Division 1
It was a bye week for the Victoria, and due to one other game being rearranged we were down to three fixtures in the top flight this week. It was the same old big win story for the Ammies, Broadheath were hit by a Wythenshawe broadside, and Cringlewood A edged a close one against the Nelson.
John Alker PP vs PP Timperley CC
Some reports stated that after the startling news of David Cameron’s return as Foreign Secretary, Timperley needed to rearrange this game to allow the players to help setup a celebration in the darts room, arranging a (definitely not socially distanced) buffet of cucumber sandwiches, vol-au-vents, black forest gateaux and gin and tonics.
Alternatively, it may simply have been that most of the John Alker team (after being officially permitted to rearrange the game) prioritised playing in another darts competition on the night, as they much prefer throwing darts into home made boards constructed from slimy slices of wood soaked in stagnant water, with most of the numbers in the wrong place… and who needs trebles anyway?
The Roebuck 1 vs 6 Ammies Darts
This weeks the Ammies went game hunting in Altrincham, and almost came away with a clean sweep of Roebuck’s. They will be ruing the one that got away.
Ammies’ Andy Tucker got back to winning ways with a ton finish and 18 darter during his 3-0 win over Steve Preston in game 1, and Karl Cooper quickly doubled the lead with a 67.5 average in his 3-0 win against Roebuck captain Chris Haycock (who in case you are wondering is not a part of the Haycocks clan from just over the road at the Old Market Tavern). Game 3 saw Pete Watson hit two 17 dart legs and an impressive 79.11 average in a 3-0 win against Rick Keil, while Game 4 brought a quickfire match win for the Ammies, with Ray Dore beating Chris Merriman once again via a score line of 3 legs to nil. The Ammies would have had an eye on the possibility of not losing a leg all night following another 3-0 win in game five, this time for their captain Paul Devine, which left the overall score at 5-0 and 15 legs to nil.
In game six, Scott Livingstone of the Ammies, (who denies being related to Ken Livingstone, the former Lord Mayor of London) got his team another win while helping himself to 9 tons, but was unable to keep the 3-0 score line’s going after he came up against birthday boy Andy Kindred who managed a creditable 7 tons in defeat. Playing Andy can occasionally feel a bit like you are involved in the pottery scene from Ghost, but in this particular close tussle it was Scott who came out on top, to remain undefeated in the league, winning by 3 legs to 2.
Last up for the Ammies was Chris McKenzie who took on Chris Reddy. The Roebuck’s Chris was certainly ready for this game, earning his side a first success of the night, avoiding the whitewash, and grabbing his side a valuable point with a 3-1 win to make the final score Roebuck 1, Ammies 6.
Broadheath Central 1 vs 6 Wythenshawe CSC
Wythenshawe made second place in the league their own whilst recording their biggest win of the season so far with a 6-1 win over hosts Broadheath Central.
Col Smith got them off to a cracking start with a 13 darter the highlight in his 3-1 win over Martin Johnson, Adam White doubled the lead with his own 3-1 win over Andy McCormack who failed to hit a 180 in his game for the first time this season. Martin Power took out Lee Darcy with another 3-1 win, before George McCormick sealed it for Wythenshawe with yet another 3-1 win to make it 4-0 in total so far. Leyton Jackson finally got Broadheath on the scoreboard in game five after a 3-0 win over Kian Sherlock, with a 17 dart leg along the way.
Darren Wood became the fifth Broadheath player on the night to suffer a 3-1 loss, but did manage a 180 in defeat to an on-song Mandy Smith who also had a 15 darter and a 106 finish. The final game saw Paul McCreevey, with a 15 darter of his own, winning a last leg decider against Dave Wood to make the final score a comprehensive 6-1 to Wythenshawe, to continue their strong start to the season (the 7-0 humping by the Ammies being the only blip so far).
Cringlewood A 4 vs 3 The Nelson
The home team, Cringlewood A got themselves back on the winning track this week, after two consecutive 6-1 away league defeats, by overcoming The Nelson Didsbury by 4 games to 3. Remarkably that’s the fifth consecutive 4-3 result for the Nelson this year, but also the third time on the trot that they have ended up on the wrong side of that score.
