Division 1
Four more rearranged games took place in the top flight on wednesday, and had a noticable impact on the top end of the table. The Ammies were not in action as their remaining first half game with Victoria Burnage has been rescheduled for early in January, but they will have been quietly pleased to see that second placed Timperley couldnt take advantage of that as they fell to a 5-2 home defeat at the hands of The Victoria Withington.
Third placed St Johns claimed a 6-1 win against Broadheath Central and are now just a point behind Timperley and six behind the Ammies, The John Alker are fourth after a good 5-2 win against Wythenshawe CSC, and at the bottom end of the table, The Volunteer claim a narrow 4-3 win over The Cringlewood to open up a bit of daylight between themselves and the bottom two.
Timperley CC 2 vs 5 The Victoria (Withington)
The Victoria Withington started a run of five consecutive away games with a fine win at second-placed title challengers Timperley Conservative Club, handing the current SMD KO Cup holders their first home defeat, and only a second in total this season. It’s a result which puts a dent in the home sides title ambitions, leaving them five adrift of The Ammies, but with a win against the leaders already and half the season to go, anything can still happen. The win for the Vic moves them up to fifth at the half way point, and they will be hoping for a similar result next week when they visit the Ammies, while Timperley travel to St Johns in a must win game for both teams if either have hopes of catching the league leaders.
Timperley got off to a good start, as Andy Broadhurst took the opening game 3-0 against an out of sorts Dave Stanley, hitting 8 ton-plus scores including a fantastic 151 finish to put his side ahead. From there, it all went a bit pear shaped for the home team as the Vic strung together a run of four games to claim the bonus points and deal a blow to Timperley’s title ambitions.
In game two I had a 3-0 win against Craig Weston to level things up, but the standout performance for my team came in game three as Connor Wigley defied a 17 darter and a 180 from Gary Sullivan, whilst hitting five 120-plus scores himself, before winning the deciding leg and putting the Vic 2-1 ahead. Game four saw another win for the Vic, as fish-hating Jack Jarvis (dont ask…. fish are ‘wankers’ apparently) put his dislike of our aquatic friends aside to claim a 3-0 win against Kev Kelly. At 3-1 to the Vic, some eyebrows may have been raised, but it was a deserved lead and it got even better (yes I’m biased) afer Terry Jepson pinned a 3-1 win over Andy Brownhill to secure the match. Game six saw Callum Loose pull one back for Timperley with a 3-1 defeat of Matt Jepson, but it was the Vic’s night, and this was proved in the final game as Lewis Holley took an eventful game against Andy Pearson. Both players hit a 180, Lewis also hit a 177, Lewis went 2-0 up, Andy pulled it back to 2-2, but in the final leg it was Lewis who tidily finished 66 in two darts to give a final score of 5-2.
St Johns 6 vs 1 Broadheath Central
Since a heavy early August defeat against the Ammies, St Johns have responded with a run of big wins until last weeks defeat at Timperley. They were back in top form this week though with a big 6-1 home win (their fifth 6-1 win in all comps this season) against Broadheath which moves them six points behind the league leaders. Broadheath reach the half-way stage 9th in the league and 8 points behind safety of eighth, but with half the season left to improve their position.
The opening game of this match looks to have been an absolute cracker, as Lewis Ellis of St Johns took on Leyton Jackson. Both players averaged over 80, Lewis hit two 180s and a 17 darter, but with 7 ton-plus scores and a 16 darter it was Leyton who claimed a 3-1 win to put Broadheath into the lead.
St Johns didnt take kindly to going behind, and proceeded to dominate proceedings from here on in. Martin Tyson hit a 74.78 average, 16 darter and 8 ton-plus scores while beating Brandon Lawley 3-1 to level the match, before Danny Glover beat Darren Dobbin 3-0 to make it 2-1. Oliver Clarke extended the lead with a 72.73 average and a 180 in a 3-0 win, and Jez Saunders secured the win in style also winning 3-0, hitting a 180, 13 darter and 71.57 average. At 4-1 St Johns didnt ease off, and 3-1 wins in the final two games for Kaine Goldie and Alan Dawson ensured a big win, and a smaller gap to the top of the table.
