SMD KO Cup Quarter Finals
The Quarter Final draw had given us an enticing repeat of last seasons final, and although it was another close affair the result was the other way round this time, as Cup holders Timperley were eliminated following a 4-3 home defeat against the Ammies. In another all Division 1 fixture, The John Alker and The Victoria went head-to-head in a tight battle which ended with a 4-3 win for the Withington side. It was the end of the road for the two remaining Division 2 teams, The Roebuck ran The Victoria Burnage close by taking them to a last leg decider before falling to a 4-3 loss, and Trafford Social will be glad they dont have to play St Johns every week after a 7-0 mauling at the hands of the third placed Division 1 title contenders.
St John’s 7 vs 0 Trafford SC
After being knocked out by the Ammies in the semi finals last season, St John’s booked their return to that stage of the competition this season with a whitewash victory over Division 2’s Trafford Social. With St John’s showing a much higher level of play these days they will be hopeful of potentially going all the way in the cup this season, although multi-time cup winners the Ammies, Summer 23 SMD Cup finalists Victoria Withington and current SMD Shield holders Victoria Burnage, may still have something to say about that.
Mike Shaw put the Division 1 side into the lead with a 73 average and a 2-0 win in the opening game, before Reece Tyson doubled the lead when getting the better of Kyle Wands in a 2-1 win. Jez Saunders made it 3-0, before Oliver Clarke sealed St Johns’ place in the semi final draw with a quality 2-0 win which featured a 180, a 15 darter and a magnificent 93.94 average. Lewis Ellis and Kraig Loose both won 2-0 to make it 6-0, both with 7 ton plus scores and both with a 73.32 average in what was turning out to be a superb performance from the home side. The final game of the night saw Kaine Goldie make it 7-0 with a 2-1 win over Liam Galvin.
John Alker 3 vs 4 Victoria Withington
These two sides last met in the KO Cup in the Last 16 of the Summer 2023 season, and though the venue was reversed, the scoreline was the same as The Victoria came away with a 4-3 win. The match was played against a background of dominoes debauchery as the the gaggle of geriatric gangsters involved in those games celebrated wins by whooping and hollering like a group of teenage lads on the way to Magaluf for the first time.
The Vic won four of the first five games to seal their semi final place relatively quickly, but It was an extremely close match as all of those first five games went to a deciding third leg. Jack Jarvis gave the Vic an early lead with a win over Baz Rowland, before Gaz Brickhill christened his new darts in style with a 180 and a 16 darter during his win over Dave Stanley to level it up. Connor Wigley got the better of John Greaves in the third to put the Vic back in front, and despite home captain Ewan Donegan opening with an 18 darter, Terry Jepson was able to claim the remaining legs to make it 3-1 to the visitors. In the fifth, Sean Edwards got the win that decided the cup tie in favour of the Vic, which was probably a good thing for my side as the Alker won the remaining two games 2-0 courtesy of Gaz O’Donnell and Gary Thompson, who beat Matt Jepson and myself.
Roebuck 3 vs 4 Victoria Burnage
The current SMD Shield holders Victoria Burnage moved into the Semi Finals of this seasons KO Cup, but it wasnt plain sailing by any means as Division 2’s Roebuck recovered from 2-0 down to lead 3-2, before the match was eventually decided in favour of the Division 1 side in the final leg of the final game.
Pete Evans and Dylan Wimbury put the Burnage side ahead with wins in the opening two games, Dylan with a 16 darter and 7 ton plusses in his game as the top flight side looked to be making easy work of it. The Roebuck had other ideas though, and proceeded to turn the match on its head as 2-0 wins for Hayden Reddy and Mark Garnett brought the sides level, before Chris Reddy won a deciding leg with Tony Green to put the Bucks 3-2 up. Steve Moane levelled it up for the Vic Burnage with a 2-0 win over Ash Aikenhead in game six, and with it all resting on the final leg of the last game, Andrew Day completed the comeback for the Vic and booked their place in the semi final draw.
Timperley CC 3 vs 4 Ammies Darts
In an eagerly anticipated repeat of the 2023/24 season KO Cup Final which ended in a 4-3 win for Timperley, the Ammies extracted a bit of revenge by knocking out the cup holders with a win by the same scoreline in this seasons Quarter Final stage.