Luke Mulhern got the home team underway with a close 3-2 win against Nelson Landlord, Mick Young, but Dylan Wimbury made it all square after game 2, winning his match up with John Hutchinson by a comfortable 3 legs to nil. Rob Lauder put the hosts back in the lead with a 3-1 win over Joe Kelly in game three, and Alex Martin extended the lead to 3-1 overall, beating Ant Hargreaves Jr by the same score. Ant Hargreaves Sr was having none of that, and took out Wayne Proud with another 3-1 win to pull the Nelson back into it at 3-2.
Next up, Mike Morrison continued his tremendous form this season, sealing the win for the Cringlewood, with the big man hitting a 180, an 18 darter and averaging 71.57 against another player on good form this season, Steve Moane who hit a 180 of his own along with a 101 finish.
With the bonus points already in the bag for the Cringlewood, the Nelsons Andrew Day picked up one more point for his team with a 3-0 win against Lianne Lauder to give a final score of 4-3 to the Cringlewood.
Division 2
Action packed week in Division 2 as The Silver Birch get pushed close by the Royal Oak but remain top, Urmston suffer their first league defeat of the season against Trafford, Cringlewood B consign St Antonys to a fourth straight loss and LMRCA come back like Lazarus against Ashton-on-Mersey, while it was the turn of the Carters Arms for a bye week.
The Silver Birch 4 vs 3 The Royal Oak
These two teams are well acquainted, with the Silver Birch having formerly played as The Royal Oak B during their debut season in Division 3 in the summer, but this was the first time the two sides have met in competition. The Silver Birch remain unbeaten following their promotion in the Summer, with five wins from five in all competitions. This was a third league win on the trot, but they were made to fight for this one in their closest game so far.
Martin Tyson had been unbeaten for the Birch so far this season, but ran into arguably the form player in Division Two, The Oak’s Lee Medd, who was on great form again in a 3-0 win. The dog-fearing, greetings card loving mailman hitting a 19 darter, six tons while posting an impressive 73.92 average. The Birch came straight back however, with Beetlejuice himself, Andy Skinner, taking out Tony Kirby by 3 legs to 1.
The Oak took game three to edge back into the lead, as Pete Perry picked up a win over Diane Davis, also by a 3-1 score line (I seem to be writing that score a lot tonight!). Kraig Loose then pulled the Birch back level for the second time in the match when he beat Jordan Kirby, hitting a maximum in the process. In game five, Lee Davies broke the alternating nature of the game by putting the Birch into the lead for the first time in the match with a 3-1 win against Pete DeCordova.
Being a close game, it was no surprise that Jordan Perry pulled the Oak back level after six games, beating Rob Moss 3-0, but in the decider it was the unbeaten Alan Dawson of the Birch who got the 3-1 win over Sharon Kirby to seal the game and keep his side top of the table.
Urmston SC 2 vs 5 Trafford SC
Urmston have had a great start to division two so far, winning both of their previous games by 5 games to 2. But this time it was their turn to be on the wrong end of that score line as Trafford ran out victors.
In game 1, League results secretary John ‘Chilli’ Reyes took time out from compiling tables, stats and arranging presentations to get himself back on the business side of the oche, however it was Andrew Wood who drew first blood with a 3-1 win to put Trafford ahead. To be fair, Chilli must have had his mind fully focussed on formulating a scheme to get Ricky Evans to actually turn up to a presentation one day – one can only speculate what the “favour” owed is and whether Ricky is actually aware.
Dylan Bell brought the sides level, with 4 tons in a 3-1 win over Rory Sullivan, but a man of the match performance from Kyle Wands put Trafford back in the lead, with Kyle smashing two 180s, a 15 dart leg and a 104 finish in a 3-1 win over Jim Higginson.
Liam Galvin edged out Mike King by 3 legs to 2 in game four to put Trafford further ahead at 3-1, but game five saw Stephen Lye pull it back to 3-2 and remain unbeaten so far with a 3-1 win against Andrew Davies.