Cringlewood 3 vs 4 The Volunteer
At the bottom end of the table its shaping up to be a battle for survival between these two sides and Broadheath Central, with two of the three destined for relegation to Division 2 – although as last year showed in Broadheaths favour, this may all depend on the number of new teams joining the league in the new year.
This win sees The Volunteer reach the halfway point 8 points clear of ninth placed Broadheath, and 9 points ahead of The Cringlewood, and importantly, with victories over both teams in their last two fixtures. The Cringlewood are still without a win, but keep picking up points in those defeats and actually have a marginally better game difference than Broadheath, but for any of these sides, a run of form could quickly see things turn around in the second half of the season.
The home side took the lead after a 3-0 Alex Martin win against the Volunteer’s Toni Williams in game 1, but the sides were level after Toni’s dad Gary got some revenge by hitting 8 ton plus scores during a 3-1 win over Ryan Coffey. Game 3 saw the Vol take the lead after Callum Nolan defied 7 ton plusses and a 180 from Cringlewood’s Rob Lauder to win 3-2, but the sides were level once again after another Cringlewood 180 from Ray Levesconte helped him to a 3-0 win over Niall Willis. In game 5 Phil Lauder claimed a third win in as many games with a 3-0 defeat of Phil Hazelwood to put the Cringlewood back in front and needing just one more to gain that first win of the season, however it wasnt to be, as Volunteer captain Geoff Sanders defeated Lianne Lauder to make it 3-3, before Ryan Kelly took a last leg decider against Luke Mulhern to secure the win for the visitors.
John Alker 5 vs 2 Wythenshawe CSC
The Alker have had a solid first half of the season, and currently sit in fourth place with their three defeats coming against the three sides currently above them in the table. To the Alkers credit, they have also reached that position at the halfway stage with a game in hand, with their week 5 game with The Victoria Burnage being re-scheduled for 18th December.
Wythenshawe reach the halfway point of their own season in sixth, with four wins and five defeats from their nine games, and will get an immediate chance of avenging this defeat next week when the two sides face off once again in the reverse fixture at Wythenshawe.
Shane Lowe put the visitors ahead with a 3-2 win against Chris Wormald in game 1, before Gaz Brickhill levelled the match, hitting a 100 finish during a 3-1 win over David Peploe. Gary Thompson put the Alker into a 2-1 lead, hitting his second 180 of the season during a 3-1 win against Mandy Smith who also hit a 180, but the sides were level again after Wythenshawe’s Paul McCreevey beat Gaz O’Donnell 3-1 in game four. In game five, Alker captain Ewan Donegan hit a 17 darter and 6 ton-plus scores while beating 180 hitting Jason Grimshaw 3-1, and after Baz Rowland hit 7 ton-plusses during a 3-2 defeat of Martin Power the Alker had claimed the win. The final game of the night between John Hawken of the Alker and Big John Brown of Wythenshawe went down to the final leg but ultimately also went the way of the home side, both players hitting a 180 a piece, but Hawken’s 7 ton-plus scores and a 17 darter helping him to the win.
Division 2
Just the two catch-up games in Division 2 this week, but two wins for two of the top five ensure that we go into the second half of the season with absolutely no idea who is going to win this division, or indeed get promoted.
Ashton-on-Mersey’s 4-3 win over The Carters sees them move back to the top of the table by a point from Urmston with both sides having played 9 games, but The Royal Oak are just four points behind and now have a game in hand on the rest of their promotion rivals. In this weeks other game, The Roebuck got their seventh 4-3 win of the season with a home win over LMRCA who, despite losing, earned enough points to move off the foot of the table and above The Malt Shovels, with both sides having now played the same number of games.
