Darts News – Alan Towe’s The Line On Darts – Shropshire v Bedfordshire
This was a vital fixture for both Shropshire and Bedfordshire as both teams were languishing at the foot of division three in the Riley’s BDO Inter County Champions. A win could well be the difference between relegation and survival at the end of the season Saturday’s ladies game began brightly for the home side, Katharine McLean beating Irene Maddy 3-0. However, the lead was quickly reversed as Charlotte Tyler and Hayley Jordan in turn defeated Sue Lane and Caroline La-Ffin. Wendy Talbot (Shropshire), with a lady of the match performance levelled the match with her straight 3-0 win over Jo Dilley and an average of 15.82. That win then turned out to be the last one the home team would get as Katy Baldwin beat Elaine Banks 3-0 and securing a 4-2 win for Bedfordshire was their award winner Sue Smith (18.18), who won 3-2 against Lorna Wheatley.
The men’s ‘B’ were fast off the mark as in double quick time they were 2-0 up with straight 3-0 wins from man of the match Andy Richardson (24.64) and Scott Pitchford, who beat respective opponents Steve Simpson and Tony McElhone.
Ian Woodcock was Bedforshire’s first winner, a 3-1 success against Nathan Storar and cancelling out the hosts lead was the visitor’s award winner Frank Raleigh (22.78) with a 3-0 win over Danny Humphries.
Shropshire now moved up a gear and starting a run of five wins was Roger Taylor with a 3-1 win over Kelvin Maddy. Then came, Shane Knight, who beat Colin Essam 3-2, John Breeze won 3-1 against Billy Rhodes, Andy Powell was a 3-2 winner in his tie with Mark Kingdon and taking the score along to a match winning 7-2 lead was Andi Chatter who accounted for Ben Christmas with a 3-1 scoreline.
With the result beyond Bedfordshire’s reach Avter Bahra reduced the deficit with his 3-1 win against Phil Austin, only to see the last two games go to Shropshire when Brian Hickman beat Paul Riley 3-1 and by the same margin anchor man Simon Pritchard beat David Broome taking the result to 9-3 and giving the hosts an overall 11-7 lead at the end of the first day.
Eight winning games from the ‘A’ teams was what was now required for a priceless win Shropshire so desperately required and that requirement was halved by courtesy of the ladies. The opening game went to Bedfordshire’s Lisa Perkins, who beat Deana Worrall 3-0. But then Pam Evans won 3-1 against Marie Goddard and Pam Jones (17.51) took the match award with a similar 3-1 result over Maria Perrin.
Shirley Williams had a 3-1 win against Mandy Morgan to momentarily square the game, but two further 3-1 wins from Michele Pritchard and Leanne Loveridge over Kerry King and Becky Minney gave the hosts a 4-2 win.
The opening seven games of the men’s ‘A’ game all went against the first throw advantage. Home player Darryl Sheldon won the opener against Bobby Lee 4-2 only to see his lead cancelled out by Mat Castle, who won a close 4-3 against Brian Hickman. Simon Pritchard was on at number three for Shropshire, promoted from the ‘B’ team after his fine 3-1 success the previous day and rewarded the selector’s faith with a great 4-1 win over Roger Hillyer. With winning legs of 13,15,20 and 21 Simon won the match award with a 26.65 average. For a second time the lead was erased, this time it was Lloyd White (27.18), Bedfordshire’s man of the match who levelled the game, a 4-1 win over John Cooper.
Restoring the home sides advantage in game five was Danny James, who beat Lee Rose 4-1, and in the fourth consecutive 4-1 result Trevor Ellacott won against Richard Parker to take the score along to 3-3.
Eddie Austin was Shropshire’s fourth player to give them the lead, a 4-3 win over his namesake Eddie Martin before the sequence was broken. Dan Astbury was the player to break the run, his 4-3 win over Carl Yeowell putting the home side 5-3 up.
