Sunday 29 October 2017

SFL Round Up week 7 and it is tight at the top

Red Dragon Sheffield Franchise League (Week 7)
Thursday 26th October 2017



Aces 5-1 Hawks

Danny Wilks 0-3 Ben Dulley 
Wes Deane 3-2 Paul Moore
Trevor Tye 3-1 Pete Bell
Neil Bradley 3-0 Laura Taylor
Ian Speed 3-1 Matt Pryor
Mick Smith 3-0 Joelle Taylor


We start week seven at the Newbold where the Aces who suffered their first defeat of the season last time out face an Hawks side who are unbeaten in four.

In the opening game of the night Aces Danny Wilks faced Ben Dulley. It was Dulley to start and after holding throw he forced a break in the second leg to take a 2-0 lead. Wilks was in deep trouble early doors and Dulley finished it off in the next leg to get the Hawks off to a flying start.


It was Paul Moore up next for the Hawks taking on debutant Wes Deane in a thriller. Deane opened his Franchise League account with a 15 darter to welcome himself to the party. Moore hit back with an 18 dart leg to level then in the third leg Moore broke throw in 13 darts to make it 2-1. Moore threw for the match in the fourth leg but Deane wasn't finished as he grinded out an equaliser to force a fifth leg finale and with him having the darts he was favourite and to finish Deane threw a solid 18 darter to seal the win in a match where both players gave it their all and no-one deserved to lose.

After two games the scores were level between the two sides. In the third game Aces Trevor Tye was up against Pete Bell. It was Bell who threw first but couldn't get going in the early exchanges as Tye broke then held in the next leg to race into a 2-0 lead. Bell managed to pull a leg back but Tye finished off the match in leg four with a 19 dart leg to put the Aces in the lead for the first time.

Hawks Laura Taylor was fourth up needing to keep the team in the game as she were up against Neil Bradley. In the opener Neil Bradley comfortably held throw to get off the mark. Taylor needed a quick reply but it didn't come as Bradley broke her throw to make it two and Bradley held it together in the third to make it 3-1 to the home side.

In the fifth game and the Aces sensing blood Ian Speed took on Matt Pryor looking to wrap it up, Speed broke Pryor in the first leg to set him on his way. Speed continued with the pressure and took the second leg to extend his lead further, Pryor did well to pull a leg back but Speed wrapped it up in the next leg to give the Aces the win with one to spare.

The final game of the night saw a quality set of darts by Aces Mick Smith against Joelle Taylor who couldn't do anything against Smith's power scoring. In the first leg Smith took out a 14 dart leg on throw. Taylor had the darts in the second but Smith then took out back to back 19 darters for a brilliant finish to a great night for the home side to get them back to winning ways.




Black Eagles 4-2 Wades

Marie Tuinstra 2-3 Chris Keane
Greg Beard 3-0 Stephen Naisbitt 
Trevor Burkhill 3-0 Lester Bowers
Steve Briggs 3-1 Tom Briggs
Owen Cubitt 3-0 Simon Sawford
Jelger Tuinstra 1-3 Tom Sawford


Over at the Woodbourne two derbies took place at the same time as Champions Black Eagles who rose to top spot after last week's win took on the Wades who have five wins on the bounce.

Wades Chris Keane got us underway facing Marie Tuinstra in a match that went the distance. Keane held his throw in the first leg of the evening, Tuinstra fought back equalising then managing to break Keane to go 2-1 up and throw for the match but Keano wasn't going to fold as he got it together and after breaking back to level Keane took the decider to put the Wades in front in a close encounter.

"Titan" was up next in Greg Beard for the Black Eagles looking to level up against Wades captain Stephen Naisbitt. Beard got off to a solid start by taking the opener on throw, "Titan" then notched it up a gear and broke the throw with a 17 dart leg and Beard finished it off early with a 21 darter to equalise for the Black Eagles. 

In game three "Turbo" Trevor Burkhill made light work of Lester "Big Red" Bowers after breaking throw to go in the lead "Turbo" took out legs of 15 darts and an 18 to finish as well as a maximum and a 107 checkout to give his opponent no chance and make the score 2-1 to the reigning champions.