The Roebuck 4 vs 3 LMRCA
Altrincham’s Roebuck reach the midpoint of the season in fifth place with seven wins and just two defeats in the league all season, but due to the fact they tend to win 4-3, they havent gained as many points in those seven wins as the teams above them. That said, they are still right in the thick of the battle for promotion and are only five points off top spot in what is shaping up to be one of the tightest Division 2 seasons in recent memory.
LMRCA have had a first half to forget and are still without a win, but depite that, this narrow defeat gave them three points, enough to move them two points above the Malt Shovels into ninth place. To ensure survival they will need a turnaround in fortune in the second half of the season as The Carters Arms in eighth are currently seven points ahead of them and have a game in hand.
Roebuck captain Chris Haycock put his side in front with a 3-0 win over Roy Jervis in the opening game of the night, but a 3-1 win for Derek Ostick soon saw the sides level. LMRCA went ahead after a 3-2 win for Tony Spilsbury over Mark Garnett in game three, but a 3-1 Chris Reddy win in the fourth brought the Bucks back to parity once again. Rick Kiel claimed his ninth win from ten in all competitions when he put the Bucks in front with a 3-1 win over Tony Feesey in game five, and when Ste Reddy claimed a 3-0 win over Dave Brooks in game six, the Roebuck had the victory. It wouldnt be the Roebuck if it didnt end 4-3 though (win or lose, this is their 8th such scoreline in succession) and that normality was resumed after a 3-0 win for LMRCA’s Ron Cooke in the final game of the night against Steve Preston.
Carters Arms 3 vs 4 Ashton-on-Mersey
Ashton had a game in hand on some of the others around them for a while, and after claiming a 4-3 win, they now go into the second half of the season at the top of the table. Ashton owe their position to gaining more points from individual player games won than any other side, with 41 of their 53 points gained this way. Its unbelievably tight though, and arguably all of the top six teams are in with a shout of the title or promotion. The Carters have improved on last season, and currently sit seven points clear of the relegation places and with a pair of 5-2 victories already against the bottom two.
Gavin Halton hit a 17 darter and 7 ton-plus scores during a 3-0 opening win over Mark Robinson to put The Carters ahead, but the sides were soon level after Chris Chapman secured his seventh league win on the bounce with a 3-1 defeat of Johnathan Thierens. Andy Kindred repeated that scoreline in his game against Ryan Pollit to put Ashton 2-1 in front, and after a 17 darter and 69.37 average helped James Compton to a 3-0 win over Bob Mitchell, the visitors were 3-1 up. The Carters showed some steel to bring it back to 3-3 after 3-0 wins for Dave Sills and Terry Caine, but in the final game of the night Mike Buckley’s 3-0 win over John Thierens ensured the win for Ashton and sent them to the top of the table.
Division 3
A full set of fixtures went ahead in Division 3 this week in the last games of the first half of the season, and one result stood out above the others as The Bent Brook secured a shock 4-3 win at league leaders Broadheath Central Aces, and in doing so ended the last unbeaten league run in all three divisions.
The Bulls Head kept themselves in the promotion mix-up with a 4-3 win against bottom placed Old Market Tavern, while The Jolly Butcher got back to winning ways, spoiling the home side’s housewarming party with a 4-3 win at The Horseshoe. Sale Excel claim a 5-2 win at The Nelson to remain second, and in doing so reduce the BHC Aces lead at the top to nine points, The Royal Oak B stage a comeback to defeat The Buck Inn-eers 4-3, and third placed The Vine’s 5-2 win over Stretfordians keeps them in touch of second place, just three points behind Sale Excel.
