Aces deal Eagles first defeat

Red Dragon Sheffield Franchise League (Week 14)

Thursday 18th January 2018

Simon put the aces in front

Academicals 1-5 Panthers 

Ritesh Deo 2-3 Mick Hulley

Thomas Wright 1-3 Kieron Potts

Conall Doughty 3-0 John Schultz

Tim Close 1-3 Russ Simons

Adam Warner 1-3 Richard Brown

Ellis Turner 0-3 Ryan Goffin

We open week 14 of the Franchise League at the University Arms where home side Academicals who have hit a bad patch of form take on the Panthers who are looking to capatialize on last weeks 6-0 win.

Up first was Academicals Ritesh Deo taking on Mick Hulley who started with the darts, but Hulley was slow out of the blacks as Deo took the opening two legs and looked odds of favourite to give his team the lead but in the second half of the match Mick Hulley found his range after recording a maximum, Hulley then completed the comeback to win 3-2 to give the Panthers the lead.

Up next Panthers Kieron Potts faced Thomas Wright who was looking to level for his team. The game started with both men struggling to hold throw with three consecutive breaks in the game saw Potts take a 2-1 lead. In the fourth leg Potts threw for the match and secured the winning double to put Panthers two up.

In the third match of the night Conall Doughty gave Academicals a glimmer of hope as he took down John Schultz in three legs recording a 17 dart leg on his throw in the process to reduce the arrears.

Next up was Russ Simons for the Panthers facing opponent Tim Close, Simons started off steady by breaking Close throw then holding soon after to go two up, Close did well to take out a 21 dart leg to pull it back to 2-1 but Simons threw the best leg of the night with two maximums and a 14 dart leg to win it and make the score 3-1 with two to play. 

After four games the Academicals needed to win the next two to rescue a draw, Adam Warner was next to try and force a decider as he played Richard Brown who had a chance to win it before the final game. Brown couldn't have got off to a better start as took the opening two legs and threw for the match in the third leg but Warner broke back to reduce the score to 2-1. Brown wasn't to be denied as he won it in the very next leg to give Panthers the win with one to play.

Panthers Captain "The Manic" Ryan Goffin rounded off a very solid night for his team as he took on Ellis Turner, "The Manic" started by breaking the Turner throw and never really felt threatened as he ran riot with a 3-0 win giving Turner no chance and finish off the night with a 5-1 victory for the Panthers.

Black Eagles 2-4 Aces

Steve Briggs 0-3 Andy Umney

John Walton 3-0 Wes Deane

Jelger Tuinstra 1-3 Simon Birkett

Owen Cubitt 3-2 Ian Speed

Marie Tuinstra 1-3 Trevor Tye

Bye 0-3 M. Smith 

Over at the Woodbourne the defending champions and league leaders Black Eagles turned up a player short as they put their 39 match unbeaten record on the line against the Aces.

It didn't start well for the defending champions as Aces Andy Umney threw well on his way to defeating Steve Briggs without dropping a leg. Umney took out an 18 dart leg and a 16 darter as well as a maximum on throw to give Briggs no chance and put the Aces ahead. 

Former World Champion John Walton threw solid in his match with Wes Deane, Walton set with a 17 dart leg, he then broke Deane's throw hitting a 19 darter and following that "John Boy" hit a 20 to secure the win to level the scores. 

In the third game on Aces Simon Birkett took on opponent Jelger Tuinstra. Birkett didn't get off to a good start on his own throw as Tuinstra broke him to lead. In the next leg Birkett found his range to break straight back then followed that up with a 17 dart leg to go 2-1 up. It was Tuinstra to throw in the fourth to stay in the game but Birkett finished it off to put the Aces back in front already guaranteeing them at least a draw. 

Black Eagles undefeated record was holding on by the fingertips as we head to the last two matches of the night. Youngster Owen "Ice" Cubitt was up next to save it as he played Ian Speed. Speed raced into a 2-0 lead which looked like the end for the Black Eagles undefeated run but Cubitt fought back in the second half of the match to pull out an 18 dart leg and a 20 darter against the throw to force a decider in which Cubitt threw to keep the Black Eagles in the game. Cubitt started the last leg well which was the catalyst to win the match 3-2 to keep his team in the game as we head to the decider. 

