Darts News – Alan Towe’s The Line On Darts – Derbyshire v Somerset
It was always going to be a tough game as Derbyshire, leaders of division two in the Riley’s BDO Inter County Championships took on Somerset, another team chasing promotion.
Saturday’s ‘B’ games turned out to be something of a disaster as the ladies crashed to a 6-0 defeat to leave them one place off the bottom of their division and only one point above bottom team Northamptonshire, whereas their victors are in a comfortable second place in the table trailing leaders Wiltshire by one point. Louise Loxton began the rout as she beat Sara-Jane Harrison 3-1, she was then followed by team mates Kay Bissett (3-0 Dee Fenn), Natalie Wadham (3-2 Michelle Phillips), Becky Taylor (3-1 Lynda Gilbert), Barbara Dyke (3-2 Sarah Quinn) and rounding off the 6-0 win was Donna Gullock with her 3-0 win against Rachel Ayres.
For the first time this season, the first time in six games the men’s ‘B’ team lost. The record up to date was two wins and three draws and although they had a good start they went down 7-5.
Christian Bradshaw (26.96) gave them a flying start, a man of the match display in a 3-1 win over Tom Lonsdale. Doubling that lead was Richard Hanson, a straight 3-0 win against Benjamin Witcombe. The run was momentarily halted as Sam Hoddinott pulled one back for Somerset, a 3-1 win over Robert Wood before the home side took another two scalps, David Allcock beating Paul Harrison 3-0 and Steven Homer winning 3-1 against Gary Morse for a somewhat comfortable 4-1 lead.
The visitors chalked up their second win in game number six when Gordon Fitzpatrick beat Michael Smith with a close 3-2 result. Taking the score along to 5-2 was Doug Walker, who won 3-0 against Les Lester and narrowly missed out on the match award with his 26.84 average.
Unfortunately it then all went downhill for the home team. Darren Godfrey won 3-0 against Jim Beardmore, Leigh Taylor won 3-2 against Anthony Palfreyman, Darren White had a 3-1 success in his game against Richard Rawding, Matt Chantrey got the better of Alan Statham with a close 3-2 verdict and completing not only a five games winning run but an amazing comeback from 5-2 down to clinch a 7-5 win. The win sees Somerset men’s ‘B’ heading their table with the same 42 points as second placed Leicestershire, with Derbyshire third one point adrift of the leading duo.
Trailing 13-5 the ‘A’ teams appeared to have an impossible task, but Sunday was another day a win was still mathematically possible so both teams had everything to play for.
The ladies began with a lady of the match showing from Jackie Sweet. Jackie, with a very creditable 22.73 average beat her counterpart Becky Gould 3-1. Kirsty Handford looked all set to double that lead when twice she took the lead against Lynne Whiffen, but with throws for a double in the deciding leg she was unable to check out and lost 3-2.
Joanne Oldershaw, winner of four match awards so far this season was on at number three and she in her usual clinical manner beat Karen Littler 3-1 just losing out on the award with her 21.92 average. Taking the score along to 3-1 was Jane Densley, Jane adding her 3-1 win against Marie Geaney to the tally.
Kelly Dean only reached a double in the third leg and was unable to capitalise on it as he opponent Sally Dart won 3-0 to leave the result hinging on the final game. Representing Derbyshire was Stephanie Allerton and for Somerset Kate Hulme. Hulme won the first Allerton the next two, but from 2-1 up the tide turned and it was the Somerset player who got the 3-2 verdict and give her team a share of the points.
The opening three games of the men’s ‘A match all went the full seven legs distance with Derbyshire players Tony Cresswell, Reece Spurr and Robert Needham in turn defeating Neil Raikes, Russell Joyner and Darren White.
Game number four was absolutely unbelievable, Somerset’s Dean Baker had scores of 2x180,125,123,5x100 and LOST 4-0. Dean’s opponents Gary Fenn turned on a world class display, his first leg was a slow starter which he won in 19 darts, he then with scores of 140,100,140 and a 121 finish went 2-0 up. Leg number three he hit 60,100,100,100,105 and won the leg on double eighteen for a 16 darts leg before he produced his best leg of the game a fantastic ELEVEN darts leg. Kicking off with 140, he followed up with another 140 and then another 140 before checking out on 81 to give him an outstanding 34.55 average. Dean Baker must surely have wondered what had hit him!!!
Derbyshire then rattled off four 4-1 wins supplied by Adrian Asprey, David Smith-Hayes, Paul Mellor and Nigel Daniels at the expense of Alan Veale, Leigh Taylor, Marcus Knapman and Tom Lonsdale putting the home team 8-0 up, but still requiring three more wins from the last four game for an overall victory.
