The weekend of the 11th-12th of December saw Dorset host Kent at their home venue at Branksome Conservative club.
It’s been only a couple of weeks since our last match away to Oxfordshire where we came away as 22-14 winners so hopes of a resounding win were high. Dorset was sat 2nd in the league table Kent 4th some 6pts below us and both our Men’s A and Lady’s A teams were top of their respective tables.
SO HOW DID WE DO?
Up first for our lady’s B Julie Boggust and Julie outscored Kent’s Emma Dunford but misses so many doubles her game going to deciding leg Emma saved her best leg for last and Julie loses 2-3. Next up making her DEBUT for Dorset Macie Woodrow (16.52) up against Kent’s Helen Ward (23.86) Macie didn’t disgrace her self she played well but Helen didn’t miss much even hitting a 177 and no messing at the doubles and bangs in a 23.86 average (WOW some average for a B team player) and was Kent’s Lady of the match (NO SURPRISE THERE) Macie losing 0-3. Lorraine Woodrow (Lilly 16.52) up next now Lilly’s gone from not being able to hit a double to back to back Lady of the match for Dorset as she runs out a convincing 3-0 winner against Kent’s Violet Wood.
Next up for Dorset Roz Annetts v Suzanne Campfield now Roz is still undefeated having won all of her games so far for Dorset. Roz outscored in the first leg and is back on 96 as Kent hit the double. Both had chances in the 2nd leg but 2nd leg also to Kent. Unknown territory for our Roz she’s not used to being that far behind but she knuckles down hits a few big scores and levels at 2-2 getting a deserved deciding leg. Roz scores well in the deciding leg and Suzanne is back on 195 as Roz sat on tops and takes the 3-2 win ( now that’s bottle) and the match is all square at 2-2.Donna Mabbatt up next her game going to yet another deciding leg. What a close deciding leg Donna busts 66 Kent take the win. That left Sally Old (19.23) v Sue Bird (20.45) up last for the draw Sally played well taking the first leg and has a go at a double in the 2nd but Kent’s Sue Bird hitting a 180 and all on her way to beating Sally 3-1 great effort from Sally 19.23 would normally win MOST B team lady’s games. Dorset 2 Kent 4.
Bring on the Mens B teams.
Up first Roy Pidgeon v Darren Bootes (25.37) Roy far from his best and is out scored and out played by Darren losing 0-4. Next Matt Yarrow (28.63) v Mark Ticker (23.62) it’s nice to have Matt back playing for Dorset having taken time off for a hip replacement Matt not only a great dart player but a great MC too but I digress Matty after 15 darts sat on 24 and takes the first leg. Matty not missing much loads of red pen scores and quickly runs out a 4-0 winner and his 28.63 gave him Dorsets Man of the Mach what a great return. Ryan Mabey(26.25) v Paul Reid (29.16) Ryan plays and scores well but came up against Kent’s Man of the Match great average from Ryan but he loses 1-4. Nick Turner up next goes into a 3-2 lead but misses several match winning doubles and his game goes to a deciding leg. Kent out score Nick in the decider and Nick loses 3-4.
Liam Blakeley (25.58) up next. Now I’ve been looking forward to watching Liam again after his debut last game against Oxfordshires Ade Larner ware he hit a 27.27 average just losing 3-4 Ade poking two ton plus shot outs against him. Liam didn’t disappoint had an almost dream start 140 180 but misses a few doubles and leg with throw goes to Kent. Liam pokes a 120 to level at 1-1 and takes the next two to go 3-1 up. Liam hits another 180 in the 5th leg but Dave Saint his opponent asked for the board to be straightened this took a while as the rubber surround had to be removed and then the board straightened until both happy, this didn’t put Liam off (a true professional at such a young age) and he takes a 4-1 win. What a find Liam is for Dorset shame we have no youth side anymore. Robby Morris (24.51) up next. Robby as always giving 100% and is involved in a very evenly matched game going to 2-2 then Kent’s Jack Dickinson pokes 86 to put Robby 2-3 behind Robby misses doubles to level Kent pinch the win 4-2. Dorset 2 Kent 4.
Richie Gomm next up goes into a 3-1 lead against Kent’s Fred Box but loses 3-4. John Clark next up in an evenly scoring game against Kent’s Richard Elms and no surprise his game goes to a deciding leg, a few missed winning darts from John and he loses 3-4. Rob Channing next misses a few crucial doubles losing 2-4. Steven Early (24.64) down from the A team goes 1-3 down but then battles back to take the 4-3 win giving Dorset something to cheer about. Mark Porter ( Potty 26.66) next up v David Heath (26.03) What a close game this was first four legs all unusually going against the throw 2-2.
Then Kent take the next two Potty played well but loses 2-4 Up last Richard Perry, who takes the first leg. Richard not playing his usual game loses 1-4 so not the result we needed Dorset 3 Kent 9. We go into Sunday with the scores standing at Dorset 5 Kent 13 we’ve been here before and Sundays another day, and both are A teams are top of there leagues.