The decider saw Aces Trevor Tye had the final shot at ending the Black Eagles undefeated run as he took on Marie Tuinstra who had to win to save it for another day. In the opening legs both players held the throw as Tye took a 2-1 lead with a 180 thrown in to put Tuinstra under pressure as she threw to stay in the match,  In the fourth leg Tye managed hit the winning double to seal the win for the Aces and finally ending the Black Eagles 39 match unbeaten record. 

Hawks 3-3 Wolves 

Paul Moore 3-0 Dave Cliffe

Ben Dulley 0-3 Pete Daffin

Peter Bell 0-3 Lee Cushworth

Steve Ewington 2-3 John Lieber

Matt Pryor 3-1 Graham Waller

Laura Taylor 3-0 Bye

We're at the Hawk & Dove next up where the Hawks and the five man Wolves go head to head and who are both looking to bounce back from last week's defeats 

We start the nights action with Hawks Paul Moore putting in a confident performance in dis-patching Dave Cliffe in three legs recording a 20 and a 21 darter to put the Hawks ahead. 

Wolves captain "Super Daff's" Pete Daffin hit back in his game with Ben Dulley taking out a 16 darter and his first 180 against the throw to go one up, Daffin achieved his second maximum in the match and a 21 dart leg to double his lead and leaving Dulley in all sorts of trouble. Dulley had the throw in the third  leg but it didn't matter as captain Daffin rounded off a good performance to equalise for his team. 

"The Dartin' Demon" Lee Cushworth was third on for the Wolves as he took on Pete Bell. "Cushy" started with a hold of throw to go in front. In the second  leg Bell had the darts to level but Cushworth broke him and then held confidently in the third leg to put the Wolves ahead. 

In a tight affair in the penultimate match of the night saw two players who were equal in Hawks Steve Ewington and John Lieber who played out a five leg contest. Ewington had the darts to start but it was Lieber who drew first blood. Ewington responded with back to back legs to nudge in front, this time it was Lieber's turn to equalise which threw the game into a last leg shootout in which Ewington had throw which put him slight favourite but never write Lieber off as it proved when he secured the double to win the match in a good last leg to save the Wolves tonight with one to play.

In the fifth and deciding match Hawks Matt Pryor and Graham Waller wen toe to toe. Waller started us off but quickly fell behind as Pryor broke early then held throw in the second leg to go 2-0 up. Waller got himself a leg back to keep him in the game but Pryor was too good for him as he won the match in four to finish off the night three each between the two sides. 

Wades 4-2 Vulcans

Chris Keane 3-2 Tom Wright

Stephen Naisbitt 2-3 Alex Sproston

Jordan Payne 2-3 James Thomas 

Simon Sawford 3-1 S. Walters

Paul Harris 3-0 Steven Caley

Tom Sawford 3-0 Phil Lambert 

Back at the Woodbourne it was the turn of the in form Wades who start five games unbeaten take face second bottom Vulcans who blew a 3-0 lead to draw last time out. 

To kick off the night Chris "The Blade" Keane took on Tom Wright a five leg match that could've gone either way. Wright had the darts and took the first leg. Keane replied with back to back legs to go in front as he threw for the match in the next leg. "The Blade" couldn't put the game away which meant a decider to start the night with Wright having the advantage with the throw but couldn't put the game to bed as Keane held his nerve to win the match and set the Wades off and running.

In another match that went all the way, Vulcans Alex Sproston faced Wades captain Stephen Naisbitt. It started with Sproston taking the darts in the opening leg. Naisbitt fought back with some good darts to overturn the deficit and go 2-1 up and he looked good to win the match at that point. Sproston took out a 21 dart leg in the fourth to stay in with a chance as Naisbitt had the darts for the match but it was Sproston who had renewed confidence following the last leg to take out the finishing double to equalise for the Vulcans. 

As the third match started these two teams were equal footing as Jordan Payne played Vulcans James "Tank" Thomas in yet another gruelling five leg match up, where every leg went with throw and no player giving an inch. "Tank" went in front after the first leg to lay down a marker. Payne responded to it and pulled the match level. Thomas then finished the third leg to take a 2-1 lead hoping Payne would fold but in the fourth leg a 20 darter by Payne levelled again to make it the third consecutive five leg match between the two teams. In the decider it was Thomas who secured the victory with the darts to put the Vulcans in front. 

Up fourth on the oche Wades Simon Sawford toed the oche facing S. Walters who set off the better of the two as he broke Sawford to take the lead but then Sawford hit back to take the remaining three legs to equal the scores again.

