Division 1
The top three teams all secured good wins on Wednesday evening to put clear daylight between themselves and the rest of the division. The Ammies retain top spot after a 5-2 win at the Victoria Burnage, second placed Timperley reduce the gap to nine points after a whitewash 7-0 win over 5-man Broadheath Central, and St Johns keep themselves close by in third with a 5-2 win against the John Alker. Wythenshawe move up to fourth after a 5-2 home win over the Victoria Withington, and at the bottom end of the table, The Volunteer’s 5-2 win over the Cringlewood keeps them safely in eighth position and extends the gap between themselves and the teams below them to eight points.
Timperley CC 7 vs 0 Broadheath Central
Timperley keep the pressure on the Ammies with a big 7-0 win that reduces the gap at the top, thought they were helped in no small part by Broadheath only being able to field five players on the night. Broadheath’s defeat see them cut adrift at the foot of the table, seven points behind second bottom Cringlewood, but more importantly now fifteen behind the Volunteer.
A 14 darter, seven ton-plus scores and 76.42 average helped Andy Pearson to a 3-0 win to put the home side in front on the night, and with two games already won by default due to Broadheath being two players short, the writing was on the wall straight away. Game two saw Gary Sullivan effectively make it 4-0, hitting his sixth and seventh 180’s of the season during a 3-1 win over Broadheath captain JonJo Devon, and it was soon 5-0 after Andy Broadhurst beat Lee Darcey 3-0 whilst hitting a 180 of his own in the process. In game 4 Callum Loose hit eight ton-plusses during a 3-1 win over 180 hitting Dan Cross to make it 6-0, and in the fifth and final game of the night Kev Kelly secured a 3-1 win against Shane Crellin to make it 7-0 overall.
Wythenshawe CSC 5 vs 2 Victoria Withington
A typically close game between two evenly matched sides saw Wythenshawe win a deciding leg in all five of their winning games to claim the match and move up two places to fourth in the league, leap-frogging the Victoria in the process. The Vic might feel a little hard done by (we do a bit) to have been 2-1 up in four of those five games and lost them all, but its all about the winning doubles, and Wythenshawe’s accuracy in that area gave them a well deserved win.
Paul Taylor put Wythenshawe in front, winning the fifth against Sean Edwards after the Victoria man had forced a deciding leg in that one. The next two games also went to a deciding leg, both of which again went in favour of the home team, as John Brown and Martin Power both came back from 2-1 down to win their final legs against Matt and Terry Jepson respectively, Martin and Matt both hit 180s during their games and Terry had a 111 finish. The Vic rallied during the middle games as 3-0 wins for Connor Wigley and myself pulled the overall score back to 3-2, but the final two games would once again see Vic players 2-1 up before being taken to fifth legs which ended in Wythenshawe’s favour. In game six home captain Dave Peploe hit a 180 at just the right time at the end of his deciding leg with Lewis Holley, the Vic man subsequently missing three at double to win, allowing Dave to finish 53 in two darts to take the victory. In the final game, Wythenshawe’s Col Smith opened with a maximum but still found himself 2-1 down after three legs of a close game against Jack Jarvis, but yet again the Wythenshawe man was able to level it up before coming out on top in the decider.
John Alker 2 vs 5 St Johns
The Alker fell to a fourth defeat of the season as visitors St Johns completed a league double over their opponents with a 5-2 win that keeps them twelve points behind leaders The Ammies, and three behind second placed Timperley. The Alker drop to fifth, a point behind Wythenshawe but with a game in hand.
St Johns’ Jez Saunders scored his second 180 of the season during a 3-1 win over Chris Wormald in the opener, but a solid 3-1 win for Gaz O’Donnell against Martin Tyson soon saw the Alker level. Lewis Ellis hit a 180 while beating Alker captain Ewan Donegan 3-1 as the visitors took the lead again, but Gaz Brickhill pulled the home side level for the second time with a 3-1 win over Danny Glover. St Johns were back in front for a third time when Oliver Clarke hit a 180 while beating Baz Rowland 3-1, but there was to be no equalizer for the Alker this time as Mike Shaw made sure of the win with a 3-0 defeat of John Hawken. The final game of the night saw Wythenshawe stretch the winning margin to 5-2 as Kaine Goldie defeated Gary Thompson by 3 legs to nil.