Broadheath Central Aces 3 vs 4 The Bent Brook
In the result of the week, Broadheath Central Aces saw their unbeaten run of league games come to an end as they lost their tenth game of the season to the Bent Brook. Despite the loss they still retain a firm grip on top place, nine points clear of Sale Excel in second, and, with 49 of 70 games won by their players its fair to say that there would need to be an implosion of Titanic seaking submarine proportions for them to miss out on at least promotion. The win for the Bent Brook was their fifth from ten games played, and places them seventh in the table within range of the teams directly above them.
Andy McCormack looked to have set the Aces along their usual path with a 2-0 win in game one, however from there on in the script was torn up as the Brook won four games on the trot to seal victory against the shell-shocked league leaders after just five games played.
In game 2, Paul Charnock started things off, hitting a 107 finish as he levelled up the match with a 2-0 win over Geoff Talbot, and in doing so, he also inflicted Geoff’s first Division 3 loss in the two and a half seasons I’ve been recording stats on this website. Sam Oldham was up next for the visitors against Aces captain Dave Wood, and after another 2-0 win the Brook were in the lead. With the visitors ‘starting to believe’, in a way not seen since Neo was in the Matrix, Sean Dignan took a deciding leg win over Iris Bannister, and suddenly the Brook were one game away from a famous victory. They didnt have to wait long as Brook captain Anthony Coleman stepped up and won a deciding leg shootout against Darren Wood in game five to make it 4-1 and seal the bonus points and a thoughroughly deserved win.
The loss of their unbeaten record must have lit a fire under the remaining Aces, who won the two remaining games 2-0. Nigel Beaton hit a 180, a 19 darter and a 68.3 average during his win over Ken Turnock in game six, before Martin Johnson won the final game of the night against Alex Morton.
Bulls Head 4 vs 3 Old Market Tavern
The Bulls Head made it six wins from ten this season with this close win at bottom placed Old market Tavern, to reach the halfway point of the season in fourth place and just 8 points off the second promotion spot. The OMT reach the seasons midpoint in last place with no wins, but with enough points gained in six 4-3 defeats and four 5-2 defeats to be only 7 points behind the 11th placed Jolly Butcher.
Angela Haycocks made it 1-0 to the OMT following a 2-1 win against Bo Bowman, but a deciding leg win for Steve Hazelhurst over Mandy Haycocks soon had the sides level. Rob Barber’s 2-0 win against Les Potts gave the Bulls Head a 2-1 lead, but after a 2-0 win for Ian Fensome over Adrian Stock in game four it was all square once again. Chris Cordingley then beat Nathan Potts in another last leg decider to restore the Bulls lead at 3-2, but the OMT drew level once more following a 2-0 victory for Steven Foster in his game with Harry Simper. With the sides tied at 3-3, the final game between Bulls Head’s Iain Fish and OMT’s Sally Corfield went to a last leg decider, with the Bulls Head man claiming the winning double to win the match for his team.
Horseshoe 3 vs 4 The Jolly Butcher
The Jolly Butcher put an end to a run of four successive defeats with this close 4-3 win over The Horseshoe, and in doing so ruined the party atmosphere that pervaded the former Levenshulme B’s new home as the locals celebrated the arrival of their new darts team like Real Madrid welcoming a new Galactico (or that could have had something to do with a 21st birthday party taking place in another part of the pub).
The Jolly Butcher took an early 2-0 lead after deciding leg wins in each of the first two games for Steve Foster and Chris McGrory. The home side responded immediately though, as George Moss won 2-0 to get his ninth win from eleven in all competitions and Oscar Coutts won a deciding leg against head butcher Liz Sweeney to bring the sides level. Gareth Sullivan put the Butcher back in front with a 2-1 win against Ben Harrington in game 5, and it was mission accomplished for the party-poopers when Stuart Watson claimed a 2-0 win against Horseshoe captain Rob Moss. The final game of the night went to the home team as Keiran Chapman claimed a 2-0 win over Tracy Wesemeyer.