It was all on the final two matches of the night as Vulcans Steven Caley had the throw against Paul Harris but couldn't make it count as Harris broke him early and after holding his throw in the next leg, Harris went out to finish it in three with a 130 checkout thrown in for good measure to make it 3-2 Wades with one to play. 

In the deciding match of the night "Shooter" Tom Sawford played Phil Lambert for the win and Sawford set off with some high scores which led him to take out a 21 darter in the opener then "Shooter" broke Lambert with a 17 dart leg to put Lambert out of sight, as Sawford won the match in three to give the Wades a 4-2 win in a good battle with the Vulcans who once again let a lead slip. 

Warriors 1-5 Pirates

Sandra Webster 0-3 Anne Lofthouse

Angela Brittle 0-3 Lee Slack

Steve Newton 3-1 Simon Chivers

Ian Webster 0-3 Sie Simmons 

Paul Brittle 0-3 Martin Baugh

Barry Brittle 2-3 Michael Slack

In the final match of the week we head to the Midland as bottom of the table Warriors with eleven straight defeats face a Pirates side who are just two places above them but who are also on the back of three straight defeats themselves. 

We open with a ladies battle between Warriors Sandra Webster and Anne Lofthouse, with Lofthouse to throw she got off to a perfect start taking the first leg. Webster had throw in the second but couldn't make it count as Anne made it two. Webster were in all sorts of trouble and couldn't muster up a leg as Anne took the win in three to put the Pirates ahead. 

In game two Pirates Lee Slack made it look easy against Angela Brittle as he ran riot in all three legs to win at a canter to double the Pirates lead. 

Warriors were always chasing the game from here but "Hero" Steve Newton gave them a glimmer of hope in his game with Simon Chivers. It was Chivers who started the better as he held his throw to take the lead, then it was all Newton as he took the next three legs to pull one back for the Warriors and give them hope. 

It looked like it was going to be close between the two teams but the Pirates found another gear in the second part of the night as Sie Simmons took out Ian Webster by three legs to nil to make the score 3-1 with two to play.

Warriors captain Paul Brittle needed to defeat Martin Baugh to keep his side in with a shout going into the final game. Baugh started the game off with a hold of throw. Brittle had the chance to equalise on his throw but couldn't make it count as Baugh broke him then he went on to take the third leg for victory to secure the win for the Pirates with a match to play.

In the final game of the week we had a contest that went all the way between Pirates Michael Slack and Barry Brittle. It was Brittle who started the match off but it was Slack that sneaked the first leg to break then after holding his throw in the next leg it looked over early doors but Brittle fought back to take the next two legs to drag the match into a decider to finish. It was Brittle to throw which made him favourite but Slack pulled it out of the bag to win the contest to give the Pirates a 5-1 win.

Report by 

Pat Finney (Projectdarts Reporter/Media)

Panthers call warriors out to play

Red Dragon Sheffield Franchise League (Week 13)

Thursday 11th January 2018

Panthers 6-0 Warriors 

Mick Wood 3-0 Sandra Webster

John Schultz 3-0 Ian Webster

Mick Hulley 3-0 Jodie Bruce 

Sie Simmons 3-0 Paul Brittle

Ryan Goffin 3-0 Steve Newton

Richard Brown 3-0 Nicola Warne 

We start the weeks action at the Woodbourne as the Panthers who only have two wins out of the last ten play the Warriors who have lost ten in a row.

To start Mick Wood for the Panthers made light work of Sandra Webster after breaking throw in the opening leg to take the lead, Wood kept the pressure on as Webster folded, Wood took the match in three legs to get the Panthers up and running.

Up next for the Warriors was Ian Webster and he also struggled in his game with John Schultz. Schultzy started off with a hold of throw. Webster had the darts in the second leg but Schultz was consistent as he broke throw to double his lead and in the very next leg Schultz wrapped it up to make it two for the Panthers.

In the third game Panthers Mick Hulley kept the form going as he also registered a 3-0 victory over Jodie Bruce.

Warriors captain Paul Brittle couldn't stop the rot in match four as he went down in three legs also to Sie Simmons who secured the win for the Panthers with still two to play. 

In match five the opposition captain "The Manic" Ryan Goffin took on Steve "Hero" Newton. It was Newton who had the darts but Goffin broke with a 19 dart leg. After Gofffin held throw to double his lead, Newton threw to stay in the game bit couldn't manage it as "The Manic" won in with a maximum and a 16 dart leg to make it five in five for his team.

