Red Dragon Sheffield Franchise League (Week 9)
Thursday 23rd November 2017
Academicals 3-3 Wades
Jonny Stevens 0-3 Brian Jones
Conall Doughty 3-0 Simon Denton
Tim Close 3-0 Stephen Naisbitt
Thomas Wright 1-3 Antonio Cruz
Ritesh Deo 2-3 Tom Sawford
Adam Warner 3-1 Tom Briggs
We start week nine at the University Arms where the Academicals host high flying Wades.
The night started off with the Academicals Jonny Stevens struggling to get to grips with the game as he went down 3-0 to Brian Jones to get the Wades off to a flying start.
Next up saw Wades Simon Denton looking to double his team's lead but opponent Conall Doughty had other ideas as he started with a hold of throw then continued the pressure on Denton which resulted in Doughty sealing it in three legs to level up the scores.
In the third match with scores level between the two teams Wades captain Stephen Naisbitt had the darts to put his team back in front as he took on Tim Close. Naisbitt couldn't get out of the traps as Close took the opener to break. Close then made it two with a max and a 20 dart leg. In the third Close finished it off resulting in another 180 to set himself up for a victory in three.
The match was tight after three games as Wades Antonio Cruz was looking to equalise against Tom Wright. The match started well for both players as each held throw in the opening two legs. In the third leg Cruz had the chance to break which he took well which knocked Wright's confidence as Cruz finished him off in four to pull it back level once again.
In the penultimate match Academicals Ritesh Deo and Tom "Shooter" Sawford played out a brilliant five legs of darts with the first three legs all been won on throw with each player taking the leg in 21 darts with Sawford hitting a 180 thrown in. Deo managed to level again in the fourth leg to force a decider but it was Sawford's day as he held out to finish off Deo with a double to finish to give the Wades the lead with one to play.
The deciding match saw Wades Tom Briggs looking to seal it for his team against opponent Adam Warner, Briggs started well an broke throw in the opener. Warner hit back straightaway with a 19 darter to level then holding throw in the third leg to make it 2-1. Briggs needed to hold in the fourth to have a chance but Warner took the fourth leg against the darts to earn the Academicals a 3-3 draw.
Aces 3-3 Wolves
Wes Deane 2-3 John Lieber
Andy Umney 3-0 Pat Finney
Ian Speed 0-3 Lee Cushworth
Mick Smith 0-3 Pete Daffin
Trevor Tye 3-0 Bye
Danny Wilks 3-0 Bye
Over at the Newbold a lack of communication led to the Wolves being short before the games began but still ended up with four players took on the Aces who looked favourites with a two game cushion.
Up first was a quality match between Aces Wes Deane and John Lieber which saw Lieber start brightly with back to back legs to start the night. Deane pulled it back with a 16 dart leg, a maximum and a 21 darter to force a decider in which Lieber had the throw and he held out with a 17 dart leg to finish to get the Wolves up and running.
Next up was Wolves Pat Finney looking to keep the Wolves with a chance of a win facing Andy Umney with Umney having the darts he took control from the off taking the opener. Finney had the darts in the second leg but he was no match for Umney has it was Umney who broke his throw then fired in a 21 dart leg to win in three to put the Aces 3-1 up with two to play.
In the third game of the night and with the Wolves in all sorts of trouble "The Dartin' Demon" Lee Cushworth was in fine form with the darts as he took on Ian Speed. Cushworth started with a 20 dart leg to get off the mark, Speed needed to level quick to stand a chance but he couldn't match his opponent as "Cushy" broke to make it two then took the match in the third leg which made the fourth and final match crucial.
It was up to Mick Smith in the last game of a short night to win it for the Aces but he took on Wolves captain "Super Daff's" Pete Daffin. It was Smith to start but he couldn't get going as Daffin took the darts early on with a 20 dart leg to take the lead. Daffin kept up his ryhtm and high scoring by holding his throw with a 19 darter to make it two. Smith needed a miracle to win it and he couldn't find it as captain Daffin rounded off the night with a maximum and a 15 dart leg to earn an unlikely draw for the Wolves.
Black Eagles 5-1 Railwaymen
Micky Stocks 3-0 Steve Brittle
John Walton 3-1 Steve Marfleet
Trevor Burkhill 3-0 Martin Scott
Steve Briggs 3-2 Gavin Pilling
Greg Beard 3-1 Pete Bramley
Jelger Tuinstra 2-3 Tom Gurran
At the Woodbourne Hotel the Champions Woodbourne Black Eagles who sit top of the tree played third placed Railwaymen.
To start the night we had Black Eagles Micky Stocks who made light work of his opponent Steve Brittle by hitting back to back 21 darters to get him going and he was never in danger as he won by three legs to nil to get the Champs off the mark.
Next up was Steve Marfleet for the away side who took on former World Champion John Walton with every leg 18 darts or under it was a joy to watch. Walton kicked off with an 18 darter to take the lead. Marfleet came back with a 17 dart leg of his own to level but then Walton showed his experience and took the match 3-1 with every then he threw was finished in 18 darts, remarkable consistency from Walton which doubled his team's lead.