Jake Neersoo nailed a 3-0 win against Lee Capper in game six to secure the win for Trafford overall, and Gaz Collins added some extra gloss with a 3-1 win over Urmston captain Michelle Fitton.
St Antony’s 2 vs 5 Cringlewood B
Another five 3-1 scorelines in this match, with St Antony’s Carl Paton getting the first (while also hitting a tidy six tons) in game 1 against Billy Sanders.
The next three games were all 3-1 in favour of the Cringlewood B, Geoff Sanders pulling them level in game two, with Will Radcliffe pushing them into the lead while hitting 6 tons, and a 19 darter in game three. In game four, it was the turn of multiple award winning singer songwriter and Irish TV presenter – Donegal’s own Daniel O’Donnell, and Danny boy didn’t let his side down as he made it 3-1 overall.
Sean Gill got the saints marching back with a 3-0 win, to maintain his unbeaten league form this season, but Gary Williams smashed six tons in a 3-0 win of his own to seal the deal for the Cringlewood B.
Cringlewood custodian Pete Williams recently announced that he and Tania would be moving on from the club after several years in charge, and it was symbolic that he should sign off in style from the Cringlewood, grabbing a 3-1 win over Ian Paton in the final game to make it 5-2.
Ashton-on-Mersey 3 vs 4 LMRCA
Ashton managed yet another 4-3 score line, their fourth in as many games in all competitions this season, but despite storming into a 3-0 lead, it was the LMRCA who ‘picked themselves off the ground’ to hand Ashton their first defeat of the season. (LMRCA will also undoubtedly be pleased to hear that after this game I’m pretty sure I’ve exhausted the useable references to YMCA).
Mark Robinson, Chris Chapman and Harry Guthrie all had 3-1 wins to put Ashton comfortably in the lead and leave the LMRCA down and out with the blues after three games, beating Joe Davis, Ron Cooke and Derek Ostick respectively.
LMRCA’s Dave Brooks proved there was no need to be unhappy when he took out a deciding leg in game 4 to prevent an early defeat, while hitting a very impressive 9 tons – and although the average suggests a bit of trouble on the doubles, he wont care one bit as his win got the ball rolling on an astounding comeback.
Alan Gleave made it 3-2 with 8 tons of his own and a 107 finish in a strong performance winning 3-0 against Mike Buckley, and Tony Spilsbury added six more to his own ton collection while levelling the match by pipping James Compton 3-2.
So it was all down to the final match between Ashton’s Dave Webster and LMRCA’s Ryan Woods, and while no man does it all by himself (definitely the final one) the railway club comeback wasn’t to be derailed, as Woods got the 3-1 win that secured victory and second place in the league on game difference, but level on points with league leaders The Silver Birch.
Division 3
Early signs in Division 3 point to a three way tussle between The Malt Shovels, The Melville and The Bulls Head, but its still a bit too early in the season to tell.
Stretfordians 1 vs 6 Malt Shovels
This game between the top and bottom sides in division 3 went according to the form book, with Malt Shovels retaining the number one position in the division, while Stretfordians remain rooted to the foot of the table after their third 6-1 reverse in as many games.
James Golds got the Malt shovels underway with 4 tons and a neat 17 dart leg in his win over Simon Scully, before James Roberts doubled the lead after game two. Geoff Talbot is still to lose a leg in the league this season, form which continued as he beat Toni Nickson in game three, by 2 legs to nil.
Lindsey Rice got her second win of the season beating Tay Benjamin 2-0 to grab a point for the Stretfordians in game four, but the Malts shovelled on a couple more 2-0 wins of their own through Dave Hindmarch and Ryhen Chay-O’Neill to set the score line at 5-1 going into the final game. Phil Wright finished the job when he made it 6-1 with a 2-1 win over Michele Butt.
Wythenshawe FC 5 vs 2 Old Market Tavern
League Competitions Secretary and founding member of the South Manchester Superleague team Chris McGrory was first up for Wythenshawe FC, taking on Richard Haycocks, and it was Richard who defied Chris’s first ton of the season to prevail 2-1 after a deciding leg.
