Newark & District Double Board Darts League: Wheatsheaf Bellies & Bullseyes knocked off top spot after losing unbeaten record to reigning champions Rose & Crown Marauders
Wheatsheaf Bellies & Bullseyes have lost their place at the top of the men’s division of the Newark & District Double Board Darts League after reigning champions Rose & Crown Marauders ended their unbeaten start to the season with a 3-2 win.
The opening leg of this crucial clash was a terrific affair and included five scores of 100 before the Marauders secured it with Tim Tranter holing out on double-12 with their opponents lying in wait for a shot at 48.
The second leg saw the reigning champions outscore the league leaders and, with the Wheatsheaf back on 133, Phil Tranter doubled the Marauders advantage with a double-top finish. With their 100% record in jeopardy, the Bellies responded by halving the deficit with Neil Ward checking out on double-4 with their rivals still requiring 121.
The fourth and ultimately decisive leg was another evenly contested affair but it was the Marauders who sealed the win as skipper Tom Greenhalgh checked out on double-top with the Wheatsheaf waiting in vain for a shot at 36. Ward checked out on 62 in the concluding leg to secure a further consolation point which was enough to keep the defeated Bellies a solitary point ahead of their conquerors.
The new leaders are RHP 26ers who have returned to the summit after bouncing back from last week’s 3-2 defeat at Marauders with a 4-1 victory over Railway Club with finishes from Kieran Cumberland, Jon Gough and a brace from Mick Rawle. Skipper Paul Buck’s fourth leg finish rescued a point for the Railway.
Castle & Falcon BBC2s’ title hopes took a knock as they were beaten 4-1 by in-house rivals The Arrows with finishes from Andy Norris, Mark Jackson, Pete Knott and a match-clinching 80 checkout in the third leg from Rob O’Neil securing the Arrows a terrific second win of the season. James Brown’s fifth leg checkout averted the whitewash.
The Hedgehoggers are still looking for their first win of the season as the bottom side suffered their fourth 5-0 defeat of the campaign against RHP Darts of Hazzard for whom Colin Stevens, Oliver Hubbard and a hat-trick from Paul Gallacher provided the finishes.
In the ladies’ division, Castle & Falcon Bangers remain top after securing a hard-fought 10-5 victory over in-house rivals Caffs Ladies who remain bottom. The two sides had been level at 2-2 following a win apiece in the opening pairs encounters but the leaders then moved 6-2 in front following singles wins by skipper Karen Whittaker and Kathy Buttong.
Caffs responded with Lorraine Shereston keeping the match alive with a draw against Mandy Walker before captain Chris Henderson overcame Debbie Walker to reduce the deficit to 7-5 and set up a team leg decider. Caffs, though, were unable to complete the fightback as Buttong holed out on double-top to secure the team leg and a fifth victory of the season.
Falcoholics have reduced the deficit to the leaders to just six points, and with a game in hand, as they took advantage of their opponents having to play with a player light by securing a 12-3 win over Wheatsheaf Wanderers helped by a singles win from Stacey Grand-Scrutton and Jess Esam’s checkout in the team leg. The Wheatsheaf’s response came from Louise Francis’ singles victory and Ann Hubbard’s draw with Sarah Clare.
Collingham FC MC remain third after Leanne Forman’s checkout in the concluding team leg earned them a 9-6 victory in an incredibly tight match against King’s Queens which saw both pairs matches and all four singles encounters ending in draws.
Railway Youngers have picked up their second win of the season after they raced into an unassailable 10-0 lead, helped by singles wins from Dawn Nelson, skipper Debbie Braithwaite and Linda Gregory, against in-house rivals The Artists before the winless side rallied to reduce the final deficit to 10-5 following Kate Slatter’s singles victory and her checkout in the team leg.
Results: Men’s Division: Railway Club 1-4 RHP 26ers, Castle & Falcon BBC2s 1-4 Castle & Falcon Arrows, RHP Darts of Hazzard 5-0 The Hedgehoggers (Railway Club), Rose & Crown Marauders 3-2 Wheatsheaf Bellies & Bullseyes.
Ladies’ Division: Caffs Ladies 5-10 Castle & Falcon Bangers, King’s Queens 6-9 Collingham FC MC, Falcoholics 12-3 Wheatsheaf Wanderers, Railway Youngers 10-5 Railway Club Artists.
