Division 1
A pair of 7-0 wins in the top flight this week, with one for The Victoria (who move up to fourth) over The Roebuck, and the other for second placed Timplerley against Broadheath. This was a result which chops another two points off the Ammies lead at the top of the table as The Ammies ‘only’ managed a 5-2 win at the Cringlewood. Wythenshawe secured third position with a 4-3 win at The Nelson, and the John Alker had a bye week.
The Victoria 7 vs 0 The Roebuck
The Victoria made it two wins in succession since a pair of back to back heavy defeats against the top two at the start of the year, and in the process recorded their biggest win of the season against a Roebuck side that now find themselves eighth and twelve points from safety, although they do have a game in hand over The Cringlewood in seventh.
Game 1 saw yours truly taking on Chris Haycock, and although Chris got off to a great start and led 2-0, I managed to pinch the remaining 3 legs and get the win. In game 2, The Vic’s Terry Jepson earned a 3-0 win against Ste Reddy to put the home side two up, hitting his sixth 180 of the season to keep himself near the top of that merit list. Game 3 saw Matt Jepson hand Rick Kiel only his third loss of the campaign, Matt matching his old man with a 3-0 win of his own, however with no 180s scored its starting to look nailed on that the Ballon D’Jeppo is going to Terry this season.
Paul Mitchell won a deciding leg, and with it the match and the bonus points when taking on Chris Merriman in game four, before Dave ‘The Knife’ Stanley beat Andy Kindred 3-1 while finishing with a creditable 75 average, hitting a 15 darter, and scoring two 180s which doubled his overall total for the season to four.
Jack Jarvis has been very unlucky in a few games since joining the Vic, but finally got his first win at the fourth attempt as he nailed a 16 darter in a deciding leg win against Mark Garnett, and the whitewash was completed in game seven after Sean Edwards got his fourth maximum so far during a 3-0 win over Chris Reddy.
The Vic have a bye week on the 14th February, while The Roebuck face a daunting trip to the Ammies where they (and Timperley) will be hoping that they can avoid a St Valentines day massacre.
Broadheath Central 0 vs 7 Timperley CC
Timperley have responded well since a defeat at the Ammies apppeared to leave their title hopes in tatters, first taking full advantage of a slip up last week by the league leaders to register a big 6-1 win, and this week bettering the Ammies’ score again with a whopping 7-0 win at bottom placed Broadheath. The hosts, while sitting bottom of the table, are only a point behind the Roebuck and whilst this means they are 13 points from safety, they do have two games in hand.
The unbeaten Callum Loose put Timperley into an early lead with a comfortable 3-0 win over Shane Crellin, not only managing a 15 darter, 119 checkout and an 83.5 average, but also hitting his sixth and seventh maximums of an increasingly impressive season. Andy Broadhurst doubled the lead when getting a 129 finish during a 3-1 win against Leyton Jackson, while it was soon 3-0 when Andy Pearson hit a 16 dart leg in a 3-1 win over Dave Wood.
The match was sealed following game four, in which Kev Kelly got a 15 darter and a 69 average as he beat Martin Johnson 3-0, and another 3-0 win, this time for Andy Brownhill against Darren Wood, made it 5-0 to the visitors.
Timperley were in no mood to let up, and a 3-0 victory for Gary Sullivan over Andy McCormack (which included Sullys fifth 180 of the season) saw them 6-0 up going into the final game, in which former Timperely player Dan Cross was unable to get one over on his old side, succumbing to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Chris Stone which completed the white wash.
Next week sees Timperley have a date with The John Alker on Valentines day, while Broadheath travel to Wythenshawe.
Cringlewood 2 vs 5 Ammies Darts
A 5-2 win is a normally classed as a decent score, but with Timperley’s slaying of Broadheath, this actually turned out to be 2 points dropped for the leaders in the title race. For the Cringlewood this result was a second 5-2 reverse in as many games, but leaves them sitting relatively safe in 7th place twelve clear of the Roebuck, who the Ammies will face next week.
Alex Martin was first up for The Cringlewood, and although he put in a good performance winning two legs against 10 ton hitting Karl Cooper, Alex ultimately came up short in a deciding leg which the Ammies man took to give his side the lead. The home side were soon level though as Luke Mulhern gained a 3-1 win over Don Cooper, but the Ammies were soon back ahead as skipper Paul Devine secured a 3-0 win against John Mulhern, assisted by a 108 checkout. In game 4 Pete Watson made it 3-1, smashing his sixth 180 of the season and a 76 average during a 3-0 win over Wayne Proud, before Ray Dore got the Ammies fourth and secured the win with a 3-1 win against Ray Levesconte.
The Cringlewood got themselves another point in game six as Mike Morrison took a 3-1 win over Scott Livingstone, but the final game of the night saw another Ammies win as reigning individuals champion Adam Watson hit 2 maximums, making it it five for the season, as he beat Rob Lauder 3-1, with rob managing nine ton plus scores in defeat. Next up for the Cringlewood is a trip to the Nelson, while the Ammies are hosting the Roebuck.
