THE ELECTRICAL SHOP¨ – BLUE LAGOON – Judging by the time one or two games finished in Division 1, teams found the new best of 3 format in the singles a bridge too far.
More than likely too much sun, cobwebs and lack of practice from my own point of view. The substitution of an extra triple for the laborious 6 a side team game was a popular decision at the AGM and has obviously proved quicker.
Previously the half time break after the first 6 legs came around 10 p.m. or earlier. The new format will improve that time and teams should ensure the break lasts for a maximum of 15 minutes. One problem highlighted last term was the quality of fayre served by the home sides.
Traditionally it has been a snack to be enjoyed with a beer or two but now we are enjoying the culinary delights of the superb kitchens most bars have. As a guide the second half should commence at 10.15 p.m. with the match over by 11.30 p.m. or earlier. This all depends of course on the starting time which must be 8.45 p.m. to ensure those of us who wish to be tucked up in bed before midnight, can.
The Pint Depot Kings entertained the Meerkats for the opening match of the season and for some reason appeared to have stage fright. Countless missed doubles and lost darts from last season´s league plate winners were a disappointment in a match anticipated to be close. The exception was Gary Minor who managed to mix a fair share of chalking with some fine arrow throwing.
In fact it was Minor who took the Kings first leg of the evening, albeit the 11th, against Graham Todd in a tight match 2-1. Minor´s haul of 3×140, 1×100 and a handful of 80 pluses earned him the King´s man of the match by a mile. The King´s total of 6 tons was totally eclipsed by the opposition who managed 22 tons and ton pluses. Current merit table champion Pat Abrams acquitted himself reasonably well with 4 tons and a couple of game shots.
Alex Nikolov talked his way through most of his legs but still managed 7 tons, the most individual scores of the night. Eddie Fozzard was the King´s other victor taking out Alan Ostrowski 2-1 on D2 for the third leg. Dave Wright was missing from the King´s line up this week, team mates will be hoping he is around for the visit to The Porter House.
Whilst on the subject, the Porters had a tough first match against last season´s runners up Que Pasa Eagles. Ray Sanderson has strengthened his side this term with former Hunk and Meerkat, Sid Cross. Unfortunately the popular traveller had family commitments and missed his new side´s opening defeat.
The visitors started well enough winning two of the three triples available, courtesy of captain Sanderson D3 and Peter Ayres D2. John Walker replied for Que Pasa on D2 and also contributed 138,95,140,100 in the two legs he played. Some darts!
A ton apiece from Porter´s Brian Nash and Eagles Joe Cuyt made it a tight finish in the first doubles Stuart Clark hitting D1 to level. Jim Storey D4 put the hosts one in front with one double to play. Eagle Walker showed what he can do by pummelling the T20 hitting 125,140,100,100,D4 to leave Ayres and Yvonne Rouffignac shell shocked, the score line 4-2. Sue Sanderson had a fine match against Kevin Wood scoring a 111 and double to take the leg to 3, Wood´s 2×100 was enough however as he took the first on D18 and the third on D13.
Nash had the task of taking out Walker but 2×100 and D16 in the first and a 140 plus D4 for 2-0 was enough to take out the plucky Porter who had hit 97 for a double in the second. Captain Sanderson was on next to retrieve the situation at 6-2, facing Storey.
The Eagle took the first on D16 and opened up with a ton, Sanderson replied with one of his own and closed the leg on D15 (1-1). Storey moved up a gear scoring 2×100 and eventually going out on D1 for the match. Con Rouffignac pulled one back for the Porters wining two of three on D8 and D2, opponent Cuyt taking the middle leg with 125 and D10. A nice ton out (T20,S20,D10) from Clark was levelled by Ayres on D8 taking the match to three legs. Despite a ton from Clark, Ayres took the game on D20.
In the 12th and last leg Yvonne Rouffignac took the middle leg with a 98 and D8 but it was Storey on D9 and D18 to take the third and overall match 8-4. John Walker´s tally of 3×140, 1×138, 1×125, 5×100 and a miserly 95 was exceptional, one to avoid even if you are on form.
Busters will be hoping to improve on a good season last term and showed their intentions with an excellent away victory at the Junction. That man again Mark Filer taking the match at 7-3, with the Jackals taking the last two. The hosts had a good start 2-1 up after the triples, John Osborne 140,D4, Andy Gildea D20 doing the damage, Filer replying with 100 and D10, Phil de Lacy and Henry Young contributing tons.
The established pairing of Filer and Shirley Roberts levelled the match, Filer hitting 135, Roberts D10. Irene Russell put Busters in front for the first time on D19 despite a ton from Steph Simpson.
Paul Dowington made it all three pairs on D4 for 2-4. Will Drummond 100,125,D7 and D1 made it 5 for the visitors as the inimitable Irene Russell attempted to take the match to 6 legs and at least the draw.
At over 40 years of age I don’t know how she does it but 140,120,D20 took the first, Gildea hit a ton of his own in the second but superwoman hit a further 121 and D8 for 0-2 and at least a valuable point.
Mike Jones had a reasonable debut for the Jackals wining in straight legs with 121,100,D5 and D1 to reduce the deficit. As previously mentioned Filer made it 7 legs for Busters and both points, but had to come from behind after Kenny Wilkinson had showboated on a 65 out, hitting D8,S17 and D16.
Filer´s response was a ton, D10 and D20. Steph Simpson´s 2×100,D10 and D8 was just too much for Babs Warren 100. De Lacy D2,D8 completed the match for 5-7.
Ralph Weatherby informs me their home match against the Junction Jaguars was very enjoyable with plenty of good humour banter. Their 4-2 half time score line was repeated in the second half for a convincing win over merit table winner Simone de Lacy´s Jaguars.
Captain Tracy Simpson couldn’t find the form she is capable of to let in Justin Hepburn to take the all important 7th leg on D4. Man of the match was the Tavern´s Stuart Mitchell.
Two newcomers to the League Evolution and Que Pasa Kestrels found themselves facing each other in their first match. The Kestrels raced to a 3 leg lead after some patchy scoring from both sides.
Jak Doggatt retrieved one back for Evolution, their first point of the season and then Brett Badlove increasing the lead for the Kestrels. Doggatt showed he can play a bit by closing out on D14 and will be an asset to Evolution this term. Heath Hughes completed the match on D3 for both points for the Kestrels.
Paul Durrant
League Chairman
Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/45112/
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