The Nelson Didsbury 2 vs 5 Sale Excelsior
Sale Excel and the Nelson went into this fixture with the same number of matches won and lost, and seperated only by points gained via the higher number of player games won by the Excel. A combination of this 5-2 win for the Excel and BHC Aces’ loss against The Bent Brook sees the Excel reduce the gap at the top by four points, the second placed side now only nine behind the long time leaders. The loss for the Nelson was a fourth in their debut season, and whilst the newcomers can be perfectly happy with a solid start, they have shown that there may be more to come, as they have proved they can be a match for anyone in the division on their day.
The Nelson went ahead after a 2-0 win for Graham Beech in the opening game, but The Excel came storming back to win the next three games through Danny Chua, Warren McCoubrey and Jimmy Nolan, though it looks like a close fought affair as all three of these games were settled in a deciding leg. Dave Cook pulled one back for the Nelson to make it 3-2, but the Excel were not to be denied as Andy Cheetham rattled in a 16 dart leg during a 2-0 defeat of Derek Winess to seal the match, before Peter Sage also had a 2-0 win over Vincent Benson to make it 5-2 overall.
Royal Oak B 4 vs 3 The Buck Inn-eers
These two newcomers to the league have had a similar start to life in Division 3 and both went into this match with three wins and six losses from nine matches played, with The Buck Inn-eers positioned marginally higher due to total games won across their matches so far. The sides had seen contrasting form recently, with a three game win streak for the Buck’s only ended after last weeks defeat against league leaders BHC Aces, while The Royal Oak B had a run of 4 wins earlier in the season, followed by a run of four straight defeats before this match. This home win for the Oak B (their first of this season) leaves them tenth, a point behind their opponents, but within touching distance of the sides above them.
The Buck Inn-eers took an early lead with a 2-0 win for George Banner, but that was immediately snuffed out when the Oak’s Jaydon Strong matched that score against Harley Woods. The Buck’s then claimed the next two, as a 2-0 win for Declan Law was followed by a 2-1 win for Matt Kershaw to put the visitors 3-1 up and just one away from victory with three still to play. The Oak were not done by any stretch and started their come back with a 2-1 win for Pete DeCordova against James Bloomfield, and when Captain Jack Holt of the Royal Oak (always makes me think of a pirate) won game 6 against Peter Bloomfield, the sides were level and heading into a decider. The final game was between Rob Whiteside, and Adrian Suchon (who I believe is not a two Michelin star chef even if he sounds like one), and it was Rob who held his nerve to seal the comeback with a 2-0 win that gave his side the overall 4-3 win.
The Vine 5 vs 2 Stretfordians
The Vine made it three wins on the bounce to reach the season’s halfway point in third place, but with eight wins and only two league losses – the second best record in the division. Many of those wins have been 4-3 compared to the Excel tending to have bigger wins, but it still means the Vine are only 3 points off second and are well placed to make a promotion change in the second half of the season. Stretfordians went into this one with four wins so far, which represents a huge improvement on recent seasons, but with only six players available for this match, they were up against it from the start.
The Vine’s automatic 1-0 lead was wiped out after the first game as Toni Entwistle recorded her fourth win of the season with a 2-0 defeat of Wayne Hough. Vine Captain Billy Sanders put his side back in front with a 2-0 win over Mark Leather in game 2, and when Stuart Tait beat Stretfordians captain Lindsay Rice 2-0, the Vine were 3-1 up. Adam Jackson reduced the defecit with his sixth win of the season, acheived in a deciding leg win over Kyran Eyes, but when Charlie Sanders claimed a 2-0 win over Chrissy Thompson, it was 4-2 and the Vine had secured their eighth win in ten. The last game also went the way of the home team as Nathan Thompson defeated Morgan Nickson 2-0 to add an extra point and move the Vine even closer to the top two.
If anyone has any corrections, wants to clarify anything, or if you just want to open up a discussion about any game or player performance – why not register with the site and add a comment below!