Volunteer 5 vs 2 Cringlewood
With two of the ten teams in division one destined for relegation, this meeting of the sides occupying eighth and ninth in the table, and seperated by just three points at the start of the night, was a must-win for both teams. The two sides met in the reverse fixture just two weeks ago, with that one ending in a 4-3 win for the Volunteer, and it was a similar story this time as the home side secured a 5-2 win to leave them eight points clear of the relegation zone.
The home side were off to a flier as Niall Willis’ ton scoring finally bore fruit with his first win of the season after a 3-0 win over Cringlewood skipper John Mulhern, but the visitors drew level after a 3-0 win for Ray Levesconte which included a 106 checkout. The Cringlewood took the lead after a 3-1 win for Rob Lauder over Toni Williams, but The Volunteer’s Gary Williams made it all square again with a 3-0 win against Alex Martin. From here on in the home side didnt lose another leg in the match, as 3-0 wins for Ryan Kelly, Dan O’Donnell and Callum Nolan ensured the bonus points and a much needed 5-2 victory which moves the Volunteer eight points clear of the relegation places, with a game in hand.
Victoria Burnage 2 vs 5 Ammies Darts
The Ammies secure another good win punctuated with some excellent individual performances to remain top, although with a slightly reduced lead after Timperleys 7-0 win. The Victoria Burnage fell to a second home defeat in as many weeks and remain in seventh position in the table, now just two points ahead of the Volunteer, but still within striking range of the teams above them with at least a game in hand on all the other teams in the division.
Adam Watson hit a 180, an 18 darter and a 77.74 average during an impressive opening win against Vic captain Steve Moane, but the Burnage side drew level after a quality performance from Dylan Wimbury saw him hit a 16 darter, seven ton-plusses, a 180 and an 85.08 average during a 3-0 win over the previously undefeated Kyle Bell. A deciding leg win for Mick Cooney in game three put the Victoria Burnage ahead, but Ammies captain and two-time SMD individuals champion Paul Devine brought his side level after a fine 3-0 win over Pete Evans in which he hit a 15 dart leg and a 135 finish, ending up with a match-high 86.71 average. Further 3-0 wins for Ray Dore and Mike Morrison sealed the match for the Champions, Massive Mike hitting his third maximum of the season and a 14 darter on the way to a fine 77.74 average, his highest of the season so far. The last game of the night saw the prolific Pete Watson hit an eighth 180 from nine games played this season whilst also pinning a 17 darter during a 3-2 win over Andrew Day.
Division 2
A big result for Urmston Sports Club as a 5-2 win over fellow title challengers The Royal Oak sees them retain second place while exending their lead over their third placed opponents to six points, leaders Ashton-on-Mersey record their biggest win of the season with a 7-0 destruction of St Anthonys and in doing so double the gap to second place to four points, The Melville get back to winning ways with a 5-2 win at the Carters, LMRCA finally get a league win, and a good one at that, defeating Trafford Social 4-3, and bottom placed Malt Shovels claim an impressive 4-3 win over near neighbours The Roebuck.
Carters Arms 2 vs 5 The Melville
Sixth placed Melville recovered quickly from last weeks heavy defeat with a fine 5-2 win over The Carters Arms and in doing so reduced the gap to fifth placed Trafford to six points, while the two points gained by the Carters in defeat was still enough to see them move up a place to seventh after St Anthony’s got no points during a heavy loss against Ashton.
The Melville went in front after a 3-0 win in game one for Tom Powell against Terry Caine, but the hosts were level after a deciding leg win for Ryan Pollit over Cam McFarlane. Owen Powell restored the lead for the visitors with a 3-0 defeat of John Thierens, before Jake Powell extended that lead with a 3-1 win against Dave Sills. Another 3-1 win for the Melville in game five ensured the win, as Paul Sambrook defeated Gavin Halton, and after captain Jon Powell beat Johnathan Thierens 3-1, the Melville were 5-1 to the good. There was still time for The Carters to grab another point though, and they did so via a final game 3-1 win for Bob Mitchell over Joe McCracken.
