SINCE gaining promotion from division three as champions last season Black Country began life in division two with a 20-16 defeat away to West of England. The newcomers have not looked back adding six consecutive wins to their account before playing away and taking on their nearest rivals Tyne and Wear in game number eight. Sitting at the top of the table Black Country with 173 points had a huge 22 points lead over their hosts, a win basically confirming them as champions for a second successive season.
Doreen Hunt gave the ladies ‘B’ a winning start as she accounted for Toni Straughan with 3-1 result, but from one up the away side then trailed 2-1 as Sheila Douglas and Karen Murray in turn chalked up 3-2 wins over Sarah Tromans and Amy-Leigh Tolley. Restoring parity was Sarah Jane Parker her 3-1 win over Christine Duncan taking the score to two each before lady of the match Grace Angell put the away side 3-2 up with her 18.53 average and 3-1 win over Caroline Dorothy. With a final 3-1 win against Karen Docherty Lacey Hughes secured the 4-2 win for the Black Country.
The ladies ‘A’ were made to fight all the way for a 3-3 draw as the hosts went two up when Maureen Purvis and Angela Kirkwood in turn beat Maxine Prosser and Natalie Hulson 3-0. Saturday’s award winner Grace Angell reduced the arrears when she beat Marie Seago 3-1 and with a further 3-2 win for Chez Allcock over Angie Mann the score was level at 2-2, Allcock’s win and 18.03 average earning her the team’s award.
The home side went ahead again in the penultimate game when Anne-Marie Urwin beat Angie Carroll 3-0 but saving the day with a final 3-2 win over Tracey Curry was Shannon Hall who put the result at 3-3.
There were mixed results for the men’s teams, the score 7-5 for each of them, in favour of the ‘B’ but against the ‘A’.
The men’s ‘B’ got off with a man-of-the-match display from Jamie Barrowman who beat Mason Harmer in three straight legs with a great 31.31 average. However despite the good start Martin Greenwood then lost in straight legs to Graham Dennison and Dan Haden went down 3-2 to Pete Kenny. Nevertheless, there was a good end to the first half of the game as Jamie Rollinson beat Ian, Thomas, 3-0, Martyn Harper won 3-2 against David Maitland and taking the score to 4-2 in Black Country’s favour was Gavin Smith with his 3-0 win against Ollie Male.
The second half saw Tyne and Wear cut the deficit to 4-3 when their Dean Kippen beat Neil Steventon 3-2 but with similar 3-2 results for both Mark Rollinson and Rich Bowen, who defeated in turn Mark Smith and Lee Walton, Black Country were assured of at least a share of the points.
With a 6-3 lead Black Country had to wait until the final game of the day before the result was decided as Jack Howarth and Mark Wright added their 3-2 and 3-1 wins over Cayden Smith and Connor Whitehouse to Tyne and Wear’s tally to make it 6-5 to the away side with one to play.
Anchor man for the Midlands side was Shaun Hill, his narrow 3-2 win over Andrew Heath enough to secure the 7-5 result.
The men’s ‘A’ didn’t have the best of starts as the home team went two up with John Kippen jnr beating Alex Howells 4-1 and Kevin Hughes winning 4-3 against Paul Wells. However Black Country came fighting back and opened up a 3-2 lead after Shane Price won 4-3 against Peter Holden, Ben Hollowood beat David White 4-0 and Dan Nicholls won 4-3 against Chris Vaughan. By the halfway point the score was level at 3-3 after Jack Male added his 4-3 win over Rich Bowen to the hosts account.
The visitors went ahead again as the second half began, the man of the match Reece Colley winning 4-0 against David Stokell with another fine 30.36 average. They then stretched their advantage to 5-3 when Tom Bissell accounted for Mark Reeves with a 4-1 result but unfortunately for the Black Country that was to be their final winner for the weekend as Tyne and Wear went on to win 7-5 thanks to their Raymond Marshall, who beat Shane Sheridan 4-1, Dan Mock, who had a similar 4-1 win against Gaz Johnson, Eddie Ashman, who beat Dan Homer 4-3 and rounding off the win for the hosts’ men’s ‘A’ was Graham Dennison with his 4-0 success against Rob Smith.
Although a narrow overall 19-17 win the Black Country increased their lead over Tyne and Wear from 22 to 27 points.
—–ENDS—–
Alan Towe writes with the support of Red Dragon Darts
Images:
Grab a copy of the 50th Anniversary Darts World 581 here (while stock lasts) or the new Issue 582 here :
The Darts World 50 limited edition set is available to order (Here) in your choice of pack/bundle.
Also Available Free: Darts World Extra 7 – Palace Prelude
Darts World Magazine‘s fantastic value bundles:
Subscribe or purchase your copy
