Newark & District Double Board Darts League round-up: Knockout cup holders safely progress in quarter-finals to remain on course to retain trophies
The current knockout cup holders in both the ladies’ and men’s competitions have safely come through their quarter-finals to remain on course to retain their respective trophies in the Newark & District Double Board Darts League.
Railway Youngers overcame King’s Queens 12-3 and Wheatsheaf Bellies & Bullseyes defeated Railway Club 4-1.
The Railway Youngers, who are looking to win a remarkable eighth successive summer knockout cup, were involved in a tight affair early on in their clash with the King’s Queens as the two sides were locked together at 3-3 following draws in the two pairs encounters and the opening singles clash between Railway’s Louise Fletcher and the King’s skipper Andi Atherley.
The cup holders then edged in front as Debbie Braithwaite overcame Michelle Antcliff before stretching their advantage to 7-3 as Jackie Dennis defeated Sue Smith. A place in the semi-finals was secured as Linda Gregory beat Sandra Baker to give the Youngers an unassailable 9-3 lead before skipper Braithwaite landed the winning double in the concluding team leg to complete a comfortable win.
Last season’s losing finalists will join the Youngers in the last four as the Castle & Falcon Bangers overcame Falcoholics 9-6 in their in-house clash. The two sides were level at 2-2 after a win apiece in the opening pairs encounters but the Bangers moved into a 6-2 lead following singles wins by skipper Karen Whittaker and Debbie Walker.
Falcoholics’ captain Stacey Grand-Scrutton kept the match alive as she drew with Mandy Walker but the Bangers’ place in the semi-finals was then secured as Anita Scott overcame Jess Esam to give them a unassailable 9-3 cushion before Esam’s checkout in the team leg reduced the final deficit.
Caffs Ladies clinched their semi-final place the previous week with an 8-7 victory over Wheatsheaf Wanderers while the final place will be occupied by the winner of the re-arranged game between Railway Club Artists and Collingham FC MC.
In the men’s competition, Wheatsheaf Bellies and Bullseyes took the opener against Railway Club as Ryan Dale checked out on 16 with their opponents still requiring 140. The second leg saw the cup holders completely outscore their rivals and reach the checkout with the Railway still requiring over 400. Numerous missed attempts allowed the home side a chance to level it but they failed to take their opportunity and Paul Thompson’s double-1 checkout doubled the Wheatsheaf’s lead.
Martin Fryer’s 16 checkout, with the Railway sat on 134, increased their advantage to 3-0 before Chris Brown’s 32 finish in the next kept the match alive. The fifth and ultimately final leg was a tight affair but, with the Railway lying in wait for a shot at 78, up stepped John Esam to hole out on 32 to secure a 4-1 win.
Last season’s losing finalists are out after the Rose & Crown Marauders were beaten 4-1 by Castle & Falcon BBC2s. In a tight match, the BBC2s’ better finishing proved to be the difference. Two finishes from skipper Luke Haswell gave the BBC2s an early 2-0 lead before Tim Tranter’s checkout in the next halved the deficit.
After three evenly contested legs, the BBC2s outscored their opponents in the next and with the Marauders still requiring 210 Stuart Hay checked out on 65 to reinstate his side’s two-leg cushion. The fifth and ultimately final leg saw the Marauders have a chance to keep the match alive but the chance wasn’t taken and Hay holed out on 61 to seal a 4-1 win.
Castle & Falcon Arrows have sealed their place in the last four after they came from behind to recorded a terrific 4-2 win over RHP 26ers with finishes from Andy Norris, Mick Sale and a brace from Pete Knott. Dan Rawle’s opening leg finish and skipper Stephen Adshead checked out for the 26ers.
RHP Darts of Hazzard are through after they eased to a 4-0 win against The Hedgehoggers with finishes from Darren Critchlow, Paul Gallacher and two from Josh Tooke.
Results: Men’s KO Cup Quarter-finals: Castle & Falcon BBC2s 4-1 Rose & Crown Marauders (Bald.), Railway Club 1-4 Wheatsheaf Bellies & Bullseyes, The Hedgehoggers (Railway Club) 0-4 RHP Darts of Hazzard, Castle & Falcon Arrows 4-2 RHP 26ers.
Ladies’ KO Cup Quarter-finals: King’s Queens 3-12 Railway Youngers, Castle & Falcon Bangers 9-6 Falcoholics, Railway Club Artists P-P Collingham FC MC.
