Joint men’s leaders are in seventh heaven
0:00am Fri Nov 27, 2009
The Newark Working Men’s Club Lads team have drawn level at the top of the Men’s Division in the Newark and District Double Board Darts League after a 5-0 whitewash of bottom of the table Broadway to record their seventh win out of seven.
The Lads are now in a three- way tie at the summit after their 100% record was maintained with the help of two finishes from Mark Neal against a side still looking for a first victory in their debut season.
They are level on points with reigning champions Railway Club 45s and the Horse and Gears Oxo Club, who have played a game more than their title rivals.
The Oxo Club, who finished runners-up last term, kept their unbeaten start to the season intact after recovering from an opening leg loss to record an eighth consecutive victory with a 3-2 win against the Castle and Falcon Marauders.
The Plough Inn of Coddington remain fourth after they edged out Balderton Cricket Club 3-2, with Dave Britten’s 40 checkout sealing a final leg success.
There was also a fifth leg decider in the match between the Staythorpe Sureshots and Railway Club A. All legs went with the throw as captain Jack Drury kept his nerve to seal victory for the Railway with a double two checkout with their opponents on double top.
In the Ladies’ Division reigning champions Cafferatas of Balderton Working Men’s Club are back in the lead after they recorded a fourth win on the trot with a comfortable 5-0 scoreline at Watermill Artists, with Joy Sharpe hitting two of the finishes.
They now have a five-point lead over the Horse and Gears Boozers who moved into second spot after they twice came from behind to edge out the Newark Working Men’s Club Avengers 3-2, with Dot Hallam sinking the crucial double.
In the Premiership there was a thrilling match at the Horse and Gears where the two sides that ended last season tied on points in second and third positions were involved in a final leg decider.
The Watermill Toy Story, who had clinched victory in similar fashion the previous week against the Castle and Falcon Veterans, were on the receiving end this time as they went down 5-4 to the Horse and Gears Power.
The Power had led the match 4-2 and appeared to be heading for victory but defeats for Pete Baldwin and captain Simon Cobb against Rob Dennis and Mick McMackin respectively set up a tense finale.
The Power’s Russell Rose — who had won both of his previous matches — took the opener but Joe Flanagan responded to take it into a third leg decider.
Both players had several opportunities to seal a memorable victory but it was Rose who finally sunk double three to claim a tremendous win for his side against a team that had beaten them home and away last season.
The Power lead the table by a point from the reigning champions, Castle and Falcon Archers who inflicted another
5-4 defeat on their in-house rivals, the Veterans, with Paul Gallacher winning all nine legs for the second match running.
Results, Men’s Division One: Balderton Cricket Club 2, Plough Inn 3; Broadway Lads 0, Newark Working Men’s Club Lads 5; Castle and Falcon Arrows 2, Newcastle Arms 3; Castle and Falcon Marauders 2, Horse and Gears Oxo Club 3; Staythorpe Sureshots 2, Railway Club A 3; Newcastle Arms B 1, Castle and Falcon Phoenix 4.
Ladies’ Division: Newark Working Men’s Club Avengers 2, Horse and Gears Boozers 3; Watermill Artists 0, Cafferatas 5; White Swan Cygnets 2, Newark Working Men’s Club Youngers 3.
Premiership results: Horse and Jockey Tic Tacs 6, Fun Boy Three 3; The Power (Horse and Gears) 5, Watermill Toy Story 4; Castle and Falcon Archers 5, Castle and Falcon Veterans 4.
Highest average: 67.30 Paul Gallacher (Railway Club 45s). Highest score: 120 Dave Britten (Plough Inn, Coddington). Highest finish: 97 Adrian Thompson (Newark Working Men’s Club Lads).
Highest average: 46.80 Mandy Walker (Castle and Falcon Ladies). Highest score: 100 Margaret Fletcher (White Swan Cygnets). Highest finish: 83 Rachel Squires (Cafferatas, Balderton Working Men’s Club).
