1 week Ago By [email protected] (Advertiser Reporter)
Wheatsheaf Bellies & Bullseyes won the Newark and District Double Board Darts League’s Knockout Cup after coming from behind to defeat the holders in the final held at the Castle & Falcon. Rose & Crown Marauders went into the final with hopes of securing the trophy for a fourth successive time, and completing a third league and cup double on the trot in the process. But it wasn’t to be on this occasion as their opponents’ better finishing proved pivotal as the Wheatsheaf recovered from losing the opening leg to deservedly claim a 4-1 victory.
The opening leg saw the holders outscore their rivals to reach the double first but two missed opportunities allowed the Wheatsheaf skipper, Dave Thompson, a chance to snatch it but he failed to land his attempt at 68 which enabled Ryan Holland to make it third time lucky as holed out on 32 with a double-7, double-9 check out to put the Marauders 1-0 up. The second leg was a tight affair with missed double attempts on both sides before Martin Fryer levelled the match with a double-8 finish. The next leg saw the Wheatsheaf outscore the league champions and with the Marauders still requiring 163, Neil Ward checked out on double-20 to put the league runners-up ahead.
The fourth leg saw Jason Hill have a chance to draw his side level but he was unable to find the 77 finish which gave John Esam an opportunity to put the Wheatsheaf within one leg of victory and he duly obliged with a double-10 checkout. With the Marauders facing only a second defeat of the season they produced their best scoring of the night to reach the checkout first with their opponents back on 229 but they were left to rue missed opportunities as they saw several chances come and go which allowed Esam to step up and seal a terrific 4-1 victory for the Wheatsheaf with a 42 checkout. The league campaigns in both the men’s and ladies’ divisions came to an end with the final re-arranged matches of the season being played.
In the men’s division, RHP Darts of Hazzard, who finished the season in seventh place, continued their recent good form as they made it three wins on the trot in all competitions with a terrific 3-2 victory over third-placed Castle & Falcon BBC2s. Paul Gallacher’s 28 finish in a tight opener gave RHP the early lead before Lewis Hubbard doubled their advantage as he checked out on 36 with their opponents still requiring 111. The BBC2s then rallied to bring the match level with skipper James Brown clinching a closely contested third leg with a 20 checkout before Nigel Parr set up a last leg decider as he holed out on 45 with RHP back on 164.
The fifth leg saw Phil Moore have a chance to complete the BBC2s’ comeback but he just failed to land his attempt at 74 and this allowed Josh Tooke to snatch the win for RHP as he holed out on 55. RHP’s attention will now turn to Thursday’s John Browne Subsidiary Cup Final where they take on The Taverners, who ended their league campaign with four defeats on a trot to finish in fifth. In the ladies’ division, the Railway Youngers, who had already clinched a remarkable 17th league title, increased their winning margin to 22 points as they ended their season with just one league defeat following a hard-fought 9-6 victory over Collingham FC MC which was clinched by skipper Debbie Braithwaite’s finish in the concluding team leg.
The Youngers had led 3-1 after the pairs but the Collingham side, who have ended the season in fifth, fought back to lead 5-3 with singles victories by Annie Hovey and captain Sharon Hovey. The next singles encounter between Amy Rayney and Jackie Dennis ended all square before Braithwaite overcame Leanne Forman in the final singles tie to draw the champions level at 6-6 and set up the 3-point team leg decider which went the way of the Youngers as Braithwaite holed out. Results: Men’s KO Cup Final: Rose & Crown Marauders 1-4 Wheatsheaf Bellies & Bullseyes.
Men’s Division: RHP Darts of Hazzard 3-2 Castle & Falcon BBC2s. Ladies’ Division: Collingham FC MC 6-9 Railway Youngers..
