Newark & District Double Board Darts League: Railway Youngers beat Caffs Ladies 14-1 to boost chances of 11th title in 12 seasons
Railway Youngers’ defence of their title is gathering pace as the reigning champions recorded a resounding 14-1 victory over Caffs Ladies.
The win lifted them into fourth spot in the Newark & District Double Board Darts League and despite still being 23 points adrift of the leaders, the seemingly perennial league winners have three games in hand and will no doubt feel a potential 11th title in 12 seasons is still well within their grasp.
The Youngers had raced into an early 4-0 lead after victory in both opening pairs encounters before Lorraine Shereston briefly stemmed the tide for the bottom of the league side as she drew against Dawn Nelson in the opening singles clash.
But that was as good as it got for Caffs as singles wins by skipper Debbie Braithwaite, Linda Gregory and Louise Fletcher followed before Gregory’s checkout in the team leg completed the emphatic win.
Castle & Falcon Bangers took advantage of the inactivity of second-placed Falcoholics to stretch their lead at the top to 15 points with a hard-fought 9-6 win over King’s Queens. The two sides had been level at 2-2 following the opening pairs and remained tied at 6-6 after the four singles ties with Mandy Walker winning for the league leaders and Heather Webb winning for the Queens whilst the other two encounters were drawn. Therefore the three-point team leg would decide the outcome and it was Walker who landed the crucial double to secure a fourth successive win for the Bangers.
The remaining match in the ladies’ division saw Wheatsheaf Wanderers pick up their first win in three outings as Linda Brockson’s checkout in the decisive team leg snatched them a 10-5 victory over Railway Club Artists to lift themselves in to third place.
The match had been level at 3-3 before singles wins by skipper Brockson and Louise Francis put the Wheatsheaf 7-3 ahead but the Artists, who are still looking for a first win of the season, ensured the match would be decided by the team leg as Julia Condliffe-Turner won the closing singles tie to keep the match alive.
In the men’s division, RHP 26ers continue to lead the way after a terrific hat-trick of checkouts from skipper Stephen Adshead helped his side secure a fourth win in five matches with a 3-2 victory over last season’s runners-up Castle & Falcon BBC2s.
Adshead holed out on 36 with their opponents lying in wait on 80 to secure the opener before the BBC2s were left to rue missed chances in the next as Adshead took advantage with a 48 finish to double the league leaders’ advantage. The third leg saw the 26ers outscore their rivals and with the BBC2s still requiring 232 the RHP captain completed his hat-trick with a 40 checkout to give his side an unassailable 3-0 lead. Despite the disappointment of a third defeat in four matches, the BBC2s rallied to claim a couple of consolation points with finishes from Ian Hurst and Donovan Atkin securing the two remaining legs.
Wheatsheaf Bellies & Bullseyes bounced back from their first loss of the season the previous week to record a resounding 5-0 win over bottom of the table Hedgehoggers with finishes from Martin Fryer, Geza Pocsik and a hat-trick, including an 84 checkout, by Andy Pevler who was making his first appearance of the season. The victory leaves them just a point shy of the leaders and with a game in hand.
Rose & Crown Marauders remain just a point behind the Wheatsheaf, whom they defeated the previous week, as they recorded a fourth straight win with a 5-0 victory over Railway Club secured with checkouts from Frank Barlow, Steven Barnett, Ryan Holland, skipper Tom Greenhalgh and Tim Tranter.
Castle & Falcon Arrows are up to fifth after they recorded back-to-back league victories for the first time this season as they defeated their forthcoming knockout cup semi-final opponents, RHP Darts of Hazzard, 4-1. The Arrows’ better finishing proving to be the difference in a tight match secured with checkouts from Dave Hindson, Lionel Garrad and a brace from Pete Knott. Jack Palmer’s second leg finish claimed RHP’s consolation.
Results: Men’s Division: The Hedgehoggers 0-5 Wheatsheaf Bellies & Bullseyes, RHP Darts of Hazzard 1-4 Castle & Falcon Arrows, Castle & Falcon BBC2s 2-3 RHP 26ers, Rose & Crown Marauders 5-0 Railway Club.
Ladies’ Division: Wheatsheaf Wanderers 10-5 Railway Club Artists, Falcoholics P-P Collingham FC MC, King’s Queens 6-9 Castle & Falcon Bangers, Railway Youngers 14-1 Caffs Ladies.