Drew Smith added his 4-3 win against George Gardner and with Stephen Pashley’s 4-2 success over David Burrell, a win now looked to be on the cards form what started at the beginning of the day as a somewhat hopeless case.
Sadly it was not to be Steve Johnson and Steve Werrett had wins against John Clifford and Peter Slater to put the men’s ‘A’ result at 10-2 to Derbyshire, but the overall weekend result finished all square at 18-18, but what a game!!!
Full Results:(Derbyshire names first):Men’s ‘A’:- Tony Cresswell 4 Neil Raikes 3, Reece Spurr 4 Russell Joyner 3,Robert Needham 4 Darren White 3, Gary Fenn 4 Dean Baker 0, Adrian Asprey 4 Alan Veale 1, David Smith-Hayes 4 Leigh Taylor 1, Paul Mellor 4 Marcus Knapman 1, Nigel Daniels 4 Tom Lonsdale 1, Drew Smith 4 George Gardner 1, Stephen Pashley 4 David Burrill 2, John Clifford 1 Steve Johnson 4, Peter Slater 2 Steve Werrett 4, Men’s ‘B’:- Christian Bradshaw 3 Tom Lonsdale 1, Richard Hanson 3 Benjamin Witcombe 0, Robert Wood 1 Sam Hoddinott 3, David Allcock 3 Paul Harrison 0, Steven Homer 3 Gary Morse 1, Michael Smith 2 Gordon Fitzpatrick 3, Doug Walker 3 Les Lester 0, Jim Beardmore 0 Darren Godfrey 3, Anthony Palfreyman 2 Leigh Taylor 3, Richard Rawding 1 Darren White 3, Alan Statham 2 Matt Chantrey 3, Colin Rich 1 Jason Woodyard 3, Women’s ‘A’:- Jackie Sweet 3Becky Gould 1, Kirsty Handford 2 Lynne Whiffen 3, Joanne Oldershaw 3 Karen Littler 1, Jane Densley 3 Marie Geaney 1, Kelly Dean 0 Sally Dart 3, Stephanie Allerton 2 Kate Hulme 3, Womens ‘B’:- Sara-Jane Harrison 1 Louise Loxton 3, Dee Fenn 0 Kay Bisset 3, Michelle Phillips 2 Natalie Wadham 3, Lynda Gilbert 1 Becky Taylor 3, Sarah Quinn 2 Barbara Dyke 3, Rachel Ayres 0 Donna Gullock 3.
Saturday’s ‘B’ games turned out to be something of a disaster as the ladies crashed to a 6-0 defeat to leave them one place off the bottom of their division and only one point above bottom team Northamptonshire, whereas their victors are in a comfortable second place in the table trailing leaders Wiltshire by one point. Louise Loxton began the rout as she beat Sara-Jane Harrison 3-1, she was then followed by team mates Kay Bissett (3-0 Dee Fenn), Natalie Wadham (3-2 Michelle Phillips), Becky Taylor (3-1 Lynda Gilbert), Barbara Dyke (3-2 Sarah Quinn) and rounding off the 6-0 win was Donna Gullock with her 3-0 win against Rachel Ayres.
For the first time this season, the first time in six games the men’s ‘B’ team lost. The record up to date was two wins and three draws and although they had a good start they went down 7-5.
Christian Bradshaw (26.96) gave them a flying start, a man of the match display in a 3-1 win over Tom Lonsdale. Doubling that lead was Richard Hanson, a straight 3-0 win against Benjamin Witcombe. The run was momentarily halted as Sam Hoddinott pulled one back for Somerset, a 3-1 win over Robert Wood before the home side took another two scalps, David Allcock beating Paul Harrison 3-0 and Steven Homer winning 3-1 against Gary Morse for a somewhat comfortable 4-1 lead.
The visitors chalked up their second win in game number six when Gordon Fitzpatrick beat Michael Smith with a close 3-2 result. Taking the score along to 5-2 was Doug Walker, who won 3-0 against Les Lester and narrowly missed out on the match award with his 26.84 average.
Unfortunately it then all went downhill for the home team. Darren Godfrey won 3-0 against Jim Beardmore, Leigh Taylor won 3-2 against Anthony Palfreyman, Darren White had a 3-1 success in his game against Richard Rawding, Matt Chantrey got the better of Alan Statham with a close 3-2 verdict and completing not only a five games winning run but an amazing comeback from 5-2 down to clinch a 7-5 win. The win sees Somerset men’s ‘B’ heading their table with the same 42 points as second placed Leicestershire, with Derbyshire third one point adrift of the leading duo.
Trailing 13-5 the ‘A’ teams appeared to have an impossible task, but Sunday was another day a win was still mathematically possible so both teams had everything to play for.
