Sheffield Franchise League - Leadmill Premier Division

Eagles Take Team Knockout Title Sheffield Darts Franchise League: Leadmill Premier Division Sponsored by: The Leadmill Red Dragon Darts Projectdarts Winmau Blade 4 In Association with: Sheffield Star Sheffield Franchise League Team Knockout The first season of the Sheffield Franchise League produced a brilliant team knockout competition which left the High Flying Black Eagles against the Top Deck Aces from the Newbold club. Both teams had seen off several good sides en-route to the final with the Woodbourne Black Eagles Beating the Railwaymen 4-2 in a last game decider and a 5-1 win over the Sausages from the Cumberland with young guns out in force. The semi final for the Woody side was a victory over the Frecheville Vulcans 4-2 and that sent them through to the final. Aces from Newbold would join them as they were quick to dispatch the Wolves 5-1 before a close game with the Panthers which went to 4-2 before setting up a final with the Black Eagles.   The Final [caption id="attachment_18175" align="alignright" width="241"] Greg Beard[/caption] Andy Umney 2-3 Greg Beard Game one of the final was a very good close game with Beard smashing in a 18 dart leg before Andy Umney of the Aces got it back to 1-1 and continued with a 20 dart leg by breaking Greg Beard straight away and then made it 2-1 before a rally from the Eagles player to bring it back to 2-2 although the man from Chesterfield Umney missed several darts for the match before Beard hit the winning double in leg 4 which he also hit a maximum and then in the last went on to take victory and put eagles 1-0 up. John Walton 3-1 Matt Needham Former world Champion John Walton was pushed all the way by Matt Needham in a very high quality match with John taking the opener before Needham levelled and missed 8 dart to take the lead before Walton took out a terrifc shot to take the lead and then in the last hit a barrage of treble 19s with 3x133 shot to set up a 14 dart leg and give the eagle a 2-0 lead. [caption id="attachment_18177" align="alignleft" width="219"] Neil Bradley[/caption] Neil Bradley 1-3 Jelger Tuinstra Neil Bradley improving all the time kicked off with a 20 dart leg with a 180 to take a 1-0 lead and had the chance for 2-0 only for Jelger to show his dutch grit and fight back for a 2-1 lead himself with legs of 18 & 19 and then break Neil in the 4th with a 21 dart leg to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead. Trevor Burkhill 3-1 Ian Speed Turbo Trev lived up to his name with a quick break and a 20 dart leg to lead 2-0 over the Aces captain Ian and Ian responded with good arrows to peg it back to 2-1 and missed a chance to level as Trevor hit a 19 dart leg to take the Woodbourne side 4-0 up. Stephen Briggs 3-0 Trevor Tye Some excellent scoring by both men in this one as Steve took out a sweet two darter to give him the lead over the Aces player.Trevor got much more into things in the 2nd only to miss his chance at the double and Steve was straight in there checking out 65 to lead 2-0.Tye again was scoring well in the 3rd leg with Briggs doing the same and getting that decisive double to take the Wybourn man at heart over the line. [caption id="attachment_18180" align="alignright" width="150"] Stephen Briggs[/caption] Pete Daffin 3-0 Mick Smith Smith was quick in with the trebles in the opener unfortunately came up against an inform super Daffs running out a 3-0 winner with legs of 14 & 16 darts including a 180 and giving the Black eagles a 6-0 win in the final with Smith throwing well but unlucky. Congratulations to the Black Eagles winning the team knockout but very unlucky to the Aces as the score didn't reflect how close the game was as the first two matches on the night was very nip and tuck and could have gone either way but it was a very enjoyable night and showed again how far this league has come in less than 6 months.