The weekend of the 18th and 19th of September 2021 saw history made in the world of darts when the inaugural fixtures of the UKDA National League were played. Just as with the beginning of the BICC ( BDO) in 1973 Darts World brings you extensive results and on-the-scene reports. Highlights and headlines included:
In the Premier Division, Lincolnshire in their home tie with Cheshire chalked up the biggest win of the division, winning 24-12, close behind them were Lancashire and London who in turn accounted for Glamorgan and Hampshire with 23-13 results. Warwickshire had a tremendous result away to Yorkshire, a 20-16 win which was their first win on Yorkshire’s board since 1977 when they won 13-11.
Gwent go to the top of the Championship table with a massive 27-9 home victory over West Midlands, their nearest rivals being Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire who both recorded 21-15 home wins against their respective opponents Kent and Berkshire. The fixture between Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire was postponed.
Cleveland lead the way in Division One following their 24-12 victory away to Merseyside, Suffolk takes second place with a 21-15 success away to Surrey.
A 24-12 win away to Montgomery and Radnor has seen West of England set the early pace in Division Two with County Durham hot on their heels with their 21-15 home success against Tyne and Wear. Division Two saw another postponed fixture, that of Middlesex versus Norfolk.
Newcomers to the county scene Black Country are leaders of Division Three, their 22-14 home win over Gloucestershire the best of the division with Northumberland lying in second place with their 21-15 win at Wirral.
Division Three also had a postponed fixture, the game between Breconshire and Pembrokeshire, whilst Isle of Wight had a bye.
Innovations such as the ‘B’ team match, with teams eligible to field two players again over the weekend, seemed to appeal and everyone is looking forward to getting back to their full enjoyment of darts after both the recent upheavals and the pandemic restrictions.
Words: Alan Towe
Image: Darts World
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