Newark & District Double Board Darts League: Castle & Falcon Bangers go top of the ladies’ division after comeback win over champions Railway Youngers
Castle & Falcon Bangers sit top of the ladies’ division after a terrific comeback victory over reigning champions Railway Youngers in the Newark & District Double Board Darts League.
Last season’s runners-up had found themselves 4-0 down after losing both pairs encounters and then 7-1 adrift and on the edge of defeat following a draw in the opening singles clash and a defeat at the hands of the Railway’s Linda Gregory.
The Bangers then staged a tremendous fightback as victories from Mandy Walker and Kathy Buttong in the remaining two singles matches reduced the deficit to 7-5 before Walker completed the comeback as she landed the crucial checkout in the decisive three-point team leg to snatch an 8-7 win.
The victory leaves the Bangers with an eight-point cushion over previous leaders and in-house rivals Falcoholics, whose match against Railway Club Artists was postponed.
King’s Queens have moved up to fifth after they recorded their second win of the season as they edged home 9-6 in a tight encounter with Wheatsheaf Wanderers who, despite the defeat, move up to third.
Skipper Andi Atherley had put the Queens 4-2 ahead after victory in the opening singles clash following two drawn encounters in the pairs matches.
The Wanderers responded with Carol Smith’s win, sandwiched between two draws, which drew them level at 6-6.
The concluding team leg would decide the outcome and after both teams had seen chances come and go it was Atherley who landed the winning double to claim a hard-fought win.
The final place in the knockout cup semi-finals has been resolved after Amy Rayney’s crucial checkout in the team leg claimed Collingham FC MC a 10-5 victory over Railway Club Artists in their re-arranged match.
The Collingham side, who had led 3-1 after the pairs, extended their advantage to 5-1 following Annie Hovey’s singles victory before retaining their four-point advantage with two drawn encounters.
The Artists kept their cup hopes alive as skipper Barbara Hood reduced the deficit to 7-5 following her victory in the closing singles tie but they were unable to complete the turnaround as Rayney landed the winning double to clinch a place in the last four joining Youngers, Bangers and Caffs Ladies.
In the men’s division, Wheatsheaf Bellies & Bullseyes have gone top after they maintained their 100% record with a comfortable 4-1 win over RHP Darts of Hazzard.
John Esam set them on their way with a double-10 checkout in the opener before a brace of finishes from Martin Fryer gave the Wheatsheaf an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Esam struck again in the next with an 84 checkout before Paul Gallacher rescued a consolation point for the RHP side as he holed out on 50 in the concluding leg.
The result leaves the Bullseyes with a point advantage over previous leaders RHP 26ers who were edged out 3-2 in a tight encounter with reigning champions Rose & Crown Marauders.
Ryan Holland’s 52 checkout had given the Marauders the early advantage after RHP’s Michael Rawle had just missed a terrific attempt at 104.
The second leg saw chances on both sides before Shane Gallacher doubled the Marauders’ advantage with a finish on double-8.
The next two legs continued in the same vein with opportunities on both sides but it was the 26ers who took them with Rawle holing out on 40 and Steve Alexander on 32.
The fifth and deciding leg of the evenly-matched encounter saw both sides have chances to snatch the win but it was the reigning champions who prevailed with Tim Tranter checking out on 40 to edge his side home.
The remaining match saw Castle & Falcon BBC2s overcome The Hedgehoggers 5-0 with a finish each from Ian Hurst, James Brown, Donovan Atkin, skipper Luke Haswell and Stuart Hay.
Results: Ladies’ KO Cup Quarter-final: Railway Club Artists 5-10 Collingham FC MC.
Men’s Division: Wheatsheaf Bellies & Bullseyes 4-1 RHP Darts of Hazzard, The Hedgehoggers (Railway Club) 0-5 Castle & Falcon BBC2s, Castle & Falcon Arrows P-P Railway Club, RHP 26ers 2-3 Rose & Crown Marauders (Balderton).
Ladies’ KO Cup Quarter-final: Railway Club Artists P-P Falcoholics, Wheatsheaf Wanderers 6-9 King’s Queens, Collingham FC MC P-P Caffs Ladies, Castle & Falcon Bangers 8-7 Railway Youngers.