The Nelson 3 vs 4 Wythenshawe CSC
The Nelson suffered their third defeat on the trot to now sit fifth in the table after this game, while Wythenshawe consolidate third position, only three points ahead of their beaten opponents, but a collosal 22 points behind Timperley in second – though with a game in hand on both those teams.
In a close match, no side was ever more than one game ahead, and it was only decided in Wythenshawe’s favour in the last leg of the seventh game.
Game 1 saw Pete Evans put the home side ahead with a 3-1 win over Kian Sherlock, while George McCormick made it all square hitting a 180 and winning a last leg decider in a 3-2 win over Ant Hargreaves Sr.
Dylan Wimbury then smashed in a 77 average as he put the Nelson back in the lead with a 3-0 win against Ash Bowers, but a 15 darter and a 180 for Martin Power levelled the match again as he beat Tony Green 3-1. Another Wythenshawe 3-1 win in game five put them 3-2 up, with Adam White hitting a nice 126 finish while beating Andrew Day, who got the small consolation of hitting his third 180 of the season.
It was the turn of the Nelson to come from behind next, as a 3-0 Steve Moane win against Becky Knott brought the sides level for the third time. The deciding game was a shootout between Wythenshawe captain Dave Peploe and Mick Cooney, and in a five leg tussle, Pep came out on top to give his side a 4-3 win.
Division 2
With the division 2 leaders Silver Birch having a bye week, the focus was split between the battle for the other promotion spot and the fight to avoid relegation. The Royal Oak have a small lead in the promotion battle, but with only six points seperating second and fifth, and with Ashton in that fifth place having a game in hand…. its still anyones game.
Urmston SC 5 vs 2 The Carters Arms
Urmston were back in action after a bye week, and will be pleased to have registered their first win in seven league games dating back to the previous meeting with the Carters at the start of November. With a game in hand on the teams below them, Urmston will be hoping to build on this win and consolidate themselves in Division 2. The Carters on the other hand now sit bottom of the league, 10 points from safety with only five games left to try and turn things around.
Urmston ran away with this one early doors, with four successive wins in the first four games securing the win and bonus points, those wins coming via Dave Tong, Jim Higginson, Harry Fitton and James Higgy who all recorded 3-1 scorelines to get their side the win.
Carters didnt give up though, and wins in the next two games for Ryan Pollit and Gavin Halton, earned them a couple of points from the match, but that was to be it as Steve Lye sealed another point for Urmston and a 5-2 win overall with an 18 darter and 69 average in his 3-1 win over Bob Mitchell in the final game.
The Royal Oak 4 vs 3 The Volunteer
This was a battle between two of the four teams that look most likely to contest the second automatic promotion spot in division 2 and although the Royal Oak came out on top, they let slip a 4-1 lead as the Volunteers late response ensured they got the best case scenario when losing a game – 3 points.
The Oak’s Tony Kirby hit 7 ton plus scores while edging out Geoff Sanders 3-2 in the opener, and 3-1 wins for Lee Medd and Sharon Kirby over Eddie Clare and Charlie Sanders quickly made it 3-0 to the hosts.
Dan O’Donnell got his side on the scoreboard with a 3-0 win against Jordan Perry in game 4, but Pete Perry avenged his lads defeat and secured the win for the Oak with a deciding leg victory over Billy Sanders.
Another deciding leg win in game six went the way of the Volunteer as Gary Williams beat Jack Holt, while Callum Nolan got a third game for the visitors with a 3-0 win over Stephen Lee in the final game of the night, a win which brought the scoreline to 4-3 and ensured they got the points that keep them five points behind the Oak who currently occupy that second spot.
Ashton-on-Mersey 5 vs 2 Trafford SC
This third win in succession sees Ashton sit fifth but only six points adrift of the Oak in second and they retain a game in hand, which means any kind of win in that extra game eliminates the gap completely. Trafford are in the midst of a bad run of results, sitting second bottom and currently occupying the second relegation spot, but need only look to St Antonys recent fine form to see how quickly things can turn around.
A 3-1 win for Mark Robinson got the first runs on the board for the Cricket Club, but Trafford came straight back at them, with a 3-1 scoreline of his own giving Kyle Wands the win in game two. Ashton stepped on the gas in the next two with quick 3-0 wins for Chris Chapman and Mike Buckley putting them into a 3-1 lead overall, before Andrew Wood grabbed a 3-1 win to reduce the defecit to 3-2.
The remaining games saw wins for Ashton duo James Compton and George Hardman, Compo sealing the win with a 3-0 victory against Gaz Collins, while Geroge Hardman wrapped it up with a 3-1 win against Alex Buckley.
St Antony’s 4 vs 3 LMRCA
St Antony’s is certainly one of the stories of the new year, as, after labouring without a win for the whole season, they have subsequently now won five games on the trot to currently sit sixth with plenty of breathing space from the relegation zone, and with a newly interested eye on the sides battling for the second automatic promotion spot. LMRCA ar one of those teams, and have a different recent story, having lead the table and contested the top two during the first half of the season they have now lost three of the last four in the league, the exception being last weeks creditable 5-2 win against second placed Royal Oak.
