Archers notch up fifth double
11:49am Thu May 12, 2011
Newark Working Men’s Club Archers recorded a remarkable fifth straight successive league and cup double by claiming the Premiership title, as the Newark and District Double Board Darts League reached its conclusion.
The final round of matches saw the Archers sweep aside the Horse and Gears Lost Boys 5-1 in a repeat of the 2007 final.
A terrific high-scoring opening game between Archers’ skipper Paul Gallacher and Grahame Binns set the tone for the match — Gallacher’s accurate finishing secured a 2-0 victory.
The next three games all ended up 2-0 as Mick Pitchford overcame Kevin Oxberry and Nev Squires defeated Phil Binns, before Gallacher returned to the oche to put his side 4-0 ahead overall with victory over Oxberry.
The Lost Boys finally won a leg and got a foothold in the match when Binns edged out Pitchford 2-1 — but it did not last long with Squires’ 2-0 win over Grahame Binns wrapping up another piece of silverware for the Archers.
In the men’s knockout cup final the Railway Club 45s, who had already clinched their 12th successive league title, secured a fifth straight cup final win after a convincing 4-0 victory over the Horse and Gears Baa-Baas.
Paul Gallacher checked out on 32 in the opener with their opponents lying in wait on 80 before two finishes of 20 and 59 from Martin Farrell extended their lead to 3-0.
The final leg was again tight but with the Baa-Baas sitting on 48 Shane Gallacher kept his nerve to hit a first dart double-top checkout to clinch the title.
In the John Browne subsidiary cup final the Plough Coddington regained the title they last won in 2008 after a hard fought 4-1 victory over Balderton Cricket Club.
Coddington swept into an early 3-0 lead with finishes from Brian Dodd and brothers Dave and Pete Britten.
The cricketers pulled one back in the fourth leg when Phil Tranter checked out but further opportunities in the next were missed and the match was finally secured when Ian Horton kept his cool to finish on 42.