Ray Dore hit a 117 finish and an 18 darter while putting the Ammies one up, but the sides were soon level after a quality battle in game two between Callum Loose and Ammies’ Kyle Bell ended in favour of the Timperley man, Kyle with a 180, 18 darter and 76.35 average while Callum had nine ton plusses in the three legs played, a 17 darter and ended with a classy 88.38 average. Andy Broadhurst put Timperley ahead after a 2-0 defeat of Pete Watson, but the sides were level again after Karl Cooper hit a 16 darter and finished with a match high 88.41 average during his 2-0 win against Kev Kelly. Ammies captain Paul Devine put his side ahead for the first time with 7 ton plusses in a 2-1 win over Craig Weston in game five, but following a 16 darter and 79.11 average from Gary Sullivan in a 2-0 win over Mike Morrison the teams were all square once again at 3-3. The final game of the night saw the home sides Andy Brownhill take on Adam Watson, and after Adam hit an 18 darter and 81.24 average on the way to a 2-0 win, the Ammies were in the draw for the semi final.
SMD KO Shield Quarter Finals
On paper, the SMD Shield tie of the round was between two of the Division 2 title contenders, as third placed Royal Oak hosted leaders Ashton-on-Mersey, with the Oak landing a 5-2 win to book their place in the semi-final. There were some surprise results in the three other fixtures, as 3rd Division Dog & Partridge secured a 4-3 win over Division 2 strugglers LMRCA, Division 3 leaders Broadheath Central Aces had a comfortable 5-2 win against Division 2’s Carter’s Arms, and Division 3’s Horseshoe claimed a 4-3 win against Division 1’s Broadheath Central.
The results leave Division 2’s Royal Oak A as the highest ranked team left in the competition, with the other three sides all from Division 3 and all in their first seasons in the South Manchester Darts League. And although the Oak will be firm favourites to lift the trophy at the end of the season, those new teams may still have something to say about it.
Dog & Partridge 4 vs 3 LMRCA
LMRCA were looking for a third successive SMD Shield semi final after reaching that stage in both the 2023 and 2023/24 seasons, but it was not to be as 3rd Division Dog & Partridge (formerly Nelson Didsbury) secured an upset against their Division 2 opponents to reach the KO Shield semi in their first season in the South Manchester Darts League.
The Division 3 side got off to the best possible start as a 2-0 win for Dog & Partridge captain Tom Spillane was followed by a 2-1 win for Elliot Wynne to put the home side two up. LMRCA came straight back into it, first halving the defecit through a 2-0 win for Tony Feesey, then levelling as Derek Ostick won a deciding leg against Dave Harris, before taking a 3-2 lead after Tony Spilsbury also won a decider with Dan Buckley. With just two games left and needing them both to win, the Division 3 side were by no means done, and after 2-0 wins for Chris Conduit and Dave Cook, they had booked their place in the SMD Shield semi finals.
BHC Aces 5 vs 2 Carters Arms
Given the Aces current league form, and the experience of their squad, this result is a little less of an upset, as the Division 3 leaders took a comfortable win over the side currently in seventh place in Division 2.
The opening two games were shared as a 2-0 win for BHC Aces’ Andy McCormack over Dave Sills was followed by a 2-1 win for John Theirens against Martin Johnson. The Aces are looking odds-on for Division 2 darts next season and proceeded to show why in the following games as 2-0 wins for Bob Hilton and Nigel Beeton put them 3-1 up, before Dennis Hand secured the win with a 2-0 win of his own. Darren Wood made it 5-1 with another 2-0 win in game six, but the Carters gained a little consolation with a 2-0 win for Terry Caine in the final game of the night.
Royal Oak A 5 vs 2 Ashton-on-Mersey CC
First placed Ashton and third placed Royal Oak are seperated by ten points currently in Division 2, but with the third placed side having a game in hand, they have potential to substantially reduce that gap. Its clear they are two very evenly matched teams and Ashton especially have been on fine form of late, but with this win, the Oak may have landed an early psychological blow in the Division 2 title battle.
Jordan Perry put the home side in front with a 2-0 win over Mark Robinson, but a last leg winner for Ashton’s Will Radcliffe against 180 hitting Ryan Crook made it one each after two games played. Lee Medd had a 14 dart leg a 180 and a 67 average while beating Stephen Orton 2-1 to put the Oak back in front, and a 2-0 win for Steven Lee against Chris Chapman soon made it 3-1 to the Chorlton side. In game five Ashton’s James Compton pinned a 17 dart leg during a 2-1 win against Sharon Kirby to pull it back to 3-2, but the Oak were not to be denied as wins in the final two games were enough to secure the win and a semi final place. Game six saw Tony Kirby get the better of Andy Kindred by 2 legs to 1, before Pete Perry made it 5-2, hitting a 14 darter and a 74.45 average during his 2-1 win against Mike Buckley.