It was a family affair in the next match as father vs son took to the oche as Steve Briggs took on his son Tom. Steve had the darts to start and took out a 19 to ease in front. Tom needed an equaliser but Steve threw in the best leg of the match in 14 darts against the throw to double his lead. Tom did well to have a mini fightback taking the third leg to break back but Steve won it with a 19 dart leg to make it 3-1 for his side.

After four games the Wades needed the last two to rescue a draw as Simon Sawford was next to step up against Owen "Ice" Cubitt. Youngster "Ice" was in good form which saw him break Sawford in the opening exchanges. Cubitt went on to take the second leg to get himself breathing space. Sawford had the darts in the third leg but Cubitt rounded off the game in three to give Black Eagles the win which ended the Wades five match winning streak.

In the sixth and final game of the night "Shooter" Tom Sawford played Jelger Tuinstra in a good battle it was Tuinstra to start us off and held comfortably to go one up. "Shooter" hit back with a 20 dart leg and a 19 against the throw to gain the advantage in which he finished off Jelger in the fourth leg to reduce the deficit to a 4-2 win for the Black Eagles which ended the five match winning streak of the Wades.



Panthers 2-4 Wolves

Mick Hulley 3-2 John Lieber
Claire Dunning 1-3 Dave Cliffe 
John Schultz 0-3 Pete Daffin
Russ Simons 0-3 Lee Cushworth
Ryan Goffin 3-0 Pat Finney
Pat Meeson 1-3 Graham Waller


Staying at the Woodbourne the second Woodbourne derby of the night between the Panthers who are without a win in five face a Wolves side who recorded only their second win of the season last time out. 

To open we had Panthers Mick Hulley taking on John Lieber in what was a good battle between the two players. Lieber had the darts to start us off and held his throw well. Hulley did the same in the next leg to level the scores up. In the third leg the game was getting tight but it was Lieber who grabbed it to gain a 2-1 lead, Hulley needed the next two legs and after holding to force a decider he finally managed to break Lieber in the deciding leg when it mattered the most to give the Panthers the lead. 

In the second match Dave Cliffe was looking to even the scores as he took on Panthers Claire Dunning. It was Dunning to start but Cliffe took the throw and went in front. Cliffe kept consistent as he took the second leg to double his lead. Dunning achieved a leg on the board on throw in the third but Cliffe finished off the match in four to level the score. 

It was Wolves captain "Super Daff's" Pete Daffin to start the third match against opponent John Schultz. Daffin opened with a hold of throw which set the tone for the rest of the match as he recorded a maximum and won the match without dropping a leg finishing with an 18 darter to put the Wolves ahead for the first time the match.

Panthers Russ Simons was fourth up looking to level the game back up taking on Wolves debut lad Lee Cushworth. Simons gave it his best shot as he started the game and recording a 180 for himself but Cushworth settled in and after breaking throw he took out a 20 dart leg in the second on his way to securing a 3-0 win for a solid debut performance which put the Wolves 3-1 up.


Captain for the Panthers Ryan "The Manic" Goffin needed to keep his side in the game as he took on Pat Finney. Finney had the arrows but "The Manic" got off the better of the two as he broke Finney's throw to take the lead and Finney never recovered after that as Goffin hit a 20 darter and then won the game in 17 darts to give the Panthers a lifeline for the final game. 

In the last match of the night Woodbourne landlord Pat Meeson was in action looking to rescue a draw for he Panthers as he faced Graham Waller who needed the match to give the Wolves who were looking for two wins on he bounce. Both men got off to a shaky start as neither one could hold their throws, with the score at 1-1 Waller took out the double on the Meeson throw again to nudge in front and throw for the victory for his team, Waller did well to hold his nerve and take out Meeson in four legs of darts which secured the Wolves third win in six games which put them fifth in the table.



Pirates 2-4 Railwaymen 

Martin Chivers 0-3 Martin Scott
Jordan Chivers 3-2 Tom Gurran
Simon Simmons 0-3 Steve Marfleet 
Anne Lofthouse 3-2 Gavin Pilling
Martin Baugh 0-3 Mark Gurran
Simon Chivers 0-3 Pete Bramley

We're at the Players Bar next with the Pirates who have lost five out of the first six take on the Railwaymen who were knocked off top spot last week following an end to their 100% record against the Panthers.

