DARTS: Results, fixtures and gossip – Latest from the local oches
Their Men’s A team are fourth in the section with their player Gary Butcher topping the divisional averages.
Their Ladies A team are top of that section with Dawn Standley on top of the averages for the division and their Amanda Abbot is third.
Our A girls are well capable of holding the visiting set with Heather Draper fifth and Lorraine Green sixth in the averages and with Michelle Jackson and Janice Wilson featuring on the leader board of the averages it should be a close encounter.
Cumbria are in a strong position to pick up valuable points from the Saturday matches where Norfolk are seventh in the section for men and ninth in the B section for women.
I have to say that I was most impressed by the team spirit of the Cumbria squad when they visited Lincoln - and they could well have a more successful second half of the season because of it.
Adam Simpson is the leading Cumbria player in the averages but also featuring in the lost are Alan Armstrong, Mark Sloan, Des Halbert, John Scott and Mark Aspinall - so I expect a good effort on Sunday too.
There are a couple of changes to the Men’s A team with Trevor Watters returning after illness and Mike Sowerby going up again after his man of the match performance at Lincoln. Peter Taylor and Fred Carter are in the B team where Brett Lowden comes in along with Brian Carter and Phil Routledge.
The reserve bench looks a good strong one - which is very necessary and we are pleased to see Dave Dougal back in the squad again after his illness.
MEN’S A: Alan Armstrong, Mark Aspinall, Ricky Winder, Andy Goodfellow, Des Halbert, Rob McCoubrey, John Scott, Mark Sloan, Mark Steele, Mike Sowerby, Adam Simpson and Trevor Watters.
MEN’S B: John Blaney, Steve Bonnett, Mike English, Andrew Foster, Clive Foster, Fred Carter, Brian Carter, David Wake, Eddie Waugh, Peter Taylor, Phil Routledge and Brett Lowden.
LADIES A: Heather Draper, Lorraine Green, Michelle Jackson, Ann Scholey, Ann Watson and Janice Wilson.
LADIES B: Michelle Black, Sas Bode, Chris Shortland, Laura Tweeddale, Anita Ward and Angela Stott.
MEN’S RESERVES: Michael Bains, Dave Dougal, Graham Metcalf, Clive Smitham, Tony Stone and Scott Walton.
LADIES RESERVES: Angie Edgar and Michaela Herdman.
The Saturday matches will begin at 12.30 but on Sunday it is an early start with a toe the oche at 11am - and £3 covers you for both days - jolly good value too!!!
MEANWHILE, NOT AT THE ALLY PALLY
Really just in praise of the Power! Wasn’t Philip Taylor simply magnificent in winning his 14th World title?
Okay so Barney had darts to make it 2-2 in sets and it could have been different? Don’t think so - it was Taylor presence which made the Dutchman miss his chance.
Pete Manley must be pleased that his beating of Taylor in the Premier League sent the man from the Potteries back to the dart board for full on practice - he has hardly lost a tournament since!!!
Perhaps it was Kevin Painter who made the most insightful comment on Taylor following his 4-1 defeat by the Power when he noted how good Taylor is at taking a leg out when he only has one dart left in his hand. Painter saw it close up and personal when he was waiting for a shot and Taylor killed a three dart number out to win the legs.
If only Kevin lad, if only!
Not surprisingly Phil Taylor was named as The PDC player of the year at their presentation dinner. James Wade was nominated The Young Player of The Year and Robert Thornton the Best Newcomer to the PDC.
The ex Yorkshire coalman Dennis Priestley was inaugurated into the PDC Hall of Fame - a most fitting tribute to a man who would surely have had more World Titles were it not for a certain Philip Taylor.
Adrian Lewis and James Wade were new recipients of the gold badge for a televised nine darts 501 (there were repeat awards for Taylor and Barneveld) and there were silver awards for no televised 9 darters in tournaments for Dave Askew, Jella Klassen, John McGowan, Colin Lloyd, Colin Osbourne, Ronnie Baxter and (of course) Taylor.
Did I enjoy the Ally Pally? Yes in many respects - some of the matches were spell binding - but they can get rid of those qualifying matches for me - they simply interrupt the proceedings. I think we could do with a lot better crowd order while the
matches are being played but the showbiz and the razzmatazz have become a part of the thing now and we will have to learn to live with it in order to watch the darts.
The Ally Pally show may be over for a year but the Players Championships, the Blue Square UK Open regional final and the Bobby Bourne Memorial are taking place in Doncaster this weekend. Results next week.
Been impressed with Trina Gulliver - just watched her get to the final (so much for my "watch Lisa Ashton") - didn’t play badly though!
Sorry to see Pecker go out so tamely - I thought he had a real chance against former champ Hankey but there you are - got to do a lot of hard work to make it to Lakeside next year Pecker lad!
Got to be a different champion from last year - John Boy Walton has disposed of Webster - now meets Hankey.
Never seen either O’Shea or Fitton play as well as they have done to now and the old war-horse that is Adams is looking okay.
Gary Anderson has a chance to go all the way and then - just maybe - the Premier League? There are wild cards for that!
How many more girls will go to the PDC?
Could Anastasia be the first of several and could we have a proper Women’s World Championship which pays more than £6,000?
Will Kirk Shepherd ever think that he is good enough to go back and mix it with the PDC boys?
Will the BDO accept him back? Write your answer on a £20 note and send it to me!!!
THE CASTLE RESUMES
Following the festive season break the competition at Whitehaven’s Castle Inn resumed on Thursday with week six which saw John Blaney make a bid to claim the "nearly man" title.
He got both half entries to the last pair in each half - got to the heat final with a 2-0 win over Brett Lowden but lost the other semi final to Andrew Foster by the decider of 3 legs.
Then Andrew proceeded to win the best of 5 legs final - again by taking the deciding leg. Week 7 on Thursday and all are most welcome.
HENSINGHAM DARTS
There will be a league meeting at Barrajacks on Monday evening at 8pm when the draw for the trebles tournament will be made so all teams should be represented at the meeting with their nominations at the ready - To be in it - Be at it!
STATION INN MARYPORT
Following hard on the heels of their very successful Boxing Day competition Joe and Denise are hosting a mixed pairs tournament where there is a guaranteed £750 up for grabs. The event will kick off on Wednesday January 21 with the also rans having their chance to win back some of the entry money on March 18 with the big money pay out after the finals the following week. It is a fiver for an entry in each half of the draw with an 8.15 roll call for an 8.30 start each week.
How time flies! Advertising a comp which will end with the buds on the trees and the hedgerows starting to bloom!
AND FINALLY
Just had a very early morning look at Teletext and thought I needed to go to Specsavers again! But no - O’Shea has put out Anderson and his County teammate Fitton has disposed of Waites and the ladies final will be contested for the sixth time by Gulliver and Hoenselaar - the runner up will get £2,000 and could be out of pocket when she has paid her hotel bill and travelling expenses! Have a prosperous new Year.
Story By: News And Star
http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/other/1.351729