Horseshoe 4 vs 3 Broadheath Central
In normal circumstances this result would be described as a bit of a giant killing with The Division 3 side overcoming the side from Division 1, however as Broadheath only had five players, the horseshoe only needed to win two on the night to qualify. That said, Broadheath are in danger of relegation from the top flight at the moment, while the Horseshoe are still right in the battle for promotion from Division 3, so its not inconceivable that both teams could meet in Division 2 league action next season.
Starting the match at 2-0 down by default, Broadheath were given some hope after Leyton Jackson claimed a 2-1 win in game 1 to make it 2-1 overall, however a 2-0 win for The Horseshoe’s David Duffy against JonJo Devon soon had the Division 3 side 3-1 up and just one away from victory. With only three games left, Broadheath showed some real grit to come right back into the tie, as 2-0 wins for Brandon Lawley and Shane Crellin made it 3-3 overall and suddenly it was all down to the final game of the night between the home side’s George Moss and Lee Darcey. There was to be no fairytale comeback for Broadheath though as George claimed a 2-0 win to send the Horseshoe through to their first semi final.
Division 3 Rescheduled Games
As it was Cup Quarter Finals week there was an opportunity to play some of the postponed Week 1 games featuring Division 3 teams no longer featuring in the cup draws. The Bulls Head move second after claiming a big win at home to Stretfordians, Old Market Tavern get a second win of the season after a 4-3 win against the Jolly Butcher and the Royal Oak B avenge a recent 6-1 home defeat to the Bent Brook with a 4-3 away victory.
Bulls Head 6 vs 1 Stretfordians
The Bulls improved on their recent 5-2 away win against Stretfordians with a 6-1 home win in the rearranged fixture from Week 1. The win sees them move into second positon outright, twelve points behind leaders BHC Aces, and four clear of Sale Excel in third.
Chris Barber put the Hale Barns side ahead with a 2-0 win in the opening game against Rory Sullivan, but the lead was short lived as Stretfordians captain Lindsay Rice secured a 2-0 win against Steve Hazelhurst. In game 3 Chris Cordingley won 2-0 to claim his 10th win in 13 league games and put the Bulls ahead again, before Jamie Harris made it 3-1 to the home side with a 2-1 win against Paul Chapman. Game five saw Iain Fish secure the match for the Bulls with a 2-0 victory over Ryan Tomlinson, and with the game in the bag the Bulls Head powered through the remaining games to ensure an emphatic win. Game six saw a classy performance from Bo Bowman who hit 5 ton-plus scores, a 180, a 17 darter and a 100 finish during a 2-0 win against Jack Newsham, and the big win was sealed with a 2-0 win for Rob Barber against Adam Jackson in game 7.
Old Market Tavern 4 vs 3 Jolly Butcher
The Old Market Tavern claimed a second 4-3 win against the Jolly Butcher in recent weeks to complete home and away wins against them and make up for a 4-3 loss in the first round of the KO cup back in July. These represent the only wins for the OMT so far this season and they remain bottom of the division, but the win sees them move to within touching distance of their beaten opponents. The Butcher fall to a fourth 4-3 defeat from five such results, but there is plenty of time for both teams to improve on their current positions, with only 9 points seperating bottom from eighth place.
Chris McGrory put the butcher ahead with a 2-0 win in the first game, but Steven Foster brought the OMT level with a deciding leg win over Chris O’Keefe. Butcher captain Liz Sweeney put her side back in the lead with a 2-0 win over Ian Fensome, but the sides were level again after Howard Haycocks won 2-0 against Gareth Sullivan. Game five saw Mike Swindells put the Butcher 3-2 up with a 2-0 win over Les Potts, but the OMT drew level for a third time after Sally Corfield got the better of Tracy Wesemeyer with a 2-0 win in game six. With it all coming down to the final game, Nathan Potts won a deciding leg against Gary Hudson to seal the win for the OMT.
Bent Brook 3 vs 4 Royal Oak B
Eighth placed Royal Oak B secured their sixth win of the season, a win which moves them to within nine points of the Bent Brook in seventh. Despite this defeat, the three points gained for the Brook just about keeps them in the scrap for the second promotion place as they sit ten points behind the Bulls Head in second.
Alex Morton’s 2-0 win against Pete DeCordova put the Brook one up, but it was soon 2-1 to the visitors after 2-0 wins for Jack Holt and Jack Bushell. The Brook’s Jake Proctor won 2-0 to bring the sides level, but a win for Rob Whiteside in game five put the Oak 3-2 in front before Mark Gilmore secured the bonus points for the Chorlton side with a 100 finish during his 2-0 win over Ken Turnock. There was time for the Brook to salvage one more point though as Paul Charnock hit his second 180 of the season while beating Andrew Mossop by two legs to nil.
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