Sunday 15 October 2017

Aces deal losing hand to academicals

Red Dragon Sheffield Franchise League (Week 5)



Thursday 12th October 2017

Aces 5-1 Academicals 

Neil Bradley 0-3 C. Doughty
Mick Smith 3-0 William Pollard 
Andy Umney 3-1 Tim Close
Trevor Tye 3-0 Jack Lewis 
Ian Speed 3-0 Ellis Turner 
Simon Birkett 3-1 Tom Hogg


Week five of the Franchise League started at the Newbold where the Aces who start the season undefeated take on the Academicals who are unbeaten in their last three.

We first start with Aces Neil Bradley taking on debutant C. Doughty who laid down a marker already in the opening leg to take the lead. Bradley had the darts in the next leg but Doughty showed no sign of nerves as he broke the throw then followed with the victory in the third leg to mark an impressive debut to put the Uni team one up.

In the second match William Pollard was looking to double the Academicals lead but as he faced Mick Smith. Smith had the throw and held well to put him one up, Pollard needed to hold to level but couldn't manage it as Smith broke throw then took out the third and final leg to equalise for the Aces.


Andy Umney put in a good performance in the third match of the evening for the home side after breaking his opponent Tim Close in the first leg he then took out an 18 darter to go two up, Close managed a leg back in the third but Umney finished him with a 180 and a 20 darter to put the Aces in the lead for the first time.

The fourth game of the night saw Jack Lewis looking to turn it around again for the Academicals as he played Trevor Tye who himself looked a cool customer after Tye held his throw in the first leg he then broke the Lewis throw to double his lead, Lewis needed to find his way back in the match but it wasn't to be as Tye finished him off without dropping a leg to make it 3-1 with two to play.

In game five with the Academicals chasing the game it was up to Elis Turner to keep them in it as her opponent Ian Speed was looking to finish it off. Turner started us off with the throw in which Speed powered in front with a break. After Speed held in the second leg for 2-0 Turner was in trouble and it was Speed to wrap it up early with solid darts to give the Aces victory with one to spare.

The final match of the night with the game sewn up for the Aces up stepped Simon Birkett making his debut facing T. Hogg in what was the best match of the night in terms of scoring. It was Birkett to start us off and he held well recording an 18 darter to get off the mark. Hogg replied in the next leg with a 21 to level. Once again Birkett showed how good he is registering a 19 dart leg in the third to go back in front which put Hogg under pressure to hold his throw which he couldn't manage as Birkett turned the screw to win the game with the best leg of the night a 16 darter to give the Aces a 5-1 win which stretches their unbeaten run to four.



Black Eagles 6-0 Warriors 

John Walton 3-0 Sandra Webster 
Micky Stocks 3-0 Ian Webster
Ben Beardmore 3-0 Barry Brittle 
Trevor Burkhill 3-0 Nicola Warne
Greg Beard 3-1 Steve Newton
Jelger Tuinstra 3-0 Paul Brittle


Over at the Woodbourne Hotel, the champions Black Eagles who had a week off last week and are looking back to get to winning ways face the Warriors who have three successive defeats to their name.

To start us off was former World Champion John "Boy" Walton taking on Sandra Webster. John "Boy" started positively breaking the Webster throw to get of the mark. Walton held his throw in the next leg to double his lead. Webster threw to stay in the contest but it was Walton who finished the match off without dropping a leg to get the Champions up and running. 


It was another Webster in Ian playing in the second game for the Warriors facing Micky Stocks, It was Stocks to throw first and held well. Stocks then got into a rhythm which broke throw in the second with a solid 19 darter to make it two. It was Stocks who threw first in the third leg and that's when he cooly finished off Webster with another 19 dart leg for a very consistent performance to put the Black Eagles two up.

Warriors were on the back foot and chasing the game up next for them were "Ginga ninja" Barry Brittle and his opponent Ben "Boom" Beardmore. It was Brittle's darts to start and after a slow start for both men it was Beardmore who broke and then it set the wheels in motion from then on as "Boom" recorded an 18 and a 19 dart leg as well as a 96 finish to make it three in three for the home side.