In the final game of this one sided fixture, Nicola Warne was searching for anything for the Warriors who have yet to win a leg tonight as she played Richard Brown. It was Brown to start and he held well to go one up. Warne knew she had to hold her throw to stand any chance but it was t to be as Brown broke to double his lead then he rounded off the nigh with a clean sweep for the Panthers who are closing in on the team's above them.

Pirates 1-5 Black Eagles

Lee Slack 0-3 John Walton

Simon Chivers 0-3 Jelger Tuinstra

Anne Lofthouse 3-2 Marie Tuinstra 

Martin Baugh 0-3 Trevor Burkhill 

Michael Slack 0-3 Owen Cubitt 

Sie Simmons 0-3 Steve Briggs 

Over at the Players Bar, third bottom Pirates who have just two wins so farts season face the defending champions and top of the league Black Eagles.

Up first was Pirates Lee Slack taking on former World Champion John"Boy" Walton. It was the former World Champion to start and he set off steady but it was enough to take the first leg. Walton then got into his stride as he took out a 20 dart leg against the darts then John "Boy"secured the win with a maximum and finishing it with his best leg by far in 16 darts to put the leaders one up.

Black Eagles Jelger Tuinstra was next up and he was also in good form against Simon Chivers. Chivers had the throw but that didn't matter to Jelger as he blitzed the first leg to break. Jelger then hit a 180 and took out a 21 dart leg to double the advantage. Chivers had to hold to stay in it but he had no chance with Tuinstra in this mood as he ran out the winner in three to make the score 2-0.

In the battle of ladies and by far the closest match of the night. Pirates' Anne Lofthouse and Marie Tuinstra did battle in a match that went all the way and every leg went against the darts. It was Tuinstra to start but couldn't get going early on as Lofthouse was the first to break to go in front. Tuinstra broke straight back to level but once again couldn't find the range on her own throw as Lofthouse went 2–1 up and as she threw for the match, Marie managed to equalise again to force a decider in which Anne was favourite due to the way the match went and as Lofthouse recorded a 180 on her way to victory in a very entertaining game to keep the Pirates in the match. 

It was Trevor "Turbo" Burkhill on fourth for the defending champs as he played Martin Baugh. It was Baugh to start but he was slow getting out of the traps as Burkhill took advantage and broke throw. Trev the turned on the turbo as he recorded a 17 and a 19 dart leg as well as a maximum thrown in for good measure to gain the win and put the Black Eagles 3-1 up with two to play. 

It was the battle of the young guns next as Pirates Michael Slack took on "Ice" Owen Cubitt who was looking to win it for the Black Eagles. It was Cubitt who started the better of the two and after taking the first leg on throw "Ice" then upped the ante by hitting a max and taking out a 17 darter to make it two. Slack couldn't cope with Cubitt and "Ice" cooly finished off his opponent in three to seal the win for the champs with one to play.

To round off the night at Players Bar, Steve Briggs and Sie Simmons went head to head. Simmons with the throw to start needed to start well, but he didn't as Briggs took advantage of that by breaking the throw early, then Briggs found form after taking out an 18 darter to go two up, Briggs then hit a 180 and rounded off the night by taking the match in 16 darts to give the Black Eagles a 5-1 win. 

Railwaymen 5-1 Hawks

Steve Brittle 3-1 Ben Dulley

Tom Gurran 3-1 Peter Bell

Martin Scott 3-0 Joelle Taylor 

Gavin Pilling 3-0 Laura Taylor

Pete Bramley 3-1 Steve Ewington

N. Campbell 0-3 Marc Ellis

At the Station second placed Railwaymen unbeaten in the last three take on a Hawks side who sit mid-table and have been consistent so far this season. 

In the opening game of the night representing the home side Steve Brittle took on Ben Dulley. It was Dulley to start but he lost throw to go one down. He quickly got back to level in the next but then it was all Brittle as he broke for the third consecutive leg of the match which meant he had the darts to win it in the fourth and win it Brittle did to put his team one up.

It was Pete Bell next up for Hawks looking to put the team back on level terms against youngster Tom "Inferno" Gurran. Both players started well by holding throw, Gurran took out a 21 darter in the third to go 2-1 up. Bell had throw in the fourth to stay in the match but it was the youngster who took out an 18 dart leg to secure the win to make the score 2-0.

