Tuesday 7 November 2017

Aces and Railwaymen in locked battle

Red Dragon Sheffield Franchise League (Week 8)

Thursday 2nd November 2017



Hawks 3-3 Black Eagles 

Ben Dulley 0-3 John Walton 
Steve Ewington 3-2 Greg Beard
Marc Ellis 0-3 Jelger Tuinstra
Paul Moore 3-2 Trevor Burkhill 
Pete Bell 0-3 Steve Briggs
Matt Pryor 3-0 Jason Burkhill 


We start week eight's round up at the Hawk & Dove where the Hawks who lost their first game in five last time out take on defending champions Black Eagles who sit joint top with the Railwaymen with each having identical records.


Up first for the Hawks was Ben Dulley up against former World Champion John Walton. Dulley gave his best shot as both men recorded maximums but it was Walton who took out legs of 18 and two 17 darters to get the night up and running for the away team.

In a closely fought second game Greg "The Titan" Beard faced Steve Ewington in a match where no player gave an inch. Ewington kicked off by taking the first leg in 22 darts. "The Titan" replied with a 23 of his own to even it up. Ewington took the third leg to make it 2-1 but Beard weren't finished as he took out the fourth leg in another 23 darts. In the decider with Ewington having the darts he threw in a 20 dart leg his best of the night to fend off his opponent and equalise for the Hawks.

Third on was "Tiny" Marc Ellis taking on Jelger Tuinstra. It was Tuinstra to start and held well, In the next leg Tuinstra kept up the pressure which broke Ellis's throw and it was all over after three legs as Jelger took the victory with an 18 darter which put the Black Eagles back in front. 

The game was close at the halfway stage between the two teams up next was another match that went all the between Black Eagles "Turbo" Trevor Burkhill and his opponent Paul Moore. Burkhill looked a cert to wrapping the game up early doors as he threw in a 15 darter to open the match against the throw. "Turbo" took the second leg in 18 darts to make it 2-0 but Moore fought back and pulled out legs of 20 and then broke "Turbo" in the fourth leg with a 19 dart leg to force a decider in which he was throwing for the match. Moore finished the comeback by leaving himself a one dart finish after 21 in which he took out securing the victory to level it up again. 

Experienced player Steve Briggs was fifth up for the Champions with the scores tied facing Pete Bell. It was Briggs who opened with a maximum and a 18 darter. On the Bell throw Briggs took out a 21 dart leg to throw for the match in which he solely did to finish it in three and put he travelling team 3-2 up with one to play. 

It was Hawks Matt Pryor on in the final match taking on captain Jason Burkhill. Pryor had the throw in which he held in the first leg. On the Burkhill darts Pryor put him under pressure and broke his throw and he continued in the same vain in the third and final leg of the night to earn a well deserved draw for the Hawks. 



Railwaymen 3-3 Aces

Steve Marfleet 1-3 Wes Deane
Steve Brittle 0-3 Andy Umney 
Martin Scott 3-0 Trevor Tye 
Brian Lewis 0-3 Mick Smith
Tom Gurran 3-0 Ian Speed
Pete Bramley 3-0 Dave Belfitt 


Over to the Station where the early challengers to the champions crown the Railwaymen who got back to winning ways last time out face the Aces who sit fourth and only four behind tonight's opponents.
To start us off was Railwaymen's Steve Marfleet playing Wes Deane. Marfleet couldn't have got of to a better start with a 180 and a 20 dart leg to break throw. Deane then got going and found his range after breaking straight back to even things up Deane took out back to back 19 darters plus the second maximum of the match in awesome fashion to take the spoils and give the Aces the upper hand.

In the next match Aces Andy Umney was looking to double his teams lead against Steve Brittle. It was Brittle who got us under way but found himself chasing from the start and after Umney broke to take the lead it was one way traffic as Umney won by three legs to nil to make it two in two for the Aces.

