Newark & District Double Board Darts League: Wheatsheaf Bellies & Bullseyes maintain 100 per cent record after beating Castle & Falcon BBC2s

Wheatsheaf Bellies & Bullseyes are the only unbeaten team in the Newark & District Double Board Darts League after they maintained their 100% winning record with a 4-1 victory over last season’s runners-up Castle & Falcon BBC2s.

The opening leg saw chances on both sides before Neil Ward checked out to put the Wheatsheaf ahead. The next leg was another tight affair but, with the BBC2s’ Phil Moore lying in wait for a shot at 44, the Wheatsheaf doubled their advantage as Martin Fryer holed out on double-10.

The trend continued in the third leg as the Wheatsheaf reached the double first and with Moore once again waiting in vain for a shot at 74, John Esam gave his side an unassailable 3-0 lead as he checked out on 16. Esam struck again to seal a more comfortable fourth leg before the BBC2s, who had been on a three-match unbeaten run, averted the whitewash as Donovan Atkin checked out on 40.

Despite the Wheatsheaf maintaining their unbeaten start it is RHP 26ers who remain top after they defeated Castle & Falcon Arrows 4-1 to give themselves a three-point lead over the Wheatsheaf but the latter do have the advantage of a game in hand.

Finishes from Jon Gough and Kieran Cumberland gave the 26ers an early 2-0 lead before the Arrows halved the deficit as Colin Weir holed out on 57. A fourth victory in five outings was then secured as RHP’s Michael Rawle holed out in the fourth before Cumberland struck again in the concluding leg.

At the other end of the table, something had to give as the division’s two winless sides met with the Railway Club taking on their in-house rivals The Hedgehoggers.

It turned out to be a fairly one-sided affair as the Railway Club ran out comfortable 5-0 winners with finishes from skipper Paul Buck, Matthew Glover, a brace by Craig Roberts and an 80 checkout from Stuart Glover.

In the ladies’ division, Collingham FC MC suffered their first loss of the campaign as they were beaten 9-6 by Castle & Falcon Bangers who, as a result, have moved level at the top with Falcoholics, who were beaten 10-5 by reigning champions Railway Youngers.

The Bangers had raced into a 6-0 lead against the Collingham side after victory in both pairs encounters and Karen Whittaker’s win over Jodie Brumpton in the opening singles clash before skipper Sharon Hovey gave MC a glimmer of hope of maintaining their unbeaten start as she overcame Kathy Buttong.

A drawn encounter followed before the Bangers then secured the win as Debbie Walker gave her side an unassailable 9-3 cushion as she defeated Leanne Forman in the remaining singles tie. Despite the disappointment of their first defeat of the season, the Collingham side responded by taking the concluding three-point leg with Brumpton landing the finish.

The Falcoholics had found themselves 4-0 down after the Youngers won both of the opening pairs encounters but they rallied to level at 5-5 helped by singles wins by Jess Esam and Di Nuttall. The Youngers, who were looking for their first win of the campaign after suffering a loss against Wheatsheaf Wanderers in their only fixture to date, responded with Linda Gregory coming out on top in the remaining singles clash before she also landed the crucial winning double in the team leg to clinch the victory.

King’s Queen’s have picked up their first success of the season after singles wins from Aimee Wood, Michelle Antcliff and Sue Smith helped them secure a 12-3 victory over Railway Club Artists, for whom Kate Slatter picked up their sole win.

Caffs Ladies are the first team into the knock-out cup semi-finals after they defeated Wheatsheaf Wanderers 8-7 in their brought forward quarter-final clash. Caffs had led 3-1 after the opening pairs encounters and they stretched their lead to 7-3 after Jane Hartley’s singles victory and two drawn encounters before a semi-final place was secured as Eugene Hallam drew with Louise Francis to give her side an unassailable 8-4 cushion.

Results: Men’s Division: RHP 26ers 4-1 Castle & Falcon Arrows, Railway Club 5-0 The Hedgehoggers (Railway Club), Castle & Falcon BBC2s 1-4 Wheatsheaf Bellies & Bullseyes, Rose & Crown Marauders (Bald.) P-P RHP Darts of Hazzard.

Ladies’ Division: Castle & Falcon Bangers 9-6 Collingham FC MC, Caffs Ladies P-P Wheatsheaf Wanderers, King’s Queens 12-3 Railway Club Artists, Railway Youngers 10-5 Falcoholics.

Ladies’ Knockout Cup quarter-final: Caffs Ladies 8-7 Wheatsheaf Wanderers.