St Anthony’s 0 vs 7 Ashton-on-Mersey CC
Ashton-on-Mersey followed up a big 6-1 win over Trafford last week with this whitewash against St Anthony’s to open up the first bit of real daylight seen in the Division 2 table all season. Whilst Ashton’s lead over Urmston doubled to four points, the size of the win means they have also eliminated the game in hand advantage held by third placed Royal Oak, who’s defeat at Urmston sees them now 10 points behind the leaders. St Anthony’s defeat see them drop to eighth, but they are five points clear of the relegation zone and still have a game in hand over both of the teams below them.
The first half of the game was one way traffic, as a 3-1 win for Will Radcliffe against Alan Farrar got Ashton under way, before Chris Chapman doubled the lead with a 3-0 win against Ian Paton in game 2. Andy Kindred maintained his fine form since joining Ashton with a 3-1 win in the third, and after Mike Buckley hit a 70.45 average during his 3-0 win over Josh Doherty the game was won. Despite this, St Anthonys can count themselves unlucky in the remainder of the match, as all three games went to a deciding leg, but all went in favour of Ashton, as Mark Robinson, Stephen Orton and James Compton ensured that the visitors took a maximum nine points from the game.
Roebuck 3 vs 4 The Malt Shovels
The Roebuck suffered a third defeat of the season in what could be considered a shock result in this Altrincham derby, while the Malt Shovels secured only their second win of the season so far. With results going the way they did, the Bucks are actually a point closer to third placed Royal Oak, but they have lost substantial ground on the top two, now lying 12 points behind top place – double last weeks gap. Despite the Malt Shovels’ victory, an LMRCA win by exactly the same margin means that it’s as-you-were with the Malts still occupying bottom spot in the Division 2 table, but there is light at the end of the tunnel as the gap to the safety of eighth place has reduced from 12 points last week to just 6 after this win.
Chris Reddy hit a 129 finish while putting The Roebuck one up with a 3-0 win over Dave Hindmarch, but the sides were level after Dean Power got the better of Mark Garnett by 3 legs to 1. A 3-1 Chris Merriman win put the Bucks 2-1 up, but the Malts drew level for a second time after a 3-1 win for Luke Loveitt against Ste Reddy. Chris Haycock put the home side in front for a third time with a deciding leg win over Phil Wright, but wins in the final two games for James Roberts and James Lynch of the Malt Shovels were enough to turn it around and give the visitors a much needed win.
Trafford SC 3 vs 4 LMRCA
They’ve finally done it, the last team in all three divisions still looking for a win found it at the eleventh time of asking, and LMRCA’s win may well have dealt a critical blow to Trafford Social’s hopes of getting back involved in the Division 2 title race. Similarly to bottom placed Malt Shovels, LMRCA’s win doesnt have any bearing on their position in the table, but it does bring them within five points of St Anthonys in eighth, though the bottom two have both played a game more.
Tony Feesey put the visitors ahead with a 3-1 win against Jake Neersoo, but Trafford came storming back as 3-0 wins for Andrew Wood and Andrew Davies were followed by a 3-1 win for Kyle Wands which put the hosts into a 3-1 lead. Ron Cooke hit an 18 darter and a hightlight reel 138 finish while reducing the defecit to 3-2, and after Derek Ostick won a fifth leg decider with Liam Galvin, the sides were level with one to play. The deciding game of the night was between Gaz Collins of Trafford and Tony Spilsbury, and with a first win for his team on the horizon Tony made no mistake, claiming a 3-0 win to send his side home with their first bonus points of the season.
Urmston SC 5 vs 2 Royal Oak A
In the weeks big match in Division 2 second placed Urmston secured a huge result in the title battle with this 5-2 win over third placed Royal Oak, especially considering the game in hand the Chorlton side held over the top two. The win sees Urmston march on with their title challenge, still only four points behind an Ashton side who have registered some huge wins in recent weeks. The loss for the Oak leaves them ten points off top place and six behind Urmston, but they do still have that game in hand so at this stage its all still very much too close to call.
