston League have completed their season and what a climax it turned out to be. Finishing as champions were Riley’s with 36 points, Red Lion were runners up just two points behind the winners.
Riley’s won the title in style as they had to play their nearest rivals, Red Lion in the final game of the season, which with both teams on 34 points was always going to be the title decider. The result was a 6-3 win for the hosts, Riley’s.
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Riley’s Kings are champions of division one in the newly formed South Birmingham League. King’s finished with a total of 26 points from 14 games, four ahead of runners up Mackadown Social.
The division two championship was won by Pavilions, who with 30 points ended the campaign two points to the good on second placed Centurion.
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The Divisional Cup finals have been played off in the Pip Club League. In the division one final Bulls Head (Polesworth) beat Dosthill Club and it was good news for Belgrave Club in the division two play off as they accounted for Travellers to take the title.
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