The Railwaymen were chasing the game after two matches a position the team wasn't used to, up next for them was Martin Scott looking to bring them back in the game facing Trevor Tye. It was Tye's darts to start but quickly Scott took the ascendancy and broke throw. Scott held his own in the second leg and in the third finished the game off to pull the game back to 2-1 and give the Railwaymen hope.

In the fourth match of the night, Mick Smith for the away side played a good game against "The Messiah" Brian Lewis. It was Smith to start and he held his throw to take the lead. Lewis had the darts to come back but Smith fired in a 20 darter to double the advantage and throw for the match in which he did to put the Aces 3-1 up with two to play and the Railwaymen fighting to keep their unbeaten start.

Young Tom "The Inferno" Gurran was up next to to the oche against opponent Ian Speed who had a crack of breaking the Railwaymen's unbeaten start. It was Speed's darts and needed to start well which he didn't which saw Gurran capitalise and break him to go one up. "The Inferno" then turned up the heat taking a 20 dart leg to double his lead then taking the victory in the third leg in a solid performance from the youngster to force a deciding match.

In the finale with the score hanging in the balance it was Aces Dave Belfitt with the final chance to seal it for his team taking on "Perfect" Pete Bramley and it was Bramley who made the perfect start kicking off with a 17 darter then broke Belfitt in the next leg to make it two. Belfitt needed something to stay in the game but Bramley finished him off in straight legs to rescue a draw for the Railwaymen which was harsh on the Aces but it kept the home sides unbeaten start to the season. 



Vulcans 1-5 Panthers 

Michael Donson 2-3 Mick Wood
Steve Whyers 0-3 Ryan Goffin
Mark Barnes 3-0 Kieron Potts
Mick Swift 1-3 Mick Hulley
Jim Smith 0-3 John Schultz 
Phil Lambert 0-3 Russ Simons


At the Frecheville it was the Vulcans who sit bottom without a win this season face a Panthers team who are without a win in six so something had to give in this one.
Their was a five leg thriller to start off the night between Vulcans Michael Dobson and Panthers Mick Wood. It was Wood to get us under way and he kicked in with back to back legs to race in front. Dobson took his time but eventually got going in the third leg and broke back then holding his throw for it to go to a decider in which Wood held his nerve after the fight back to get the winning double to put the Panthers ahead.

It was Panthers captain Ryan "The Manic" Goffin up next looking to double his team's lead as he faced Steve Whyers. Goffin settled the better of the two and broke in the first leg. "The Manic" then took out a 21 dart leg to make it two, they were no way back for Whyers in the third as Goffin ran away with the game to double the Panthers lead. 

In the third match the Vulcans were reeling but Mark Barnes showed good composure in defeating Kieron Potts. Barnes broke throw to go one up which eased him into the game. After Barnes held out in the second leg he took the match with an 18 dart leg to pull the match back to 2-1 to the visiting team. 

The Vulcans seemed to be looking up as Mick Swift took on Mick Hulley but Hulley quickly took command of the match after breaking throw to start with a 21 darter, Hulley then held to make it two. Swift wasn't done for yet as he himself took out a 17 dart leg to stay in the game but it wasn't enough as Hulley won it in four legs with a solid 18 darter to get the Panthers back on it.

It was the turn of Vulcans captain Jim Smith looking to save the team from defeat playing John Schultz. It was Schultz to start and after holding comfortably Schultz then broke Smith's throw which made it two. Schultz throwing for the match did so with ease to give the Panthers the win with one to spare. 

In the sixth game on Panthers Russ Simons took on Phil Lambert. The game started off with Simons breaking the Lambert throw, things didn't get any better for Lambert as Simmons took the second leg too. It was all over after the third leg when Simons took out the double which ended the night 5-1 to the Panthers for their first win in seven matches.



Wades 4-2 Warriors 

Simon Denton 3-0 Barry Brittle 
Stephen Naisbitt 1-3 Ian Webster
Paul Harris 3-0 Nicola Warne
Jordan Payne 3-0 Paul Brittle 
Simon Sawford 3-0 Angie Brittle 
Tom Briggs 2-3 Steve Newton 


At the Woodbourne we saw the Wades who sit third after suffering their first defeat in six last time out host a Warriors side who start second bottom after five successive defeats. 