Things didn't get any better for the Warriors in the next match either as Nicola Warne played "Turbo" Trevor Burkhill. It was "Turbo" who started the match and powered in front with a 19 dart leg, Warne needed a response but try as she did she just couldn't find it as Burkhill threw in a 18 and a 16 darter to secure the win which wrapped up the match after four games. 


Black Eagles were running away with the match at this point as "The Titan" Greg Beard was looking to turn the screw even more as he faced Steve "Hero" Newton. It was "The Hero" to start but it was Beard who felt in control from the off as he broke early then held his own throw to put him two up, After Newton finally achieved a leg for the Warriors in the third "The Titan" finished off the game in the fourth leg to make it five in five.


In the sixth and final game of the night and the match as a contest all finished it was the Warriors captain Paul Brittle looking to get anything as he played Jelger Tuinstra. It was Tuinstra who got off to the better start and he went ahead with a hold. Brittle needed to equalise and fast as he had the darts in the next leg but Jelger showed his class taking out a 19 dart leg against throw then rounding off the night with a 20 darter to secure a 6-0 rout for the Champions.



Panthers 3-3 Hawks 

Mick Wood 0-3 Paul Moore
John Schultz 3-0 Laura Taylor
Mick Hulley 0-3 Ben Dulley
Gavin Markham 3-1 Pete Bell
Ryan Goffin 1-3 Steve Ewington
Pat Meeson 3-1 Joelle Taylor


Still at the Woodbourne the home team Panthers without a win in three face a Hawks side who recorded their first win in the league last time out. 

Up first representing the Panthers was Mick Wood facing Paul Moore, Moore started with a hold of throw to get us under way. Wood had the darts in the second leg but it was Moore who was in control of the match breaking the Wood throw and finally winning the match after three legs to get the Hawks up and running.

Second on was Laura Taylor looking to equalise against John Schultz but Schultzy was in no mood to let Taylor in as he confidently held his throw in the first leg. Schultz continued in that vain as he broke Taylor to make it 2-0 and then Schultz grabbed the win after three legs of darts to make the score one each. 

It was Dulley versus Hulley in the third game of the night as Hawks Ben faced Mick. It was Ben Dulley who held well to get in front. Hulley threw first in the second leg but Dulley was in control as he fired in an 18 darter to break then holding out in the third to win and put the Hawks back in front. 

In a topsy turvy contest between the two teams it continued in that vain in the fourth match on as Panthers Gavin Markham played Pete Bell. The match started with both men holding throw to make it one each. Markham then turned up the heat by hitting an 18 dart leg to go in front again. Bell needed to hold to stay in the match but couldn't do it as Markham secured the winning double to make it two each with two to play.

Steve Ewington had the darts against "The Manic" Ryan Goffin in the fifth match but didn't get off to he best of starts as Goffin broke in the opener to take the lead. Goffin couldn't capitalise on his good start though as Ewington broke straight back to level then held his throw to nudge ahead. "The Manic" needed to hold to force a decider but it was Ewington's day as he grabbed the win in four to put the Hawks on the brink of victory.


In the last game of the evening saw the Woodbourne landlord Pat Meeson looking rescue a draw for the Panthers play Joelle Taylor. Both players started consistently with a hold of throw each to get out of the blocks. It was Meeson who held his throw in the third leg to make the score 2-1 meaning that Taylor needed a hold of throw against to stand a chance of victory but Meeson won it against the darts in the fourth leg to rescue a draw for the Panthers in a match where you just couldn't separate the two teams.



Pirates 0-6 Wades

Simon Chivers 0-3 Simon Sawford
Jordan Chivers 0-3 Lee Siddle 
Martin Baugh 0-3 Lester Bowers 
Anne Lofthouse 0-3 Tom Sawford
Sie Simmons 2-3 Paul Harris
Martin Chivers 1-3 Chris Keane


At the Players Bar the Pirates who have lost three out of first four games face the Wades who have three wins on the bounce before tonight.

