Cup holders Cafferatas crash out in first round

0:00am Fri Nov 13, 2009

The Ladies’ Knockout Cup holders in the Newark and District Double Board Darts League have exited at the opening round stage of this year’s competition after suffering a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Castle and Falcon Ladies.

Cafferatas Ladies of Balderton Working Men’s Club, who had already been beaten by the same opponents on the opening day of the league season, twice led before the Castle and Falcon fought back to snatch an excellent victory, with Elaine Pashley hitting the crucial checkout in the deciding leg.

White Swan Cygnets, last season’s runners-up in the final, also suffered the same fate as they were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by the Watermill Artists.

The Cygnets, who had been beaten 4-1 by their first round opponents in their league fixture the previous week, had been up against it from the start as they gave the opposition numerical advantage by fulfilling the tie with a player short.

The in-house first round tie between the Youngers and the Avengers was a repeat of the 2006 cup final, and it resulted in the same outcome as the Youngers ran out 3-0 winners at the Newark Working Men’s Club.

The 2008 cup winners, Railway Club Drunks, have also gone through in style after they recorded a first victory of the season with a terrific 3-0 success at the Horse and Gears Boozers that included two 16 finishes from Mel Ashmore.

In the Men’s Division the top three sides extended their unbeaten starts to the season, while at the other end of the table two sides are still looking for a first victory.

The Railway Club 45s have extended their lead at the top to six points after a fourth 5-0 win of the season, their latest victims being the Castle and Falcon Arrows who as a result have dropped into the bottom four.

The Horse and Gears Oxo Club remain in second place after a superb 4-1 success over bottom of the table Broadway Lads, with Tom Cutts hitting two of the checkouts to condemn the new boys to a fifth straight defeat.

The other side yet to taste victory are the Newcastle Arms B team who were soundly beaten by the Newark Working Men’s Club Lads as they crashed to a 4-1 defeat.

The Lads maintained their 100% record with a 4-1 win to leave them in third place and seven points adrift of the leaders, but with the advantage of a game in hand.

There were also victories for Balderton Cricket Club, who overcame Newcastle Arms 4-1, and Railway Club A who came from behind to win 3-2 against last season’s Division Two champions, Castle and Falcon Phoenix.

The final match saw the Plough Inn remain in fifth place after a 4-1 success at the Staythorpe Sureshots with the help of a 72 and 43 finish from Brian Dodd, while Dave Britten recorded the league’s highest score of the season to date when he hit a fine 120.

Results, Men’s Division One: Balderton Cricket Club 4, Newcastle Arms 1; Broadway Lads 1, Horse and Gears Oxo Club 4; Castle and Falcon Arrows 0, Railway Club 45s 5; Railway A 3, Castle and Falcon Phoenix 2; Staythorpe Sureshots 1, Plough Inn 4; Newcastle Arms B 1, Newark Working Men’s Club Lads 4.

Ladies’ Knockout Cup First Round: Cafferata Ladies 2, Castle and Falcon Ladies 3; Newark Working Men’s Club Avengers 0, Newark Working Men’s Club Youngers 3; Watermill Artists 3, White Swan Cygnets 0; Horse and Gears Boozers 0, Railway Club Drunks 3.