Wheatsheaf Bellies & Bullseyes finish second in the Newark and District Double Board Darts League men’s division after beating RHP 26ers 3-2

Wheatsheaf Bellies & Bullseyes clinched second place in the Newark and District Double Board Darts League’s men’s division after they secured the point they needed in a 3-2 victory over RHP 26ers.

The Bullseyes went into their final match of the season knowing that a single leg would guarantee them a runners-up spot behind champions Rose & Crown Marauders but if they succumbed to an unlikely 5-0 reverse, then Castle & Falcon BBC2s would snatch second place for themselves if they whitewashed RHP Darts of Hazzard when the two teams meet in their re-arranged fixture.

Any unlikely scenarios were soon vanquished though as the Wheatsheaf skipper, Dave Thompson, clinched the opening leg as he checked out on double-4 after both sides had seen chances come and go.

With the runners-up position now secured, Oliver Ward’s 32 finish doubled the Bullseyes’ advantage with their opponents lying in wait on 98 before RHP responded as Steve Alexander’s 40 checkout halved the deficit. A 14th win of the season was then secured as Thompson struck again in the fourth to give the Wheatsheaf an unassailable 3-1 lead. The concluding leg went the way of the 26ers with Michael Rawle checking out on 51 and despite the defeat the RHP side will be pleased with a fourth place finish in their debut winter season.

The Wheatsheaf’s attention will now switch to Thursday’s knock-out cup final between the league’s top two sides as they take on the Marauders at the Castle & Falcon.

The Marauders, meanwhile, were recording their 17th win out of 18 league matches as they eased to a 5-0 victory over Wheatsheaf Phoenix with finishes from Ryan Holland and two apiece from Mark Neal and Jason Hill giving them an impressive 19 points winning margin.

Last season’s runners-up, The Taverners, have finished in fifth on this occasion after they slipped to a fourth straight league defeat as they were edged out 3-2 by Castle & Falcon Arrows who have finished in sixth. Dave Chaney’s double-top checkout secured a comfortable opening leg for the Railway Club side before Lionel Garrad’s finish drew the Arrows level in the next.

A Craig Roberts’ checkout in a tight third regained the Taverners’ the lead but once again the Arrows gained parity with Colin Weir holing out in the fourth. The deciding leg saw the Taverners have a chance to end their losing streak but they failed to take their opportunity and the Arrows pounced to snatch a 3-2 win with Pete Knott checking out on 48.

The remaining match in the men’s division saw the two bottom sides in action with Balderton Cricket Club coming from behind twice to defeat The Hedgehoggers, who finish bottom, 3-2.

In a tight encounter, Bradley Fletcher’s opening leg finish had given the Hedgehoggers the lead before Jack Beckett’s checkout drew the cricketers level. Dave Peasgood Snr then restored his sides advantage as he holed out on 40 but once again the Balderton side drew level with John Newton checking out.

The deciding leg saw the cricketers outscore their rivals but several missed doubles allowed the Hedgehoggers a chance to snatch the win but they didn’t take their opportunity and Beckett checked out on double-1 to clinch a fourth win of the campaign.

In the ladies’ division, The King’s Queens ended their season on a winning note with Sandra Baker’s checkout in the crucial team leg securing them an 8-7 victory over Caffs Ladies in a re-arranged fixture. Caffs had led 3-1 after the opening pairs encounters but the Queens drew level at 3-3 following Aimee Wood’s victory over Chris Henderson in the opening singles match.

The next two singles encounters were drawn before Eugene Hallam re-instated Caffs two leg cushion as she defeated Heather Webb. Despite Caffs leading 7-5 the concluding three-point team leg would decide the outcome and it went the way of the Queens as Baker landed the decisive double which pushes her side into fourth place with Caffs in fifth.

Results: Men’s Division: Wheatsheaf Bellies & Bullseyes 3-2 RHP 26ers, The Taverners 2-3 Castle & Falcon Arrows, The Hedgehoggers 2-3 Balderton Cricket Club, Rose & Crown Marauders 5-0 Wheatsheaf Phoenix, RHP Darts of Hazzard P-P Castle & Falcon BBC2s.

Ladies’ Division: Caffs Ladies 7-8 The King’s Queens.