Up next for the Railwaymen was Martin Scott who threw some steady darts in his match with Joelle Taylor. Scott kicked off with a break of throw in 20 darts, he then took the second leg to put Taylor in all sorts of trouble, Joelle had throw in the third leg but it was Scott celebrating as he put his team three up.

Laura Taylor needed to keep the Hawks in the contest in game four as she faced Gavin Pilling. It was Pilling to start and he took the first leg. Taylor was always chasing the game after that as Pilling hit a 17 dart leg to break then he finished off the match cooly to win it with two to spare. 

Railwaymen's Pete "Perfect" Bramley out in a good performance in his match with Steve Ewington, the game started with both men failing to hold their threw which put Bramley 2-1 up with him to throw in the fourth leg to win and break the hoodoo and "Perfect" Pete finally held his throw to win the match in four and make it five in five for the Railwaymen.

It was all up to "Tiny" Marc Ellis to save the Hawks from a clean sweep as he took on N. Campbell. It was Campbell to throw first but Ellis broke him early to get a head start. Ellis took out the second leg to make it two, Campbell was always on the back foot in this match as Ellis saved the Hawks from the whitewash as the Railwaymen kept a grip on second place. 

Vulcans 3-3 Academicals 

Mick Swift 3-2 Tim Close

Steven Caley 1-3 Ritesh Deo 

James Thomas 3-0 Jack Lewis

Alex Sproston 3-2 Oliver Newall

Tom Wright 1-3 Adam Warner

Phil Lambert 0-3 Ellis Turner 

We head to the Punchbowl next as bottom of the table Vulcans attempt to settle in their new venue after they closed the gap last week to the rest of the pack face an Academicals team who are back from the Christmas break.

Vulcans Mick Swift got his team off to the perfect start but he had to work for it in this five leg game against Tim Close. It was Close to start as he held his throw to go one up, Swift then took out a 21 darter to equalise, the match turned in the third leg as Swift broke throw to make it 2-1 but then Close replied with a 19 dart leg to force a decider and Close throwing for the match but he couldn't finish it off as it was Swift who took out the best leg of the game in 18 darts to put his team one up in a very entertaining match.

Up next for Uni was Ritesh Deo who took on Steven Caley, Deo got off to the perfect start going ahead against throw, In the next leg Deo continued his from by taking out an 18 darter to double his lead. Caley came back at his opponent in the third leg but he gave himself too much to do as Deo won it in four to equalise for the Academicals.

In the third match on "Tank" James Thomas threw solid in his game with Jack Lewis. "Tank" started by breaking the Lewis throw with a 19 dart leg to lay down a marker and gain the advantage. Thomas then took the second leg to give him breathing space between him and his opponent. In the third leg Lewis had to hold but couldn't do it as Thomas secured the win to put the Vulcans back in front.

Alex Sproston and Oliver Newall battled it out in another five leg match which saw every leg go with throw. Sproston had the darts to start and made it count  by taking the lead. Newall kept plugging away by keeping his throw but he just couldn't break Sproston and it cost him as it was Sproston who took out the winning double in the decider to make it 3-1 to the home side. 

The Academicals were on the back foot and chasing the game with two to play but the comeback was on when Adam Warner threw some good darts in his match with Tom Wright. Both players started by holding throw then in the third leg Warner took out a 16 darter to gain confidence then in the fourth, Warner rattled in a 19 against the throw to win and force a decider.

In the decider with the score delicately poised, Vulcans Phil Lambert needed to defeat Ellis Turner to win it but Turner had other ideas as she quickly broke Lambert which set her on her way to a convincing 3-0 victory to complete the comeback and rescue a draw for the Academicals.

Wolves 2-4 Wades

Graham Waller 0-3 Lee Siddle 

Pete Daffin 3-0 Simon Sawford 

Dave Cliffe 0-3 Tom Sawford

John Lieber 3-0 Jordan Payne

Pat Finney 2-3 Stephen Naisbitt 

Bye 0-3 Antonio Cruz

In the final game of the weeks action we're back at the Woodbourne as the Wolves who start a man down and sit mid-table after back to back wins face a Wades side who start in fourth after a four game unbeaten run. 

We start with Wolves Graham Waller who never got going in his match with Lee Siddle and partly that was down to how well Siddle threw as he started with a 20 dart leg to go one up. Siddle then broke Waller to double his lead. Siddle threw for the match in the third leg which he did with ease as he took the glory with a 16 darter to put the Wades one up. 