Steve Lawless claimed a 3-0 win over Harry Fitton in the opening game of the night to put the Oak in front, before the Oak’s Sharon Kirby took on Dave Tong in game two. The Oak’s lead might well have been doubled if it wasnt for the presence of Urmston’s Darryl Fitton, but five ton-plus scoring Sharon fell to a deciding leg defeat whilst later admitting to being a little too flustered by the dazzling presence of the Dazzler in the room. In game 3 Luke Lonergan put the home side 2-1 up after a 3-2 win against Ryan Crook, and the lead was extended further with another 3-2 win for Urmston as Gaz Lane came out on top against Jordan Perry. With Urmston 3-1 up and Shaz scrambling for a front row seat, The Dazzler took to the oche against Pete Perry looking to confirm the win for the home side, while Pete was hoping to get the Oak back into the match. Ultimately it was one step beyond for Pete, and after a 180 and 79.11 average Darryl had secured the win. The Oak managed to grab another point in game six as Stretford’s favourite postman Lee Medd delivered a 3-1 win over Lee Capper, but the night was Urmston’s and it was rounded off in style with a sparkling performance from Steve Lye who hit two 180s and a 15 darter to finish with a 76.6 average in a 3-2 win against Steve Lee.
Division 3
Broadheath Central Aces extended their lead at the top of the table to 16 points after a 5-2 win against the Vine and appear to be coasting toward Division 2 darts next season, but even if they are already looking set to win the division, then the battle for second place could go right down to the wire, with five teams currently all in with a good shout of claiming second and a sixth certainly not yet out of the running.
The Bulls Head remain in third place despite a narrow 4-3 loss to the Dog & Partridge, The Horseshoe secured a big 6-1 win at the Old Market Tavern, The Buck Inn-eers secure a 4-3 home win against the Bent Brook, previously second bottom Royal Oak B get a 4-3 win against second placed Sale Excel, and The Jolly Butcher are still looking for a home win after a 4-3 reverse against Stretfordians.
BHC Aces 5 vs 2 The Vine
The Aces look more and more like champions elect as the weeks go by, and after this win against the Vine they now have a healthy 16 point lead over second placed Sale Excel. The loss sees the Vine drop to sixth, but its not as bad as it sounds as they are still just five points behind the second automatic promotion spot.
2-0 wins for Nigel Beeton and Andy McCormack put the Vine into a 2-0 lead, but Dave Goulden pulled one back for the visitors with a 2-1 win against Dave Wood in Game three. Bob Hilton put in a fine performance when hitting a 71.58 average in a 2-0 win in game four which put the Aces into a 3-1 lead, and after Geoff Talbot won by the same scoreline in game five, the bonus points were in the bag. In game six the Vine managed a consolation win as Charlie Sanders edged a deciding leg against Darren Wood, but there was still time for another point for BHC Aces after a 2-0 win for Iris Bannister in the final game of the night.
Bulls Head 3 vs 4 Dog & Partridge
This win see the Dog and Partridge remain in fifth, but they are now just a point behind their beaten opponents and five off second place. Despite the loss, the Bulls Head didnt really suffer too much in terms of league position, they are still third and only four points off second, but its all heating up in the battle for that second place.
Elliot Wynne took game one by 2 legs to nil against Allan Simper to put the visitors ahead, but the lead was short lived as Iain Fish claimed the deciding leg in game two against Dave Cook. Chris Conduit put the Dog & Partridge back in front in game three, but the Bull’s were level once again after a 2-1 win for Chris Cordingley against Saj Shariff. The fifth game saw the pattern of the match change as the Bulls took the lead for the first time with a 2-1 Bo Bowman win against Graham Beech, but from 3-2 down the Dog & Partridge rallied strongly to take the win with 2-1 wins for captain Tom Spillane and Dave Harris.
