BUCKS 9th & final game of their 2022/23 campaign in UKDA L-Style Division 1, saw a dramatic home match against Durham at Cressex Community Centre.
Equal third – on 172 points – with West Midlands, but with a much better leg difference and 12 points behind Suffolk who were 2nd & away to Derby who were top. Bucks needed a big win in the final encounter of the season vs Durham who were bottom, to stand a chance of promotion.
Bucks lady team manager Ann Wakefield saw her Lady’s B team share the opening 4 games with Bucks wins through Felicia Blay(pictured below) who was lady of the match winning 3-0 with a good 20.88 average & Courtney Amos.
Durham’s wins were through Julie Hall & Susan Hindmarch. Bucks then won the final 2 games through Gina Freshwater & Barbara Legge on her incredible 280th appearance, to make the score 4-2 to Bucks.
Bucks Men’s team manager Tony Hill then saw his B team lose the opening game with James McClurg winning for Durham. Bucks men’s B team then went on a fantastic run of winning the next 8 games through Eddie Ford (25.99, 15 dart leg, 104 finish & 180) Paul Tubb George Grinsted Clive Wilford (25.88) Chris Freshwater Josh Oldham Steve McLeod and Jamie Tyas (25.05 & 180). John Teal (111 finish) stopped the run by winning for Durham, but Paul Stefanovic and Mark Boardman (pictured below) won the final 2 games. Boardman was man-of-the-match, winning 3-0 with an excellent 28.36 average.
Bucks 14 Durham 4 after day one & still well on course for promotion, as Derby led Suffolk 12-6 & West Midlands led Merseyside 10-8
Sunday Drama
The opening 4 Ladies A games were shared with Bucks wins through Ann Wakefield & Kirsty Gibbs & Durhams wins through Laura Patton & Cheryl Adamson. Durham then won the final 2 games through Linda Hindmarch who was lady of the match winning 3-1 with a good 19.72 average & Lauren Stokoe, to make the score Bucks 16 Durham 8 going into the final round of matches.
Promotion was very much still on the cards for Bucks with other scores at the top Derby 17 Suffolk 7 West Midlands 12 Merseyside 12.
Bucks Men’s A team then pushed for promotion & started in great fashion by winning the opening 4 games through Martin Hill, Damien Fyffe (25.38, 100 finish & 180) Liam Maughan (25.69 & 180) and Mat Caste (26.59). Relegated Durham then fought back to win the next 3 through Gary Miller (15 dart leg & 180) Gerry Hall (25.64) & Jack Bell (26.80 & 15 dart leg).
The next 2 games were shared with Jack Vincent (26.26 & 180×2) winning for Bucks & Dean Scott who was man-of-the-match winning 4-2 with a great 27.02 average & hitting a 13 dart leg & 180 winning for Durham, to make the score Bucks 21 Durham 12. Other scores at the top at that stage were Derby 24 Suffolf 9 & West Midlands 21 Merseyside 12. Steven Vaughan(121 finish) then held his nerve to win 4-3 for Bucks.
Durham then spoilt Bucks’s promotion party, by winning the final 2 games through Michael Gladstone and Carl Redden, to make the final score Bucks 22 Durham 14 & Bucks fall just 2 points short of promotion. Other final scores at the top were Derby 27 Suffolk 9 and West Midlands 24, thanks to their men A team winning 12-0 for an incredible second County match running Merseyside 12!
Congratulations to Derby who were Champions with 226 points & won all their matches & to West Midlands with 199 points who finished second & were promoted. Bucks finished third with 197 points & had the consolation of having Fallon Sherrock & Cameron Menzies top of the lady and mens A averages & Felicia Blay top of the lady B averages & will aim for promotion next season!
—–ENDS—–
Words: Keith Carter
Images: As Supplied
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