Sunday day 2. Up first for our lady’s Julie Frampton (18.55) and what a good game to get us underway Julie coming from 0-2 down to force a decider. Great deciding leg (loads of red pen scores) leg going with throw to Kent. Sam Kirton (21.36) v Lauren Bloomfield (21.33) next up another cracking high scoring match going to a deserved deciding leg, Sam behind hitting a 140 to leave 105 Lauren reply’s hitting a 134 to leave 20 and Sam loses 2-3 Lauren was Kent’s Lady of the match. Cath Campbell (19.03) next up both players couldn’t find the double in the first leg, leg giving itself up to Cathy and from there no looking back running out a 3-0 winner and putting the girls back in the match now trailing 1-2Trina Perry next up took her match to a deciding leg all legs including the last going with throw giving her the 3-2 win and the match is all even at Dorset 2 Kent 2. Katie Mitchell up next does more than enough to take a 3-0 win. Up last Suzy Trickett (22,49 ) v Emma Martin (18.99) and Suzy playing well poking 76 to take the first leg. Emma takes the next. Suzy hits a 140 followed by a 180 and goes 2-1 up. 16 dart winning leg from Suzy gives her the 3-1 win and she’s Dorsets Lady to the match and more importantly gives Dorset Lady’s A a 4-2 win and Dorset hopes of pulling back there deficit.
Mens A
The draws done what’s the chances up first Dorsets Kevin Smith (25.53) v Kent’s Kevin Smith (28.63) the result not reflecting the game our Kev losing 0-4. Richard Wright up next not his day today losing 2-4. Dale Masterman (27.38) v Tyler Reynolds (28.06) as the averages suggest great high-scoring game Dale going 3-2 up and after 12 darts in the 6th leg Dale sat on 80 but misses doubles giving Kent a deciding leg which went with throw to Kent. Tommy Morris (26.81) v Ryan Hope (28.68) an exciting game to watch both players very animated in this nip and tuck game going 2-2, Tommy had a little blip hitting back-to-back scores of 36 and Tommy loses 2-4.
Robbie Martin next up loses 1-4 DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO PLAN. Next up Nigel Lamb (25.26) up next takes his match to a deciding leg, with throw he goes ton 140 and gets first go at a winning double, Nigel throws his last two darts in the floor he doesn’t need them taking a 4-3 win.
So after six matches Dorset 1 (Nigel Lamb) Kent 5.
Danny Pearce (25.74) v Carl Wilson 24.34) Danny rushes into a 3-0 lead but THAT WINNING DOUBLE CAN BE SO HARD TO HIT and Carl levels at 3-3, and has the throw in the decider, squeaky bum time. Better from Danny 121 ton 97 but Kent’s Carl Wilson still a slight advantage with the throw. Danny hits a 134 to leave 16 returns hits a big 16 and is a little lucky to get another go and he hits the winning double last dart in hand to take a 4-3 win.
Ricky King up next just not his day losing 1-4. Terry Gowans (23.16) up from the B a little unlucky to come up against an in form Phil Gibson who banged in a 30.83 average and was Kent’s Man of the Match. Dan Perry ( 27.00) v Paul Fox (28.97) what a tremendous match this was both evenly matched the game going to a deciding leg (first 6 all going with the darts) Kent’s Paul Fox hits a 180 at the right time and no messing at the double Dan losing 3-4 playing really well. Mark Grimes (25.91) next up losing 2-4 that left our M.O.M yesterday to play Matt Yarrow (23.38) v Nigel Payne (24.14) the result not reflecting the game Matt losing 0-4 but he missed a few important doubles. Dorset Mens A lose 2-10
Results
Lady’s B – Dorset 2 Kent 4, Mens. B – Dorset 3 Kent 9, Lady’s A – Dorset 4 Kent 2, Mens A – Dorset 2 Kent 10.
Overall : Dorset 11 Kent 25
Martins thoughts:
We win or lose as a team. We were a little unlucky this weekend but Kent OUT PLAYED us this time and thoroughly deserved the win. Our lady’s A well-done girls coming from 0-2 down and the two games we lost only just you deserve to be top of the table.
The question now is how far will we drop down the table from being 2nd? but the season isn’t halfway through yet so forget this game as we go onto the next away to Berkshire. A few said how quiet we were (not supporting our players) it’s always better at away games because more Dorset players are there the A and B teams supporting every match.
Well done Macie you did well for your first matchup against their lady of the match. Liam what a find all happens to you mate last game your opponent poked two ton-plus shots out this game moving of the dartboard in that last winning leg but you took it all in your stride well done you.
Nice to have Matt Yarrow back great dart player good MC. Chins up green army marching on.
Good luck to Scott Mitchell whose done Dorset proud reaching the worlds have a good run mate, never say never believe.
Words: Martin Maidment
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