At the beginning of November, Kent travelled the small distance to Sussex for a local derby match.
Sue Bird was on first for the Ladies B and came away with a 3.0 win to continue her unbroken record this season. Violet Wood on 2nd had a real battle on her hands as all legs went with the throw as she lost 3.2. Ida Heravi on 3rd called up as team manager Suzanne Campfield was unwell, lost her match 3.0, to Sussex’s Lady of the match Ellie Williams (18.56). Rebecca Garrett on 4th, had a long winded game, and despite going into a 2.1 lead, lost 3.2. Melissa Stacey took out a superb 74 in her first leg, but lost 3.1. Kelly Westlake on last came away with a brilliant 3.1 win and claimed Kent’s Lady of the match with a 16.13 average. A 4.2 loss for Kent.
Carl Leighton on 1st for Kent came against and in form Lewis Gurney who won his match 4.0 and claimed Sussex’s Man of the match with a 31.81 average, not a lot that Carl could do there. Mark Legg won his match for Kent 4.0 and he claimed Kent’s Man of the match with a 25.69 average. Dean Owen in his debut match for Kent battled hard but the darts went against the throw as he lost 4.3. Phil Gibson lost 4.1 and Danny Birmingham lost 4.1. At this point Kent were 8.3 down and it wasn’t looking too good for them. Mark Tickner had a superb game including a 117 checkout in the 3rd leg as he came away with a 4.3 win. Kevin Reid followed with a 4.1 win, and David Saint carried on the momentum with a hard fought 4.3 win. Jack Dickinson won his match 4.0 and if it weren’t for the odd missed dart could have claimed the Man of the match award. David Heath came away with a 4.2 win, followed by fellow teammate Trevor Thompson who won 4.0. Richard Elms on last lost his match 4.2, but the Men’s score ended Sussex 5 Kent 7, which made it a draw going into the A matches.
Emma Martin on first for the Ladies A had a brilliant match against Tara Deamer. It was the 4th leg that went on for a while, despite Emma being way behind she continued to battle her way down, even though Tara was on a double, and she managed to win that leg. So at 2 all, the final leg was a nail biter, as Emma took out a clean 61 to win 3.2. Lisa Dunford unfortunately lost 3.0 to Sussex’s Lady of the Match Lisa Withers (19.52). Lauren Bloomfield on 3rd played out of her skin as she won 3.1, including a brilliant 130 check (T20, T20, D5) to take the 3rd leg and claimed Kent’s Lady of the Match with a 20.88 average. Andrea Walker played her normal steady game as she came away with a 3.0 win. Julie Handley came back from 2.1 down against Trish Kidd to win 3.2. Emma Dunford on last unfortunately lost 3.0. But Kent won 4.2 which is an impressive result against Sussex.
The Men’s A started with Ryan Hope against Tony Ayres. Not sure what had fired Ryan up, but he came away with a superb 4.0 win. Carl Wilson lost 4.1, as did Paul Reid. Terry Dunford lost 4.2. Peter Allen battles his way through to a 4.3 win. Nigel Payne up against an inform Ritchie Edhouse, Nigel lost 4.0 as Ritchie con Sussex’s Man of the match with an impressive 34.55 average. Tyler Reynolds continued his unbeaten record with a 4.0 win.
Unfortunately, Kent’s luck disappeared as Paul Fox lost his first game for a while 4.1, followed by Dave Salter, Ian Cunliffe and Kevin Smith all losing 4.2. Mark Legg having been promoted to the A side due to a player having had to go on home was on last. He played so coolly and calmly and came away with a superb 4.2 win and claimed Kent’s Man of the Match with a 27.88 average. Both Men’s B and A award for Mark for the weekend.
Overall score finished Sussex 19 Kent 17.
It was a very tight match and an unfortunate result, but onwards and upwards against a very strong Gwent side at the end of the month.
Superleague Positions
At the 17th November in the Men’s Division 1 Superleague Tovil lead the way with 49pts, followed by Sheppey on 48 and Sittingbourne on 35, at the bottom are Maidstone on 21 and Edenbridge on 18. In Division 2 Tunbridge Wells lead the way with 51pts, followed by Canterbury on 42, and in joint 3rd Rainham Cricket Club and New Town Nomads on 41.
In the Ladies league at 16th November the positions are, Maidstone 32pts, Ashford 29, Footscray 21, Whitstable 20 and Sittingbourne 14.
Forthcoming Fixtures
- 27th/28th November Kent Home to Gwent
- 11th/12th December Kent Away to Dorset
- 19th December Kent Youth Away to Essex
- 8th/9th January Kent Home to Oxfordshire
- 23rd January Kent Youth Away to Berkshire
- 5th/6th February Kent Home to West Midlands
- 20th February Kent Youth Home to Oxfordshire
- 26th/27th February Kent Away to Berkshire
- 13th March Kent Youth Home to Surrey
- 26th/27th March Kent Home to Staffordshire
- 3rd April Kent Youth Away to Sussex
- 23rd April Magic Weekend at Prestatyn Sands Holiday Park – Kent away to Humberside
- 24th April Magic Weekend at Prestatyn Sands Holiday Park – Kent home to Buckinghamshire
- 1st May Kent Youth Home to Essex
- 22nd May Kent Youth Home to Berkshire
* Prestatyn Sands Holiday Park, Barkby Avenue, Denbighshire, North Wales LL19 7LA
Contact Pontins on 0871 474 0009 or www.pontins.com to book your caravans
—–ENDS—–
Words: Yvonne McCarthy
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