Newark and District Darts League title race heats up in Nottinghamshire

Castle and Falcon Bangers have edged a point closer to the Railway Youngers in the race for the ladies’ title in the Newark and District Double Board Darts League.

The reigning champions overcame in-house rivals Caffs Ladies 11-4 while the league leaders defeated Falcoholics 10-5.

The Bangers, who had been beaten by Caffs in November, couldn’t afford another slip up if they were to keep the pressure on the leaders and after being all-square at 2-2 following the opening pairs encounters they raced to victory with singles wins by Karen Whittaker, Debbie Walker and Mandy Walker giving them an unassailable 8-2 lead.

Caffs’ skipper Chris Henderson briefly reduced the deficit with victory in the final singles clash before the reigning champions won the concluding team leg to complete a comfortable win.

The Youngers, meanwhile, were pushed all the way with Linda Gregory’s checkout in the team leg clinching victory.

The Youngers had led 3-1 after the pairs and maintained this cushion as the opening two singles encounters ended in draws.

Gregory’s singles win then gave the league leaders a 7-3 lead but Stacey Grand-Scrutton’s victory in the remaining singles clash kept the Falcoholics’ hopes of a surprise win alive before Gregory struck.

Elsewhere, Wheatsheaf Wandering Misfits and RHP Ladies kept their slim hopes of the title alive with victories over Collingham Mother Chuckers and Railway Club Artists respectively.

The Misfits had raced into a 4-0 lead after victory in both pairs encounters before skipper Linda Brockson recorded the only singles win, the other three being drawn, to secure the important win.

Brockson was also on target in the team leg as she checked out to wrap up a 12-3 victory.

RHP had been pegged back to 3-3 after Kate Slatter had won the opening singles match but victories by Sue Smith and Julie Feeney plus Heather Webb’s checkout in the team leg earned them an 11-4 win over the Artists.

In the men’s division Rose and Crown Marauders, who had already regained their title, went into their final game of the season against league runners-up The Taverners and they emerged with a comfortable 5-0 win to stretch their winning margin to an impressive 23 points.

Finishes from Andy Brown, Mark Neal, Phil Tranter and a brace from Steven Barnett secured the Marauders a sixth whitewash of the season and inflicted a first 5-0 defeat of the season on their rivals.

The two teams will now turn their attention to their respective cup finals.

The race for third is down to two teams with Wheatsheaf Bellies and Bullseyes currently occupying that position after they eased to a 5-0 win over bottom of the table Castle and Falcon Projectile Dysfunction with finishes from Neil Ward, debutant Oliver Ward and a hat-trick from skipper Dave Thompson.

RHP Darts of Hazzard can snatch the place from them if they can beat the same team 4-1 in their final game after they kept up the pressure with a terrific 4-1 win over summer league champions Castle and Falcon BBC2s.

The remaining match saw Castle and Falcon Arrows overcome Wheatsheaf Phoenix 3-2 with Mick Sale hitting the decisive finish in the deciding leg.

The line-up for the grand-finals of the Premiership is now known after 2012 champion Simon Cobb earned his place alongside Stuart Glover, Kieran Cumberland and Matthew Glover.

Cobb defeated Alex Wallis 5-1 in his semi-final before overcoming Steve Alexander by the same margin in the final after he had beaten Dave Thompson 5-3 in his semi-final.