We start with Martin Chivers for the Pirates taking on Martin Scott. It was Scott who got off to the better start and held his throw, Chivers with the darts struggled as Scott got better as the game wore on and took out a 21 and 20 dart legs to win and get the Railwaymen off to a good start.

In a tight tussle Railwaymen's Tom Gurran played well against Jordan Chivers but couldn't take anything away from the game. Chivers started with a 21 dart leg, Gurran replied with a leveller. In the next leg Chivers went back in front to make it 2-1 but Gurran wasn't finished as he took out a brilliant 14 darter to force a decider but it was Chivers who took the game to equalise for the Pirates.

In match three Steve Marfleet put the Railwaymen back in front in his match against Simon Simmons after holding throw he then took out a 21 dart leg on the Simmons throw to double his lead. In the third leg Marfleet eased to the win to make it 2-1 to the away side.

Pirates Anne Lofthouse and Gav Pilling gave us another five leg tussle in the next match on which every leg went with the throw. It was Lofthouse who got us underway and took the first leg, the match went back on forth all the way through with Pilling taking out a 21 darts in the fourth leg to force a decider but it was Lofthouse who held out and took the victory to level it back up again with two to play.

After four game the match was on a knife edge as Railwaymen's Mark Gurran played Martin Baugh. It was Gurran to start and he steadied himself away as he took the opening leg. On the Baugh throw Gurran kept up the pressure and broke his opponent and gave him no way back as Gurran recorded a 114 checkout to make it 3-2 to the Railwaymen.

In the final game decider Simon Chivers needed to defeat "Perfect" Pete Bramley to save his team from defeat. Chivers had the throw so all he had to know was hold on to it but Bramley was too good as he broke throw straightaway and after holding in the second there was only going to be one winner as Bramley slotted in the winning double to give the Railwaymen a close victory to get them back on track.



Warriors 2-4 Academicals 

Barry Brittle 1-3 Conall Doughty
Ian Webster 2-3 Ben Tomlinson
Sandra Webster 0-3 Tim Close
Angie Brittle 3-1 George Francis
Paul Brittle 0-3 Ellis Turner
Steve Newton 3-2 Greg Batting 


In the final match of the week we're at the Midland where two out of form teams go head to head as the Warriors who had a week off last week following four successive defeats play an Academicals side who have lost two on the spin so something had to give. 

In the opener Warriors Barry Brittle took on Conall Doughty who had the darts and took the lead in the first leg. Brittle equalised with a hold of his own but then Doughty took the match in his own hands and after taking a 2-1 lead. Doughty finished off the match in four to get Uni team up and running. 

Ben Tomlinson and Ian Webster played out a good match in the second game as it was Webster who started and took the opening two legs and looking in command. Tomlinson had other ideas in the second half of the game Tomlinson broke back in the third leg then after holding to make it two each it was Webster to throw for the match but he just couldn't finish off his opponent and Tomlinson took the unlikely victory in five to double the Academicals lead.

After two good games of darts to start the night, up next was Tim Close who made light work of Warriors Sandra Webster. Close started with a hold of throw then following a break to make it two, Close managed to whitewash Webster to make it three in three for his team. 

Academicals were closing in on victory as Warriors Angie Brittle was up next looking to keep her team in the game as she played opponent George Francis. Both players started well after trading legs, Brittle went 2-1 up after three legs. Francis was under pressure to hold his throw and it showed as Brittle took out the victory double against the darts to pull a game back and keep the Warriors in with a shout.


In the fifth match it was the turn of Warriors captain Paul Brittle needing to keep his team in it facing Ellis Turner who had the second shot at securing the win for the Academicals. Turner got off to a fine start as she took the opener get leg and then in the second leg it was Turner who broke the Brittle throw. Brittle struggled through the game as Ellis Turner wrapped up the match in three to give the Academicals the win with one to play. 

It was a close finale to finish off the week as Greg Batting faced "Hero" Steve Newton in a match that went all the way with throw. Newton took the early lead. Batting equalised soon after to make it all square. In the third leg it was "Hero" again managing to hold throw to go 2-1 up. Back came Batting in the fourth leg to force a fifth and final leg of the match with Newton to throw he pulled out a solid 21 dart leg to win the match and pull the game back to 4-2 to the Academicals to stop the losing streak but for the Warriors it's five defeats on the bounce.

Report by
Pat Finney (Projectdarts Reporter/Media)

1 comment:

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