The ladies began with a lady of the match showing from Jackie Sweet. Jackie, with a very creditable 22.73 average beat her counterpart Becky Gould 3-1. Kirsty Handford looked all set to double that lead when twice she took the lead against Lynne Whiffen, but with throws for a double in the deciding leg she was unable to check out and lost 3-2.
Joanne Oldershaw, winner of four match awards so far this season was on at number three and she in her usual clinical manner beat Karen Littler 3-1 just losing out on the award with her 21.92 average. Taking the score along to 3-1 was Jane Densley, Jane adding her 3-1 win against Marie Geaney to the tally.
Kelly Dean only reached a double in the third leg and was unable to capitalise on it as he opponent Sally Dart won 3-0 to leave the result hinging on the final game. Representing Derbyshire was Stephanie Allerton and for Somerset Kate Hulme. Hulme won the first Allerton the next two, but from 2-1 up the tide turned and it was the Somerset player who got the 3-2 verdict and give her team a share of the points.
The opening three games of the men’s ‘A match all went the full seven legs distance with Derbyshire players Tony Cresswell, Reece Spurr and Robert Needham in turn defeating Neil Raikes, Russell Joyner and Darren White.
Game number four was absolutely unbelievable, Somerset’s Dean Baker had scores of 2x180,125,123,5x100 and LOST 4-0. Dean’s opponents Gary Fenn turned on a world class display, his first leg was a slow starter which he won in 19 darts, he then with scores of 140,100,140 and a 121 finish went 2-0 up. Leg number three he hit 60,100,100,100,105 and won the leg on double eighteen for a 16 darts leg before he produced his best leg of the game a fantastic ELEVEN darts leg. Kicking off with 140, he followed up with another 140 and then another 140 before checking out on 81 to give him an outstanding 34.55 average. Dean Baker must surely have wondered what had hit him!!!
Derbyshire then rattled off four 4-1 wins supplied by Adrian Asprey, David Smith-Hayes, Paul Mellor and Nigel Daniels at the expense of Alan Veale, Leigh Taylor, Marcus Knapman and Tom Lonsdale putting the home team 8-0 up, but still requiring three more wins from the last four game for an overall victory.
Drew Smith added his 4-3 win against George Gardner and with Stephen Pashley’s 4-2 success over David Burrell, a win now looked to be on the cards form what started at the beginning of the day as a somewhat hopeless case.
Sadly it was not to be Steve Johnson and Steve Werrett had wins against John Clifford and Peter Slater to put the men’s ‘A’ result at 10-2 to Derbyshire, but the overall weekend result finished all square at 18-18, but what a game!!!
Full Results:(Derbyshire names first):Men’s ‘A’:- Tony Cresswell 4 Neil Raikes 3, Reece Spurr 4 Russell Joyner 3,Robert Needham 4 Darren White 3, Gary Fenn 4 Dean Baker 0, Adrian Asprey 4 Alan Veale 1, David Smith-Hayes 4 Leigh Taylor 1, Paul Mellor 4 Marcus Knapman 1, Nigel Daniels 4 Tom Lonsdale 1, Drew Smith 4 George Gardner 1, Stephen Pashley 4 David Burrill 2, John Clifford 1 Steve Johnson 4, Peter Slater 2 Steve Werrett 4, Men’s ‘B’:- Christian Bradshaw 3 Tom Lonsdale 1, Richard Hanson 3 Benjamin Witcombe 0, Robert Wood 1 Sam Hoddinott 3, David Allcock 3 Paul Harrison 0, Steven Homer 3 Gary Morse 1, Michael Smith 2 Gordon Fitzpatrick 3, Doug Walker 3 Les Lester 0, Jim Beardmore 0 Darren Godfrey 3, Anthony Palfreyman 2 Leigh Taylor 3, Richard Rawding 1 Darren White 3, Alan Statham 2 Matt Chantrey 3, Colin Rich 1 Jason Woodyard 3, Women’s ‘A’:- Jackie Sweet 3Becky Gould 1, Kirsty Handford 2 Lynne Whiffen 3, Joanne Oldershaw 3 Karen Littler 1, Jane Densley 3 Marie Geaney 1, Kelly Dean 0 Sally Dart 3, Stephanie Allerton 2 Kate Hulme 3, Womens ‘B’:- Sara-Jane Harrison 1 Louise Loxton 3, Dee Fenn 0 Kay Bisset 3, Michelle Phillips 2 Natalie Wadham 3, Lynda Gilbert 1 Becky Taylor 3, Sarah Quinn 2 Barbara Dyke 3, Rachel Ayres 0 Donna Gullock 3.