Up next for the Wades was "James" Simon Sawford as he faced a tricky contest against Wolves captain "Super Daff's" Pete Daffin and it showed as Daffin was on fire after starting with a 15 dart leg on throw to take the lead, Daffin then had two finishes of 110 and 105, plus a 21 darter to finish off his opponent leaving Sawford with nothing to show for his efforts in a solid performance from the captain to equal the scores up.

Dave Cliffe was third on for the Wolves against the younger "Shooter" Sawford in Tom. The youngster started well holding throw to go one up. Cliffe had throw in the next leg to try and make his mark on the match but it never materialised as Sawford took out a 17 and an 18 dart leg to wrap up the win and put the Wades back in front. 

In the fourth match with the Wades just one away from the win, it was up to John Lieber to keep the Wolves in with a chance as he faced Jordan Payne. Lieber started well with the darts and quickly took the lead. Youngster Payne needed to level but couldn't do it as Lieber managed to break to double his lead then took the the match in the very next leg to level the scores again with one to play. 

It was the fifth and most decisive game of the night with the scores effectively 3-2 to the Wades it was Pat Finney who needed the win to save the match in a battle of the committee members as he faced Wades captain Stephen Naisbitt, it was Naisbitt to start and he got out of the blocks fast as he quickly raced into a 2-0 lead. With the game looked all but over for Finney he clawed his way back into it as he broke straight back then held in the fourth to force a deciding leg to finish the night. It was Naisbitt's darts which gave him a bit of an advantage, Finney couldn't hit the big scores as Naisbitt steadied away and it proved vital as it was Naisbitt who took out the winning double to end the night and give his team the 4-2 win.

Report by

Pat Finney (Projectdarts Reporter/Media)

Wades in draw thriller with Railwaymen

Red Dragon Sheffield Franchise League (Week 12)

Thursday 4th January 2018

Academicals vs Wolves

Match forfeit due to Academicals failing to put out a side. Wolves win 6-0 

Aces 5-1 Pirates

Andy Umney 3-0 Andy Friar

Mick Smith 3-0 Lee Slack

Simon Birkett 3-0 Simon Chivers

Ian Speed 3-0 Sie Simmons 

Trevor Tye 3-0 Michael Slack

Dave Belfitt 2-3 Anne Lofthouse

After the well earned Christmas break the Sheffield Darts Franchise League started back up as Week 12 kicked off at the Newbold where the Aces hosted the Pirates.

To kick things off, Aces Andy Umney took on Andy Friar and made the game look easy as he started by breaking Frair's throw in the opening leg of the night by taking out a 20 dart leg. Umney kept up the pressure to double his lead by hitting a 19 darter. Friar couldn't cope with Umney as he finished off the match by winning it in 18 darts taking out a 114 finish to round off a solid performance to put the Aces one up.

Next up for the Pirates were Lee Slack as he looked to equalise against opponent Mick Smith.  It was Smith to open and he held his throw well be recording a 19 dart finish. Smith then broke Slack's throw in the next leg to double his lead. They were no way back for Slack in the third leg as Smith took out the winning double to earn victory which made the score 2-0.

Simon Birkett showed good form in the third match on for the Aces as he played Simon Chivers. Birkett recorded a 20 darter against the throw to take the lead and after holding throw in the second leg, Birkett then finished off his opponent by taking out a 21 dart leg to win the match and make it three for the Aces at the halfway stage. 

It was up to Pirates Sie Simmons to keep his team in the game as he faced Ian Speed. "Speedy" threw well as he took the first leg to lead. Simmons had the darts to level but couldn't finish it as Speed broke throw which gave him the arrows to win it and he did just that by taking out a 21 darter to secure the win for the Aces with two games to spare. 

In the fifth match on it was Pirates Michael Slack's chance to try and get a point on the board for the team against opponent Trevor Tye, Slack had throw to start but couldn't hit the big scores as Tye took advantage of that by taking the first leg. Tye then held his own throw to go two up. In the third leg Slack had to hold throw to stay in it but couldn't do it as Tye rounded it off in three which made it five in five for the home side.

Pirates Anne Lofthouse had to win to avoid a clean sweep for the Aces as she played Dave Belfitt in a match that went the distance. It didn't start well for Lofthouse has she lost the opening two legs which gave the Aces 17 straight legs in the match, but finally Lofthouse stopped the rot by breaking back in the third leg then took out the double in the fourth to force a deciding leg. Belfitt had the throw but it was Anne Lofthouse who completed her comeback by throwing well in the second half of the match to give the Pirates a point and avoided the whitewash too. 