Ron Cooke put LMRCA into an early lead with a 3-1 win over Dom Batty, but the sides were level when a deciding leg win for Alan Farrar gave him a 3-2 win over Ryan Woods. A 3-0 win for Saints Carl Paton featuring an 18 dart leg followed, and a 3-1 win for Mark Paton put the home team firmly in the driving seat at 3-1.
Tony Spilsbury reduced this gap to 3-2 with a 3-1 win in game five, and a 3-0 win for Alan Gleave in game six brought the teams level with one to go. Formwise, if the Saints were to pick anyone to go on in this situation it would be Shaun Gill with only two defeats to his name this season. And so it was, as six tons and a 3-1 win over Derek Ostick later, Shaun wrapped the game up for St Antonys to continue their remarkable recent run of form.
Division 3
With only four games left following this weeks fixtures The Malt Shovels continue their march towards Division 2 with a comprehensive win 6-1 over the now fourth placed Wythenshawe FC, The Bent Brook equal their biggest ever win, mirroring their early season 6-1 against bottom placed Stretfordians, The Melville win 5-2 at the Old Market Tavern to keep themselves on track for promotion and still in with a shout of the title, and the Bulls Head make third place their own with a 5-2 win over Sale Excel.
Wythenshawe FC 1 vs 6 The Malt Shovels
The Malts made it 10 from 10 in the league this season with a comfortable 6-1 win at Wythenshawe, to leave them on the verge of promotion and current favourites for the divisional title.
The Malt Shovels had the game finished as a contest after just four games, with wins for James Golds, Geoff Talbot, Rob Clark and Ryhen Chay-O’Neill grabbing the bonus points with a Brian Sproston leg against Rob being the sole thing for Wythenshawe to cheer about. In fact, the Shovels were playing that well it caused Chris McGrory to fall out of his chair in astonishment.
Michael Wesemeyer changed that in game five with a 2-0 win over James Roberts, only James’ second defeat of the the season, while Michael now has seven wins from his eight played.
4-1 was as good as it got for the home team though, as 2-0 wins for Phil Wright (achieved despite an ongoing fire alarm) and Dave Hindmarch over James Odell and Chris O’Keefe added the icing to the cake and secured 8 points towards the Malts title challenge.
Stretfordians 1 vs 6 The Bent Brook
The Brooks biggest win so far was in the fixture between these two sieds earlier in the season and history was to repeat itself here as a reversal in venues did not lead to a reversal in fortunes for Stretfordians.
Connor O’Toole and Ken Turnock got the Brook underway with a pair of 2-0 victories, while Anthony Coleman needed a deciding leg in game three to make it 3-0. Mark Ulyatt then secured the win for the Brook with a 2-0 win over Michele Butt. Rob Moore and Alex Moreton twisted the knife further with 2-1 wins against Simon Scully and Lindsey Rice, but the whitewash was averted in game 7 as Ellis Harkin gained a point for Stretfordians with a 2-1 win against Alya Preston-Macallan.
The Old Market Tavern 2 vs 5 The Melville
This one could have been an episode of Family Fortunes as the Haycocks family took on the Powells, with each allowed a couple of friends on this occasion. Following this defeat OMT are now locked in a battle with The Bent Brook for sixth, while both those teams also have an outside chance of catching the Excel in fifth. The Melville on the other hand are 14 points clear of third following this game and looking set for a Division 2 bow next season barring any late season mishaps. It also remains to be seen if they can catch the Malt Shovels for the title.
Jon and Jake Powell put the Melville 2-0 ahead with 2-0 and 2-1 wins in their games against Emily Haycocks and Lee Knowles respectively, and this became 3-0 as Paul Sambrook got the better of Sally Corfield by 2 legs to nil.
Richard Haycocks arrested the slide with a 2-0 win against Cam McFarlane in game four, but Tom Powell ensured the win for the Melville when winning game five 2-0 against Angela Haycocks. Howard Haycocks became the second of his clan to win on the night, making it 4-2 overall with a 2-0 win against Brad Hodgson, but Owen Powell got the fourth Powell victory of the evening when beating Amanda Haycocks 2-0 to make it 5-2 overall.
The Bulls Head 5 vs 2 Excelsior WMC
Bulls Head have had a decent season with only three losses, and seem to be wrapping up third place for themselves. Two of their remaining games are against the top two, and the others against sides in the bottom three so there is still time for them to not only have a say in the title race, but also give themselves an outside chance of snaffling that second promotion spot.
The Excel won game one as Warren McCoubrey won a deciding leg against Adrian Stock to give his side the lead, but wins for Harry Simper, jamie Harris and Iain Fish soon had the Hale Barns side in a comfortable lead at 3-1. Andy Cheethams 2-0 win over Chris Barber reduced this to 3-2, but Chris Cordingley made sure of the team win when beating Danny Chua 2-0 in game six, before Rob Barber won a deciding leg shoot out against Adam Richardson to give the Bulls the victory.
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