Railway Youngers compete their twelfth league and cup double in the Newark and District Double Board Darts Winter League
Railway Youngers have completed their twelfth league and cup double after they retained the knockout cup following a comfortable victory over Castle and Falcon Bangers in the Newark and District Double Board Darts Winter League.
The previous week had seen the Youngers complete the first part of the double as they snatched the title from the Bangers following their 13-2 victory over Collingham Mother Chuckers which enabled them to overhaul their title rivals on the final day of the league campaign.
Their attention then turned to retaining the knock-out cup in a repeat of the previous season’s final which had seen the Youngers claim a thirteenth success in the competition with a 9-6 win.
The opening stages of the final were tight with the opening pairs encounter ending in a draw with Karen Whittaker checking out for the Bangers before Anice Wells levelled for the Youngers with a first-dart double-18.
The cup holders then edged in front as two finishes from Louise Fletcher, including an opening leg 36 finish of double-1 and double-17, secured the second pairs encounter.
The Bangers responded by winning the opening singles match as Whittaker overcame Jackie Dennis to bring the two sides level at 3-3 but that was to be the final points the Castle and Falcon side would muster as the Youngers won the remaining singles matches.
Linda Gregory overcame Kathy Buttong, Fletcher defeated Mandy Walker and then skipper Debbie Braithwaite beat Debbie Walker to give her side a 9-3 lead to secure a fourteenth knock-out cup success.
The remaining team leg was played out and that also went the way of the double winners as Gregory landed a first-dart double-18 to complete a 12-3 victory.
RHP Ladies secured the first subsidiary cup success after a closely fought encounter with Caffs Ladies.
The opening stages of the final saw RHP race into a 4-0 lead after a finish apiece from Sandra Baker and Heather Webb earned them victory in the opening pairs encounter before a brace of checkouts from skipper Julie Feeney sealed a win in the next.
Caffs responded by taking the opening leg in the first three singles encounters but RHP, on each occasion, fought back to secure draws to retain their cushion with a 7-3 lead.
Caffs then rallied again to ensure the match would be decided by the concluding 3-point team leg as Jane Hartley defeated Feeney in the final singles encounter to keep the match alive.
It appeared that Caffs may complete the fight-back as they outscored their rivals in the team leg to reach the double first but agonisingly Kelly Barrett just failed to land crucial checkout which allowed Sandra Baker to step up and sink double-18 to snatch a hard fought 10-5 victory.
The men’s division saw the second week of the Summer season and Wheatsheaf Bellies and Bullseyes continued their perfect start as they recorded their second 5-0 win after they overcame Castle and Falcon Projectile Dysfunction with finishes from Kevin Rose, Neil Ward, Geza Pocsik and a brace from John Esam.
Reigning champions Castle and Falcon BBC2s had a terrific 4-1 win over winter league champions Rose and Crown Marauders with checkouts from Ian Hurst, Phil Moore and two from skipper James Brown.
League new-boys Railway Club have picked up their first win after they defeated Castle and Falcon Arrows 4-1 helped by finishes from Matthew Glover, Richard Martin and a brace from Craig Roberts.
The remaining match saw RHP Darts of Hazzard win the in-house battle with RHP Darts of Hazzard B side 3-2.
Checkouts from Paul Gallacher and two from Darren Critchlow gave their A team an unassailable 3-0 lead before Jon Gough and Kieran Cumberland responded.