It was Turbo time in game three as in form Trevor Burkhill took out Martin Scott with a 12 darter to start against the darts and a 180 to add to his tally for the season. Burkhill then went on to hit back to back 17 dart legs to wrap up the win which made it three for the Black Eagles.
In game four Gavin Pilling gave his all for the Railwaymen in his match with Steve Briggs. It was Briggs who started with a 20 darter with throw. Pilling came back into the match and broke Briggs in the third leg recording a 21 dart finish to put him in the lead. Pilling threw for the match in the fourth leg but Briggs came back to equalise and take the match to a final leg in which it was Briggs who took the victory with the darts to win the match with two to spare against a very good opponent to who gave his all.
In another good match Black Eagles Greg "The Titan" Beard and Pete "Perfect" Bramley played out. a match which had it all in four legs. It was Bramley's darts and he started great with a 21 dart leg and a three dart 148 finish to take the lead, then "Titan" took off and powered his way through with two maximums followed by a 14 dart leg to level and then he hit a 15 dart leg to break throw. Bramley tried his best to keep up but Beard couldn't be stopped as he grabbed the win finishing with a 21 darter to make it five in five for the hosts.
After everyone had a breather following a classic in the last match, the final game of the night was young vs experience as Tom Gurran took on Jelger Tuinstra. It was Tuinstra to get us under way but he didn't start as he would've liked so Gurran jumped at the chance and took the first leg. Tuinstra did better in the second leg and equalised with a break back then Jelger took the third leg to make it 2-1. Young Gurran wasn't finished as he took out the fourth leg which made it a decider to finish the night which gave him the chance to save a whitewash albeit against the throw but that didn't bother the young gun as he took out the double to win the match in the final leg to ensure the Railwaymen took a point home with them to the Station.
Pirates 4-2 Vulcans
Lee Slack 1-3 Mick Swift
Jordan Chivers 3-2 Alex Sproston
Anne Lofthouse 3-0 Steven Caley
Andy Friar 0-3 James Thomas
Sie Simmons 3-0 Phil Lambert
Lewis Nota 3-0 Bye
We're at the Players Bar next with the Pirates who start third bottom take on bottom of the table Vulcans who start a player short.
First up Pirates Lee Slack was up against Mick Smith and it was Slack who got the better start managing to break Swift and take the lead. Swift then got himself together and equalised taking the score to one each then it was Swift from then on in throwing some good darts on his way to a 3-1 win to give the Vulcans the lead.
Vulcans were always chasing the match from the start so every player were under pressure up next for them was Alex Sproston who did his best against Jordan Chivers as Chivers took the opening two legs it looked plain sailing but Sproston fought back to pull level and force a decider with Chivers throwing for them arch he hung on for the win to equalise for the Pirates.
Third up was Anne Lofthouse for the home side and she threw well on her way to victory in three against opponent Steve Caley to put the Pirates ahead and only needing one more for the win.
In the fourth match and the Vulcans struggling "Tank" James Thomas dragged his team back into it against Andy Friar after breaking his throw to get underway Thomas then held in the second to mark it two. Friar threw to stay in the game but "Tank" won it in three to force a decider.
In the last game of a short night at Players Bar, Phil Lambert had the opportunity and the darts to save a draw for the Vulcans as he took on Sie Simmons. It was Simmons who took the first leg to calm the nerves which showed in the remaining darts he threw, Simmons broke Lambert to go two up and then rounded off the night and the Vulcans resistance by taking the third and final leg to give the Pirates a 4-2 win to pull clear from tonights opponents in the table.
Warriors 1-5 Hawks
Sandra Webster 0-3 Laura Taylor
Ian Webster 2-3 Pete Bell
Nicola Warne 0-3 Steve Ewington
Barry Brittle 0-3 Ben Dulley
Steve Newton 3-0 Matt Pryor
Paul Brittle 0-3 Marc Ellis
In the final game of the week at the Midland we have the Warriors who have lost six on the spin face a Hawks side who sit mid-table with an even game difference.
In the opener Warriors Sandra Webster found it difficult against Laura Taylor as Taylor held in the first leg. Webster couldn't find her range at all as Taylor broke throw to make it two then she managed to ease to victory in straight legs to put the Hawks one up.
The second match Hawks Pete Bell and Ian Webster played out a five leg match. Webster opened but it was Bell who got off the better and broke throw, Webster broke back in the next leg to make it one each the after taking the third he looked a cert to win. Bell fought back and took the last two legs to secure the win and make it two for the Hawks.
Nicola Warne needed to pull something out of the bag for the Warriors before the match slipped away from them but she bumped into a steady Steve Ewington who was relentless on the doubles as he took a 3-0 win to make it three on the spin for the away side.
In game four Ben Dulley sealed it for the Hawks once again without dropping a leg against Barry Brittle which made it seven defeats on the bounce for the Warriors with still two games to play.
The Warriors had some respite in game five when "Hero" Steve Newton got them off the mark by defeating an out of sorts Matt Pryor by the same 3-0 score line.
In the final match "Tiny" Marc Ellis sealed a comfortable victory for his team by taking out captain Paul Brittle in three to make it 5-1 for the Hawks overall and take the Warriors losing streak to seven.
Report by
Pat Finney (Projectdarts Reporter/Media)
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