Gareth Sullivan and Liz Sweeney pulled Wythenshawe level and then ahead with Gareth beating Steven Foster 2-0, and Liz winning 2-1 against Howard Haycocks. Chris O’Keefe extended the lead to 3-1 after a 2-0 win over Amanda Haycocks with a remarkable least darts of 52 – so I wont ask what the other leg was completed in! Michael Wesemeyer hit a debut 180 in a 2-1 win against Emily Haycocks, gaining the win and bonus points for Wythenshawe in the process.
The final Haycocks of the night, Angela got a second win for the clan and the second of the night for the Old Market Tavern as she got the win over Mike Swindells 2-1, Mike definitely maybe winning a leg in that one (he thinks he did anyway, but didn’t seem too sure on Facebook). In the final game, Brian Sproston maintained his good performances so far, adding a fifth for Wythenshawe by beating Sally Corfield 3-1.
Bulls Head 4 vs 3 The Bent Brook
Bent Brook slipped to a narrow defeat in Hale Barns, with the games that got played ending with a 3-3, score line but the Bulls getting the win courtesy of a walkover in game 7 due to the Brook only having six players.
If there was a competition for the most Irish name in the league, there could be only one winner and it was Connor O’Toole who picked up the win for the Brook in game one against Harry Simper. Chris Barber returned a 2-0 win of his own in game 2 to put the home side level, but in a see-saw game, it was the turn of Ken Turnock to grab a 2-1 win over Jamie Harris to give the Brook the lead.
We were all square again after four games when Iain Fish hooked Alex Moreton by 2 legs to nil. Rob Barber edged the Bulls Head into the lead for the first time, beating Anthony Coleman 2-1, but Giglin’ Gaz O’Donnell pulled his side level with a 2-0 win in game 6.
Due to the lack of another player for the Brook, that was that, and the Bulls Head were awarded a 2-0 win in game 7 which completed the win for them on the night. The win leaves the Bulls well positioned in the league occupying third place on game difference, level on points with second placed Melville, while the Bent Brook – despite seemingly never having seven players – sit in fifth place.
Excelsior WMC 2vs 5 The Melville
The final game in this weeks review saw a match up between Sale Excel and a Melville team who are new to the league and made up of quite a few former excel players. New they may be, but the Melville have made a solid start to life in Division 3, with only a close 4-3 defeat to the Malt Shovels in the loss column, and they proved too strong on this occasion for the Excel, running out 5-2 winners.
The Melville were quickly in control of the match, leading 3-0 after as many games – first up Jake Powell beat Hannah Tague 2-0, Bradley Hodgson beat Peter Ellison by the same score, and Cam McFarlane made it 3 with a 2-1 win against Damian Harrison.
Andy Cheetham put the Excel on the board in game four, beating Jon Powell 2-1 in a game where both players hit 4 tons each, with Andy becoming the first player to take even a leg off Jon this season, and in the process, extended his own winning streak in the league to four games.
When Excels Danny Chua won game five 2-0 against Tom Powell to make it 3-2, it may have appeared that the comeback was on, however Owen Powell defeated Peter Sage 2-0 in game six to give the Melville the bonus points, and Paul Sambrook put the icing on a 5-2 shaped cake with a 2-1 win against Brendan O’Shea. The win leaves The Melville handily positioned for a title run, sitting in second place only 2 points behind leaders the Malt Shovels, who remain the only Division 3 side to beat the newcomers so far this season.
Please try to remember I’m not trying to offend anyone with the remarks – I’m just trying to prevent the reports being pretty much the same every week.
At present I’m only getting match photos from Chris McGrory, so at this rate the photos for each match report are going to be a collection of Steve Fosters darts shirts. If you want to take a few photos and send them over I’ll start incorporating more. (Chris Haycock – I’ve no idea where that one of you has gone btw).
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2 Responses
I only send you pictures of Steve’s shirts to mess with your carefully crafted CSS colour scheme ?
Great report as usual Foggy!
😀 and you do a fine job mate! NIce one!