Starting us off was the battle of the Simon's as Pirates Chivers took on Sawford. It was Sawford who got the darts underway and cooly held his throw. In the next leg Chivers had the darts but couldn't make it count as Sawford upped a gear which broke the throw and Sawford threw solidly for the match to win it with a 20 dart leg to get the Wades off the mark.

Lee Siddle continued where Sawford left off against Jordan Chivers in game two. Siddle quickly broke throw to gain the advantage and after he held in the second Siddle wrapped it up with a 21 dart leg to give the Wades a 2-0 lead. 


Pirates were struggling for form and legs as Martin Baugh faced Lester "Big Red" Bowers. "Big Red" started brightly taking out the opener on throw. Baugh threw in the second leg for the leveller but Bowers was in control of the game throughout as he broke then finished off the match with a 21 darter (108 finish) to make it three nil.

In game four "Shooter" Tom Sawford showed good form in beating Anne Lofthouse as he achieved a 17 and an 18 dart leg on his way to a 3-0 victory finishing on a 75 average to give the Wades the win with still two play.

The closest match of the night happened in game five as Sie Simmons tried to get the Pirates on the board against Paul Harris, Harris had the darts to start and held throw to take the lead. Simmons hit back levelling the scores. In leg three Harris produced his best leg hitting a 21 darter to regain control but Simmons wasn't going to give in and replied with another equaliser to force a decider in which Harris once again had the darts and took full advantage to win the final leg shootout with a ton checkout to make in five in five for the Wades. 


It was Chris "The Blade" Keane's time to finish the whitewash for the Wades as he took on opponent Martin Chivers. Things didn't get off to the best of starts for Chivers as "The Blade" sliced into him in the opening leg to break the throw. Chivers broke straight back in the second leg but that's all he could muster as Keane stepped it up and took out back to back legs to finish off the night with a whitewash for the Wades which made it four wins on the bounce which puts them up to third in the table.



Vulcans 1-5 Railwaymen 

Chelsea Woodhead 0-3 Steve Marfleet
Jim Smith 2-3 Glen Payne
Joe Gregg 0-3 Steve Brittle
Steve Whyers 0-3  Martin Scott
Mick Swift 1-3 Pete Bramley
Phil Lambert 3-1 Gavin Pilling


In the final report of the week we head to Frecheville where the Vulcans the only team left without a win this season face a Railwaymen side who are the only team with an 100% record. 

In the opening game Vulcans Chelsea Woodhead played well in her match against Steve Marfleet but Marfleet was too good starting off with a 180 in the opening leg and finished it in 16 darts, he then followed it with a 20 darter against the throw which put him on the brink and Marfleet finished Woodhead off in the third leg to get the Railwaymen up and running.


In a close second match Railwaymen's Glen Payne took on Jim Smith in a match that went all the way. Smith threw first and took the leg to edge in the lead. Payne replied with a hold of his own to level. It was Smith to throw in the third leg and once again confidently held to put him one away from victory but that's when the wheels fell off and Payne took full advantage of it and win the match against the darts to make it 2-0.

After the unlucky second game for the Vulcans Joe Gregg needed to get something against opponent Steve Brittle. It was Brittle to start and he took the lead with a 21 dart leg. Gregg threw to level the scores but Brittle took out a 17 darter to take full control of the match which he won in the next leg to make it three at the halfway point.

The Railwaymen were on a roll and in the fourth match on Martin Scott put in a performance versus Steve Whyers. After Scott broke the Whyers throw in the opener he then managed to hold his own to make the score 2-0, Whyers needed to hold to stand any chance in the match but Scott took the win in three to give the Railwaymen the victory with two left to play.

In a good contest in the fifth match Mick Swift faced Pete "Perfect" Bramley in which both players kicked off with a 17 darter each. Bramley then held his throw to go up 2-1. Swift needed to hold to force a decider but "Perfect" took out the winning double against the darts to make it five in five for his team.

