Game five in Division Three of the UKDA National League saw Salopian play hosts to near-neighbours Montgomery and Radnor, the home side were keen to build on their unbeaten start to the 2022-2023 season.
The ladies ‘B’ gave them the ideal start registering a 4-2 win. A brace of 3-1 victories by Paula Davies (12.84) and Sue Lane (13.81) over respective opponents Sam Lloyd and Elisa Richardson-Morris gave Salopian a 2-0 lead and although the visitors pulled back to level terms with wins from Sue Lewis and Jane Emma Martin, 3-2 wins from Claire Boyle and Racheal Williams in turn against Shelly Mulliner and Charlotte Davies-Jarman gave the home team the 4-2 result plus a second successive victory for the ladies ‘B’.
Gary Crowther (23.12) increased the overall advantage as he won the men’s ‘B’ first game against Dean Stokes 3-0 only for Salopian’s progress to be checked with back-to-back wins for the away team’s Jamie Major (23.13) and Ashley Orchard (19.86). Salopian replied with a 3-0 success for Ben Bevan (19.03) over David Bennett before Terry Williams restored Montgomery and Radnor’s lead with his 3-2 success against Andy Kynaston. However, by the break, it was level pegging as Martin Riggs beat Liam Dalton 3-2.
The second half was all one-way traffic all in the home team’s favour as Paul Ashworth beat Dan Jones 3-0, Robert Paine also won 3-0 against Tony Nash as did Steven Ritchie in his game with Jake Rigney. Jamie Kynaston then won 3-2 against Neil Astley and with Adrian Logsdail beating Steve Rowlands 3-1 and Mark Jones ending the day with a 3-2 win over Frankie Costanzo the men’s ‘B’ had won 9-3 giving the hosts a 13-5 lead to take into Sunday’s games.
The ladies ‘A’ opened up with a 3-1 win for Julie Griffiths (18.41) over Heidi Davies and although Sharon Shepherd cancelled the win out when she won 3-2 against Evonne Taylor the next four games all went to Salopian as Allison Gallagher beat Jane Jones 3-2, Steph Clarke won 3-0 against Louise Davies, Sarah Roberts also won 3-0 in her encounter with Kelly Butler and Tracey Dean completed the 5-1 win with her 3-1 success against Sally Urwin.
With an 18-6 lead the men’s ‘A’ required just one winner to confirm an overall victory, but one winner was never going to be the case as they stormed to a 10-2 victory to give them a fantastic overall 28-8 win.
The Men’s ‘A’ side, still reeling from a first-ever defeat in their previous outing had a point to prove and Joe Higgins (23.56) gave them the ideal start when he won 4-1 against Mark Bellerby. However, the lead didn’t last long as John Williams-Jones levelled the score with his 4-2 win over Eddie Price and then Montgomery and Radnor took the lead when Tony Lloyd beat Matt Elsey 4-3.
Despite the temporary setback the remainder of the first half was all Salopian and by the midway point, they had opened up a 4-2 lead thanks to straight 4-0 win from John Roberts, Ash Hilditch and Paul Rowley who in turn accounted for Des Francis, Adrian Marsh and John Offa.
The 4-0 pattern continued as the second half got underway with Jon Mansell beating Dan Petty. Further wins were then added by Scott Dockerty, Mark Crutchley, Terry Nash, Ben Morgan and Kacey Jones who in turn defeated Rhys Field (4-1), Phil Austin (4-3), Tony Burton (4-0), Steve Price (4-2) and Roger Williams (4-0).
The huge victory saw Salopian move up one place in the table to fourth leaving them just thirteen points short of leaders Northumberland with a game in hand.
—–ENDS—–
Alan Towe writes with the support of Red Dragon Darts
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