Rose & Crown Marauders move step closer to Newark & District Double Board Darts League men’s title after beating nearest rivals Wheatsheaf Bellies & Bullseyes
Rose & Crown Marauders are closing in on retaining the men’s Newark & District Double Board Darts League title after victory over their closest rivals stretched their lead to 16 points with just four matches remaining.
The reigning champions went into the top-of-the-table clash with Wheatsheaf Bellies & Bullseyes looking for an eighth straight victory. In a tight opening leg Ryan Holland’s checkout gave them the early advantage but a brace of finishes from Martin Fryer turned the match in favour of their opponents. The fourth leg saw Fryer have an opportunity to complete his hat-trick and end the Marauders’ unbeaten run but the chance wasn’t taken and Jason Hill holed out on 64 to draw the leaders level. The deciding leg saw the Marauders produce their best scoring of the match and with the Wheatsheaf languishing on 315, up stepped Hill to check out on 48 and secure an important 3-2 win.
Castle & Falcon BBC2s have edged above the Wheatsheaf into second after they fought back from 2-0 down against Balderton Cricket Club before clinching a 3-2 win. Checkouts from Paul Colcomb and Dave Colcomb had given the next to bottom side a surprise 2-0 lead but the title challengers responded by taking the next three legs with finishes from skipper James Brown, Nigel Parr and Ian Hurst.
The Taverners remain in fourth after they eased to a 5-0 win over bottom of the table Hedgehoggers with checkouts from Dave Chaney, captain Simon Cobb and a hat-trick from Brian Coughill.
RHP 26ers came out on top in their in-house battle with RHP Darts of Hazzard with finishes from Kieran Cumberland, Jon Gough, skipper Stephen Adshead and Michael Rawle - Lewis Hubbard’s fourth leg checkout secured his side’s consolation.
The remaining match in the men’s division saw Castle & Falcon Arrows overcome Wheatsheaf Phoenix 3-2 with Colin Weir hitting a hat-trick of checkouts including the season’s highest finish of 97 – Tom Venables’ finish had secured the opening leg and captain Richard Durham had checked out in the fifth for the Phoenix.
In the ladies’ division, Railway Youngers have stretched their lead to 13 points after they eased to a 12-3 victory over Railway Club Artists while their closest challengers, Falcoholics, were edged out 8-7 by The King’s Queens.
The Youngers, who had led 3-1 after the opening pairs, had stretched their advantage to 7-3 following Debbie Braithwaite’s singles win and two drawn encounters before Linda Gregory sealed the victory as she overcame Barbara Hood to give her side an unassailable 9-3 cushion. Braithwaite’s checkout in the team leg completed the scoring.
The Falcoholics had led 3-1 after the pairs but were pegged back to 3-3 after Aimee Wood won the opening singles clash. Stacey Grand-Scrutton’s singles victory, sandwiched between to drawn encounters, had re-instated the Falcoholics lead but despite leading 7-5 the three-point team leg would decide the outcome and it went the way of the Queens as Sandra Baker sunk the winning double to snatch victory.
Castle & Falcon Bangers are up to third after singles wins by Karen Whittaker, Debbie Walker and Mandy Walker helped them defeat Wheatsheaf Wanderers 12-3.
Collingham FC MC have moved up to sixth after Amy Rayney’s crucial checkout in the decisive team leg secured them a 10-5 win over Caffs Ladies. Skipper Sharon Hovey and Annie Hovey had secured singles wins for the village side while captain Chris Henderson was Caffs sole victor during the singles encounters.
Simon Cobb has secured his place alongside Matthew Glover, Jon Dawn and Stuart Glover in the Premier Singles Grand-Finals after the only former champion in this year’s field won the preliminary play-offs for the players that finished in positions fourth to seventh in the league.
Cobb had raced into a 3-0 lead against Robson Worthington in his semi-final before his opponent reduced the deficit to 3-2 but the 2012 champion responded by taking the next two legs to seal a 5-2 win. The final would be a repeat of last season’s final after Steve Alexander fought back from 3-1 down to snatch a 5-4 victory over David Thompson.
In the final Cobb once again raced into a 3-0 lead before Alexander took the fourth but a 48 checkout in next (double-8, single-16, double-8) by Cobb stemmed any fightback and he completed a 5-1 win to match last season’s scoreline.
Cobb will now play top seed Matthew Glover in the Grand Finals last four with Jon Dawn and Stuart Glover meeting in the other semi-final.
Results: Men’s Division: The Hedgehoggers (Castle & Falcon) 0-5 The Taverners (Railway Club), Rose & Crown Marauders (Bald.) 3-2 Wheatsheaf Bellies & Bullseyes, RHP Darts of Hazzard 1-4 RHP 26ers, Wheatsheaf Phoenix 2-3 Castle & Falcon Arrows, Balderton Cricket Club 2-3 Castle & Falcon BBC2s.
Ladies’ Division: Castle & Falcon Bangers 12-3 Wheatsheaf Wanderers, Railway Youngers 12-3 Railway Club Artists, The King’s Queens 8-7 Falcoholics, Caffs Ladies 5-10 Collingham FC MC.
Premiership Singles League: Preliminary Play-Offs semi-final: Simon Cobb 5 Robson Worthington 2, David Thompson 4 Steve Alexander 5. Final: Simon Cobb 5 Steve Alexander 1.