In the final match of the weeks action Railwaymen's Gavin Pilling was looking to make it a straight six against opponent Phil Lambert, It was Lambert to throw first and he held well to get off the mark. Pilling threw in a 17 dart leg in reply to even it up. Lambert went back in front in the third leg and with Pilling throwing to stay in the match Lambert broke him to win the game 3-1 and save the whitewash for the Vulcans.



Red Dragon Sheffield Franchise League (Week 4)

Thursday 5th October 2017

Academicals 4-2 Pirates

William Pollard 3-0 Crystal Chivers 
Oliver Newall 2-3 Simon Chivers
Tim Close 2-3 Jordan Chivers
Ritesh Deo Zun Xiong 3-2 Anne Lofthouse
Harry Hatter 3-0 Andy Friar 
Adam Warner 3-0 Sie Simmons 


We start the weeks action at the Uni Arms where home side Academicals who are on the back of two successive draws take on a Pirates team who achieved their first victory last time out. 

New recruit William Pollard stepped up first for the Uni team and couldn't have got the team off to a better start as he won 3-0 against Crystal Chivers and uniquely won all the legs on a double 7 finish.

Simon Chivers was next up looking to level for the Pirates against Oli Newall. Chivers kicked off with a break of throw then doubled his lead soon after to take control of the game. Newall fought back to two each to force a decider but Chivers wasn't to be denied as he took out the double to win in five legs to level up the scores.

In another match that went all the way Tim Close took on Jordan Chivers where every leg went with throw, it was Chivers to start and hit a 16 darter to take the lead. Close equalised in the next leg, then Chivers continued with the darts a managed to hold again. It was Close's turn in leg four to finish in 16 darts to make another five leg game and Chivers had the darts and once again made it count as he finally took the match to put the Pirates in the lead in which both players played well.

Another Uni newbie Ritesh Xiong who started his Franchise League career in good form took on Anne Lofthouse in the third consecutive five leg match in which once again went with the darts. Xiong took the lead to set him off the mark. Lofthouse equalised with a fine 17 dart leg, Xiong replied with a 20 darter of his own and a 92 finish to make it 2-1 but once again Lofthouse wasn't going to give up as she made it the game two each Ritesh Xiong had the darts in the final leg and took full advantage to take the game 3-2 to draw the scores level overall.

After four matches you couldn't separate the two teams which made the final two games decisive and all to play for. Pirates Andy Friar found it tough against Harry Hatter as Hatter broke throw in the first leg then after holding in the second, he ran out winner in three to put the home side 3-2 up.

In the decider young Adam Warner for the Uni Academicals played well against Sie Simmons after holding throw Warner smashed in a 21 darter to break and put daylight between him and his opponent. Simmons needed to break just to stay in the match but couldn't do it as Warner was too good and secured the win to give the Academicals a 4-2 victory for their first win of the season.



Hawks 5-1 Vulcans

Ben Dulley 3-0 Jordan W
Steve Ewington 3-1 Phil Lambert
Paul Moore 3-0 Chelsea Woodhead 
Laura Taylor 0-3 Mick Swift
Joelle Taylor 3-0 Steve Whyers
Kev Rodgers 3-0 Bye 


We head to the Hawk & Duck next as the Hawks and Vulcans who were a man down square off with both teams still searching for their first wins of the season. 

We open with Ben Dulley for the Hawks in good form taking on Jordan W. Dulley opened the night with a break of throw. Jordan tried to level but Dulley was proved too strong as he held on the second then wrapped up the match without conceding to put the Hawks one up.

In the second game Phil Lambert started encouragingly by taking the first leg with another break of throw against Steve Ewington. Ewington quickly broke straight back to equalise then a hold of throw in 21 darts put him in command. Lambert threw to stay in the tie in the fourth leg but Ewington finished off the match to make it 2-0 to the home team. 

