The Salopian Super League are up to week three of their season and reigning champions in the Men’s Super League Charles Darwin ‘A’ are once again the early pacesetters with three wins from their opening three games, although they were made to work for their latest victory away at Inn on the Green ‘B’ (Wentnor). Paul Rowley (26.03) and Matt Elsey (26.03) gave the Darwin an excellent start with successive 4-0 wins before Dave Bishop (23.78) checked the visitor’s progress. Jason Davies (20.57) and Steve O’Callaghan (23.07) overcame stiff opposition to secure a 4-2 victories after Duncan Morris (22.67) doubled the hosts tally.
Inn on the Green ‘A’ (Wetnor) gained some form of revenge as they headed in the opposite direction to the Charles Darwin ‘B’ and secured their first victory of the season with a perfect 6-0 scoreline. Eddie Price (21.86) was an early winner for the Wetnor side whilst teammate Tony Burton (20.80) recorded a maximum. Small compensation for the hosts was that took two of the matches to a deciding leg.
Bagley Club are the only other side besides Charles Darwin ‘A’ with a 100% win record after adding a 4-2 win at the Dickin to their account. However, Bagley did it the hard way coming from two down with Gary Crowther (25.05) once more setting the standard for the Wem outfit. The third game proved pivotal with Bagley’s Vaughan Owens edging out James Carrington in a last-leg decider. From then on the Bagley club concede just one leg as Paul Andrew, Neil Southern and Andy Kynaston all averaged over 20 per dart to secure the victory.
Hop and Friar hosted second-placed Dawley Club in a high-quality encouner that saw both team’s unbeaten records preserved in a titanic 3-3 draw. Dawley’s Daniel Astbury (31.31) chalked up the night’s highest average which included two maximums plus a 12 darts leg to put the visitor’s one up but it was down to teammate Andy Gilbert (18.06) to secure a share of the points as he won the final game of the night. Hop trio Steve Ritchie (23.23), John Roberts (23.86) and Glen Mcgrandle (25.05) were all in top form for the Shrewsbury side.
Compasses fine start to the season continues as they took the first five games against Inn on the Green ‘B’ with Andy Mullinder, Scott Dockerty, Jason Evans, Jon Mansell and Scott Towers all pitching 21 plus single dart averages. Toto Noriel (21.25) prevented the whitewash but it is the first defeat of the season for Radbrook side and it was a similar story for the pubs ‘A’ team who fell to a 5-1 home defeat against Market Drayton’s Salopian Star. Derek Coulson (31.20) shone brightly for the Star backed up by Joe Higgins (24.93) and Stu Adler (23.65,2×180), but the Inn on the Green ‘A’ persevere taking legs in all but one of the games, and were rewarded in the final game of the night with a 4-1win for Josh Davenport (19.87).
The game between Apple Tree and Griffin was postponed whilst it was the turn of Whitchurch’s Bulls Head to have the free week, the final match of round three saw Cressage gain their first victory of the season at home to Monkmoor. Ali Watkin (18.75) put the Monkmoor ahead but Shaun Pryce (26.72) hit back for the hosts who then forged ahead before Ashley Gough (21.31) secured overall victory in the final game.
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In round three of the Ladies Salopian Super League, it was a case of as you were with the top two teams Inn on the Green and Heathgates recording respective 4-1 wins at home against Bird in Hand and Telegraph. With third-placed Bagley without a game, the remaining fixture saw fourth-placed Charles Darwin edge out Compasses 3-2 with Evonne Taylor (20.59) defeating fellow Salopian ‘A’ player Alison Gallagher (16.63) in a high-quality deciding match. Prior to that Compasses Steph Clarke (24.64) had recorded the night’s highest average which included an 18 dart leg, whilst for the victorious Darwin Sue Lane (17.26) also impressed. Clare Boyle (13.81) was the solitary winner for the Bird in Hand. Heathgates Helen Walmsley (13.66) completed the top five averages but arguably the most impressive statistic of week three was that fifty women are now participating in the Salopian Ladies Super League which is going from strength to strength.
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