We open the night with Wades Simon Denton taking on Barry Brittle. Denton broke throw in the opening exchanges and never looked back after holding in the second Denton finished off the match with steady darts to get the Wades off the mark.

In the second game on Ian Webster for the Warriors was looking to equalise against captain Stephen Naisbitt. It was a great start for Webster as he broke throw in the first leg which laid the foundations for the remainder of the match, Webster took the second leg and after Naisbitt pulled a leg back it was Webster who won the game to level up the scores.

Nicola Warne had the darts no the third game hoping to put the Warriors in front as she played Paul Harris but it didn't start too well for her as Harris broke to take the lead. Harris held his darts to make it two and Warne couldn't come back after that as Harris secured the win in three to put the Wades ahead again. 

Wades couldn't let the lead slip a second time as Jordan Payne showed against Warriors captain Paul Brittle. Payne played solidly throughout the match though not spectacular he did what he needed to do on his way to a 3-0 win to make it 3-1 to the Wades and breathing space going into the last two matches. 

The fifth game on Warriors Angie Brittle needed to win Simon Sawford to keep the team in in for the decider. Brittle had the darts but Sawford broke her early and after taking out the second leg to double his lead, Sawford rounded off the victory with a 19 dart leg to secure the Wades win with one to play. 

In the sixth and last match on we saw the closest match between Wades Tom Briggs and "Hero" Steve Newton. It was Briggs to start but he was sluggish as Newton took advantage and broke his throw then holding in the second to mark it 2-0 it looked over early but Briggs showed determination to fight back to two each which meant a last leg shootout of the night which went to "Hero" Newton against the throw to pull a game back for the Warriors to end the night 4-2 to the Wades.



Wolves 4-2 Pirates

John Lieber 3-2 Anne Lofthouse 
Pete Daffin 3-0 Martin Baugh
Pat Finney 1-3 Sie Simmons
Dave Cliffe 3-1 Martin Chivers 
Graham Waller 3-0 Andy Friar
Bye 0-3 Simon Chivers 


In the final round up of the week staying at the Woodbourne it's fifth play seventh as the Wolves who start with a man down face the Pirates with both sides level on points before tonight.

To start the night Wolves John Lieber took on Anne Lofthouse in a match that went all the way. It started with Lofthouse getting the better of Lieber taking the first two legs of the night. Lieber hit back with a break back in the third and managing to hold throw for it to go to a last leg shootout to start the night, Lofthouse had the throw to win it but it was Lieber who took out the double to put the Wolves in front. 

After an edge of your seat first match Pirates Martin Baugh was looking to level against Wolves captain Pete Daffin. "Super Daff's" took advantage of throwing first and held well, Daffin steadied away at the big trebles and that's all he needed to do as he broke Baugh then Daffin earned the victory in three legs to make the score two nil. 

In the third match Pat Finney was looking to make it three in three for the Wolves but Sie Simmons had other ideas after he held his darts in the first leg, Simmons then proceeded to break Finney's throw to double his lead. Finney had a mini comeback breaking back in the third leg but Simmons heel it together and finished it off in the fourth leg to get the Pirates on the board. 

The fourth match was a crucial one for the Wolves as Dave Cliffe played well against Martin Chivers. Cliffe started with back to back legs which put him in a commanding position, Chivers responded with a break back which made it 2-1 but it was Cliffe who played well enough to seal the win 3-1.

In the final game of a short night, Pirates Andy Friar needed to defeat Graham Waller to save Pirates a draw but he didn't get off to the best of starts as Waller took the darts in the first leg then Waller held his throw to double his lead and put Friar in all sorts of trouble. In the third leg the match was over as Waller sealed the double finish to give the man down Wolves the victory which made three wins on the spin.





Report by
Pat Finney (Projectdarts Reporter/Media)

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