Vulcans were really chasing the game now as the third game got under way between Chelsea Woodhead and Vulcans Paul Moore. In the first leg Moore fired in a quick fire 14 dart leg with a 180 to boot against the throw to set him on his way. After holding throw in e next leg, Moore comfortably sealed the match with a 17 dart finish leaving Woodhead no chance to extend the Hawks lead even further.

After three matches the Hawks were threatening to run away with the game as Laura Taylor with the darts were up against Mick Smith. It was Smith who started scoring the better of the two which gave him the platform to break throw early on, Smith then held out in the second leg to double his lead. Taylor needed a hold just to stay in with a chance but it was Smith who finished it off in three to get the Vulcans on the mark.

In the final match of a short night with the Hawks already secured the win Joelle Taylor was looking rub salt on the wounds against opponent Steve Whyers. Joelle started brilliantly with a break straightaway to get up and running. In the second leg Taylor held throw to put her on the brink. Whyers needed to hold to stand any chance but Taylor rounded it off with a 3-0 victory to wrap up a 5-1 win.



Railwaymen 5-1 Wolves

Steve Marfleet 3-0 Graham Waller
Tom Gurran 3-0 Dave Cliffe
Mark Gurran 1-3 Pete Daffin
Martin Scott 3-0 Jon Smethurst 
Gavin Pilling 3-0 Pat Finney 
Pete Bramley 3-0 Bye


Over at the Station the Railwaymen who had a week off last week but started the season with back to back wins took on the Wolves who started with a man down but who have had a mixed start with a win, loss and a draw to their name.

In the opening game of the night Railwaymen's Steve Marfleet took on Graham Waller who just couldn't cope with Marfleet's high scoring as he took out back to back 19 dart legs with a maximum to boot and then Marfleet won the match in the third leg finishing with a 120 "Shangai" finish (18 dart leg) to open the scoring for the Railwaymen.

The second game saw Dave Cliffe looking to equalise for the Wolves against youngster "The Inferno" Tom Gurran who started brightly with a hold of throw. Cliffe had the darts in the next leg but "The Inferno" turned up the heat to break to put him in total control and showed maturity beyond his years by finishing off the match in three to put his team 2-0 up.

With his team on the back foot Wolves captain "Super Daff's" Pete Daffin pulled something out of the bag as he took on Mark Gurran, "Super Daff's" took the lead with a hold of throw finishing in 16 darts, Gurran equalised with a hold to level but that's when Daffin turned it up by finishing in 14 and 15 darts as well as a maximum thrown in for good measure to secure the win in four to bring the Wolves back in the contest.

Martin Scott was consistent in his game against Jon Smethurst after Scott broke throw in he first leg, He managed a break in the second leg to make the game 2-0. Smethurst just didn't have any reply and Scott finished him off in the third leg with a 18 darter to win to theoretically win the game with one to play on the night.

In the fifth and what was the final match of the night Gavin Pilling showed what he is capable of against Pat Finney. It was Finney to start but he didn't throw well as Pilling grabbed the darts and took the opening leg. Finney was on the back foot from then on as Pilling held in the second leg to make it 2-0. Finney had to hold in the third just to stay in it but Pilling was too good on the night and sealed a comfortable win to give the Railwaymen a 5-1 win overall to keep their perfect start to the season.




Wades 4-2 Panthers

Craig Ingram 3-1 Mick Wood
Lester Bowers 3-0 Russ Simons
Tom Briggs 3-2 John Schultz
Lee Siddle 3-0 Pat Meeson
Antonio Cruz 1-3 Mick Hulley 
Stephen Naisbitt 0-3 Ryan Goffin 


At the Woodbourne their was a derby between the Wades who achieved back to back wins following their opening day defeat taking on the Panthers who have recorded a loss, win and a draw in the first three.

Wades' Craig Ingram kicked us off with a break of throw in the very first leg against Mick Wood. Ingram held in the second to make it two, Wood managed a hold in the third to register a leg but Ingram wrapped up the win in four to put the Wades ahead.