Old Market Tavern 1 vs 6 The Horseshoe
A big win for the Horseshoe makes them the big movers in Division 3 this week as the other teams in contention beat each other or suffered unexpected losses. After starting the match in sixth and nine points off second, they have now joined the Bulls Head in third just four behind, and did their game difference no harm whatsoever in the process.
Josh McQuillan, Oscar Coutts and Sean Driver put the visitors in the driving seat with wins in each of the first three games of the night, before Nathan Potts took a deciding leg against David Duffy to make it 3-1. There was to be no comeback though, as George Moss secured the bonus points in game five with a 2-0 win over Angela Haycocks, before further wins for Karl Jones and Keiran Chapman ensured big win for the Horseshoe and a move up to joint third.
Buck Inn-eers 4 vs 3 The Bent Brook
The Bent Brook had back-to-back wins coming into this one, with a victory against champions elect BHC Aces followed by a big 6-1 win, but they came unstuck this week against a Buck Inn-eers side who recovered from three consecutive defeats, whilst reversing the scoreline of these sides’ first league meeting to claim the win.
Sean Dignan won the deciding leg of the opening game against Maizie Meek to put the Brook one up, but consecutive 2-0 wins for George Banner and Matt Kershaw quickly turned it around and put the Buck Inn-eers 2-1 in front. Paul Charnock levelled things up for the visitors with a 2-0 win of his own in game four, but the Buck’s were soon back in front after a 2-1 win for Charlotte Bloomfield put them one game away from victory. Josh Shaw ensured that the match would go down to a final game winner-take-all decider with a 2-1 win against James Bloomfield, but that decider was to go the way of the home side as Peter Bloomfield won the final leg against Ayla Prest-McAllen to get the Buck Inn-eers back to winning ways whilst countering ‘the curse of the green pen’.
Royal Oak B 4 vs 3 Sale Excelsior
This win for the Royal Oak delivered a heavy blow to second placed Sale Excel’s hopes of catching league leaders BHC Aces, but credit has to go to the home team after a superb comeback from 3-0 down saw them claim a 4-3 win.
In a proper game of two halves, the Oak B fell 3-0 behind as a 2-0 win for Jimmy Nolan in game two was sandwiched by a pair of 2-1 wins for Peter Sage and Warren McCoubrey. With the game looking like it was only heading in one direction, the Oak B proceeded to turn things around dramatically and secure an unlikely win, doing it the hard way with every game going to a deciding leg. Rob Whiteside started the recovery off with 5 ton plus scores in his win over Andy Cheetham, before Andrew Mossop made it 3-2 with a win against Danny Chua. Mark Gilmore brought the sides level after six games played with his 2-1 defeat of Marvin Daniel, and the comeback was complete after the home sides Dom Stevens won the final game of the night against Hannah Tague.
Jolly Butcher 3 vs 4 Stretfordians
Darts was secondary on the night, as both teams started the game with a perfectly observed minute of applause to celebrate the memory of Butcher player Chris Hibbert who had recently passed. The thoughts of myself, and Im sure everyone else in the league go out to Chris’s family at this time.
Recent games between these two sides had ended with big wins for the Butcher, but that trend was ended as the Stretfordians claimed a first win in four with a narrow last game, last leg win.
Adam Jackson and Jack Newsham gave Stretfordians a 2-0 lead after two games played with wins over Steve Foster and Gareth Sullivan respectively, but wins in games 3 & 4 for Chris McGrory and Liz Sweeney soon had the Butcher level. Ryan Tomlinson (bravely) claimed a 2-0 win against Tracy Wesemeyer in the fifth game to put Stretfordians back in front, but the lead was wiped out once again after a 2-0 win for Mike Swindells. The deciding game of the night went down to a deciding leg, and it was Stretfordians Captain Lindsay Rice who came out on top against Chris O’keefe to claim the win for the visitors.
Next up we have the KO Cup Quarter Finals, and the KO Shield Quarter Finals, along with three rescheduled Division 3 games from Week 1: Bulls Head vs Stretfordians, OMT vs Jolly Butcher, Bent Brook vs Royal Oak B.
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