Unfortunately then for the hosts it all went a little pear shaped as their visitors rattled off four wins in a row. Steven Spring began the run with his 4-2 win against Kevin Harris, Lionel Sams had a similar win in his tie
with Mark Jones and with two more wins from Andy Moser and Barry Davies against Neville Quinton and Clive Lucking the result was a close 7-4 win for the away side. However, it was not all doom and gloom as the overall result for the weekend was a tremendous 20-16 to Shropshire, which may, may be a life saver at the end of the season. Full Results:Shropshire names first):Men’s ‘A’:- Darryl Sheldon 4 Bobby Lee 2, Brian Hickman 3 Mat castle 4, Simon Pritchard 4 Roger Hillyer 1, John Cooper 1 Lloyd Wintle 4, Danny James 4 Lee Rose 1, Richard Parker 1 Trevor Ellacott 4, Eddie Austin 4 Eddie Martin 3, Dan Astbury 4 Carl Yeowell 3, Kevin Harris 2 Steven Spring 4, Mark Jones 2 Lionel Sams 4, Neville Quinton 1 Andy Moser 4, Clive Lucking 2 Barry Davies 4, Men’s ‘B’:- Andy Richardson 3 Steve Simpson 0, Scott Pitchford 3 Tony McElhone 0, Nathan Storar 1 Ian Woodcock 3, Danny Humphries 2 Frank Raleigh 3, Roger Taylor 3 Kelvin Maddy 1, Shane Knight 3 Colin Essam 2, John Breeze 3 Billy Rhodes 1, Andy Powell 3Mark Kingdon 2, Andi Chatter 3Ben Christmas 1, Phil Austin 1 Avter Bahra 3, Brian Hickman 3 Paul Riley 1, Simon Pritchard 1, Women’s ‘A’:- Deanne Worrall 0 Lisa Perkins 3, Pam Evans 3 Marie Goddard 1, Pam Jones 3 Maria Perrin1, Mandy Morgan 1 Shirley Williams 3, Michelle Pritchard 3 Kerry King 1, Leanne Loveridge 3 Becky Minney 1, Women’s ‘B’:- Katherine McLean 3 Irene Maddy 0, Sue Lane 0 Charlotte Tyler 3, Caroline La-Ffin 2 Hayley Jordan 3, Wendy Talbot 3 Jo Dilley 0, Elaine Banks 1 Katy Baldwin
The men’s ‘B’ were fast off the mark as in double quick time they were 2-0 up with straight 3-0 wins from man of the match Andy Richardson (24.64) and Scott Pitchford, who beat respective opponents Steve Simpson and Tony McElhone.
Ian Woodcock was Bedforshire’s first winner, a 3-1 success against Nathan Storar and cancelling out the hosts lead was the visitor’s award winner Frank Raleigh (22.78) with a 3-0 win over Danny Humphries.
Shropshire now moved up a gear and starting a run of five wins was Roger Taylor with a 3-1 win over Kelvin Maddy. Then came, Shane Knight, who beat Colin Essam 3-2, John Breeze won 3-1 against Billy Rhodes, Andy Powell was a 3-2 winner in his tie with Mark Kingdon and taking the score along to a match winning 7-2 lead was Andi Chatter who accounted for Ben Christmas with a 3-1 scoreline.
With the result beyond Bedfordshire’s reach Avter Bahra reduced the deficit with his 3-1 win against Phil Austin, only to see the last two games go to Shropshire when Brian Hickman beat Paul Riley 3-1 and by the same margin anchor man Simon Pritchard beat David Broome taking the result to 9-3 and giving the hosts an overall 11-7 lead at the end of the first day.
Eight winning games from the ‘A’ teams was what was now required for a priceless win Shropshire so desperately required and that requirement was halved by courtesy of the ladies. The opening game went to Bedfordshire’s Lisa Perkins, who beat Deana Worrall 3-0. But then Pam Evans won 3-1 against Marie Goddard and Pam Jones (17.51) took the match award with a similar 3-1 result over Maria Perrin.