In the second match Russ Simons was looking to level for the Panthers against "Big Red" Lester Bowers but things didn't get off to a good start as "Big Red" registered a 19 darter on throw to take the first leg. Simons had the darts to equalise but Bowers threw in a 21 dart leg to make it two and throw for the match which he did in 21 darts to wrap up the win without dropping a leg to put the Wades two up.

The Panthers were on the back foot after two matches they needed a spark as John Schultz faced Tom Briggs in a good five leg match which saw Briggs take a 2-0 lead and looked certain for three in a row but Schultz fought back after holding his throw in the third leg Schultz then broke back to make it a last leg shootout with him having the darts but young Briggs finally hit the deciding double to win in five to make it three in three for the Wades.

Lee Siddle was on decent form as he took on "The Landlord" Pat Meeson. Siddle opened with a hold to put him one up. Siddle then stepped it up by taking out 21 dart legs back to back to finish off Meeson 3-0 to win it for the Wades with two to spare.

In the fifth match Wades Antonio Cruz were looking to keep the run going and he started well against Mick Hulley as he broke throw in the opener to take the lead. Hulley broke back in the second then he upped the ante as he held in third leg to go in front, Hulley won the match against the darts to stop the rot and put a point on the board for the Panthers.

We finish off the night with the captains going head to head as "The Manic" Ryan Goffin looking to make the score more respectable for the Panthers faces Stephen Naisbitt looking to finish off his opponents, but it was "The Manic" who settled the better of the two as he broke the Naisbitt throw to go in the lead and he never really looked back as he held in the second to make it two then Goffin finished off his opponent against the darts to finish off the night with a win but it was the Wades celebrating a 4-2 win to make it three in the spin.



Warriors 1-5 Aces

Angie Brittle 0-3 Andy Umney 
Jodie Bruce 0-3 Mick Smith
Nicola Warne 1-3 Neil Bradley
Steve Newton 3-0 Danny Wilks
Paul Brittle 0-3 Ian Speed
Ian Webster 2-3 Trevor Tye


In the final game of the week was at the Midland where the Warriors with back to back defeats to their name take on the Aces who have a win and a draw from their opening two matches.

Up first for the Warriors was Angie Brittle as she took on Andy Umney. The night started with a 20 dart leg from Umney to hold throw and things went from bad to worse for Angie as Umney broke to go two up, Brittle couldn't get to grips with the match as Umneyfinished get off with a 19 darter to get the Aces up and running.

Next up for the Aces was Mick Smith against Jodie Bruce who had the darts but it was Smith who set off well hitting a 17 darter to break and take the lead and that knocked the confidence right out of Bruce as Smith went on to secure a 3-0 win to make it two in two for the away side.

Third up to the oche was Warriors Nicola Warne with her team chasing the game she needed to get something against Neil Bradley. It was Bradley's darts and he held to make it 1-0. In the second leg it was Warne to start but Bradley was on form and managed a break to make it two, with the game looking over Warne managed to grab a leg back but Bradley finished it in the fourth leg to to make it 3-0 to the Aces.

It was down to "Hero" Steve Newton for the home side just to keep his team in the game as he played Danny Wilks and he started perfectly managing a god of throw then breaking in the second leg to ease the pressure. Newton held throw in the third leg to take the win and pull a game back for the Warriors.

In game five Ian Speed was up for the Aces still looking to put the match to bed against captain Paul Brittle. Speed held in the opener to put Brittle under pressure in which he cracked as Speed took out a 16 dart leg against the throw to put him within a leg which he confidently finished off to give the Aces the win with one to play.

The closest match of the night was the final one as Ian Webster looking for another game for the Warriors facing Trevor Tye. It was Webster who started well holding throw in the first leg. Tye equalised to put his opponent on the back foot as to which Webster responded to go 2-1 up. Both players weren't  giving an inch as the match went to a decider and finally it was Webster who cracked on his own throw to let Tye in and he finished off the night to give the Aces a 5-1 win.

Report by
Pat Finney (Projectdarts Reporter/Media)


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