Shirley Williams had a 3-1 win against Mandy Morgan to momentarily square the game, but two further 3-1 wins from Michele Pritchard and Leanne Loveridge over Kerry King and Becky Minney gave the hosts a 4-2 win.
The opening seven games of the men’s ‘A’ game all went against the first throw advantage. Home player Darryl Sheldon won the opener against Bobby Lee 4-2 only to see his lead cancelled out by Mat Castle, who won a close 4-3 against Brian Hickman. Simon Pritchard was on at number three for Shropshire, promoted from the ‘B’ team after his fine 3-1 success the previous day and rewarded the selector’s faith with a great 4-1 win over Roger Hillyer. With winning legs of 13,15,20 and 21 Simon won the match award with a 26.65 average. For a second time the lead was erased, this time it was Lloyd White (27.18), Bedfordshire’s man of the match who levelled the game, a 4-1 win over John Cooper.
Restoring the home sides advantage in game five was Danny James, who beat Lee Rose 4-1, and in the fourth consecutive 4-1 result Trevor Ellacott won against Richard Parker to take the score along to 3-3.
Eddie Austin was Shropshire’s fourth player to give them the lead, a 4-3 win over his namesake Eddie Martin before the sequence was broken. Dan Astbury was the player to break the run, his 4-3 win over Carl Yeowell putting the home side 5-3 up.
Unfortunately then for the hosts it all went a little pear shaped as their visitors rattled off four wins in a row. Steven Spring began the run with his 4-2 win against Kevin Harris, Lionel Sams had a similar win in his tie
with Mark Jones and with two more wins from Andy Moser and Barry Davies against Neville Quinton and Clive Lucking the result was a close 7-4 win for the away side. However, it was not all doom and gloom as the overall result for the weekend was a tremendous 20-16 to Shropshire, which may, may be a life saver at the end of the season. Full Results:Shropshire names first):Men’s ‘A’:- Darryl Sheldon 4 Bobby Lee 2, Brian Hickman 3 Mat castle 4, Simon Pritchard 4 Roger Hillyer 1, John Cooper 1 Lloyd Wintle 4, Danny James 4 Lee Rose 1, Richard Parker 1 Trevor Ellacott 4, Eddie Austin 4 Eddie Martin 3, Dan Astbury 4 Carl Yeowell 3, Kevin Harris 2 Steven Spring 4, Mark Jones 2 Lionel Sams 4, Neville Quinton 1 Andy Moser 4, Clive Lucking 2 Barry Davies 4, Men’s ‘B’:- Andy Richardson 3 Steve Simpson 0, Scott Pitchford 3 Tony McElhone 0, Nathan Storar 1 Ian Woodcock 3, Danny Humphries 2 Frank Raleigh 3, Roger Taylor 3 Kelvin Maddy 1, Shane Knight 3 Colin Essam 2, John Breeze 3 Billy Rhodes 1, Andy Powell 3Mark Kingdon 2, Andi Chatter 3Ben Christmas 1, Phil Austin 1 Avter Bahra 3, Brian Hickman 3 Paul Riley 1, Simon Pritchard 1, Women’s ‘A’:- Deanne Worrall 0 Lisa Perkins 3, Pam Evans 3 Marie Goddard 1, Pam Jones 3 Maria Perrin1, Mandy Morgan 1 Shirley Williams 3, Michelle Pritchard 3 Kerry King 1, Leanne Loveridge 3 Becky Minney 1, Women’s ‘B’:- Katherine McLean 3 Irene Maddy 0, Sue Lane 0 Charlotte Tyler 3, Caroline La-Ffin 2 Hayley Jordan 3, Wendy Talbot 3 Jo Dilley 0, Elaine Banks 1 Katy Baldwin