Black Eagles 6-0 Panthers

John Walton 3-0 Kieron Potts

Charlie Stocks 3-0 Mick Wood

Micky Stocks 3-0 John Schultz

Jelger Tuinstra 3-1 Russ Simons

Owen Cubitt 3-1 Richard Brown

Steve Briggs 3-2 Mick Hulley

Over at the Woodbourne their was a derby between the champions Black Eagles and the Panthers, with the Panthers needing an early start to put the champs on the back foot. 

It didn't start off like that unfortunately for them as former World Champion John Walton set off with a 13 dart leg against the throw leaving opponent Kieron Potts with it all to do. John "Boy" held in the second leg by taking it out in 21 darts to double his lead, then Walton took the match once again against throw by finishing it in 17 with a maximum to add to his tally too for the season which put the Champions ahead.

Up next for the Panthers was Mick Wood looking to pull his team level as he took on young star Charlie Stocks. The game started well for Stocks as he took out the opening leg. Wood had the darts in the second to equalise but Stocks showed maturity beyond his years as he broke Wood to throw for the match in which the youngster did with ease to double the Black Eagles lead. 

It was father Micky Stocks to toe the oche on the third game on as he made light work of John Schultz after breaking him with a 19 darter and a 180 to start. Stocks then left himself a one dart finish after 21 in the next leg in which he took out the very next dart to make it two. In the third and final leg with Schultz throwing to stand any chance Stocks saved his best until last after hitting the second maximum of the match he strolled to a 15 darter to finish off Schultz to make it three in three for the defending champions. 

In the fourth game on the Black Eagles were on a roll as Jelger Tuinstra stepped up to win it early against opponent Russ Simons. It was Simons who started the better of the two breaking the Tuinstra throw with a 20 dart leg but that's the best it got for him as Jelger found his range and broke straight back to level. In the third leg it was Tuinstra who held to make it 2-1, then he rounded off the match with a 21 dart leg against throw to win it for the Black Eagles with two to play. 

Richard Brown was looking to make the scoreline me more respectable for the Panthers in the next match against another youngster in Owen "Ice" Cubitt and he did well in the opener and took the lead, but once again the Black Eagles team came back as Cubitt found his form to take out a 21 darter, 18 and then a 23 dart finish to win the match in three devastating legs of darts to leave Brown trailing behind to make the score 5-0.

In the sixth and final game of the night it was up to Mick Hulley to avoid the whitewash for the Panthers and he did all he could against Steve Briggs, racing into a 2-0 lead following a 19 dart leg and a 180 but Briggs fought back in the second half of the match taking out a 20 darter on throw then in the fourth leg after hitting a max of his own in reply to Hulley's one earlier in the game, Briggs took out an 18 darter ending with a 3 dart finish to force a decider to end the night. On throw Briggs had the advantage in the final leg as Hulley tried to find his earlier form but couldn't manage it as Briggs completed the comeback to win it and complete the Black Eagles whitewash.

Wades 3-3 Railwaymen 

Lester Bowers 3-1 Steve Brittle 

Jordan Payne 0-3 Tom Gurran

Stephen Naisbitt 0-3 Martin Scott 

Simon Sawford 0-3 Pete Bramley

Tom Sawford 3-0 Gavin Pilling 

Tom Briggs 3-0 N. Campbell 

Staying at the Woodbourne it was a tight affair between two evenly matched teams as the Wades took on the Railwaymen.

To open proceedings Wades Lester "Big Red" Bowers faced Steve Brittle and it was the home player who settled in the better as he started with back to back 21 dart legs leaving Brittle with a mountain to climb. He did manage to pull a leg back in the third but "Big Red" secured the win in four to put the Wades one up. 

It was the battle of the young prospects in game two as Railwaymen's Tom "The Inferno" Gurran and Jordan Payne went head to head. It was Payne with the darts but Gurran fired in a 20 darter to break and after holding his throw in the second leg, Payne was in all sorts of trouble which he couldn't get out of as Gurran finished it early to equalise for the Railwaymen.

In game three Railwaymen's Martin Scott took out Stephen Naisbitt without dropping a leg to give the travelling side the lead for the first time in the match. 

Wades Simon Sawford was looking to level the scores back up in the next game but he bumped into a rampant Pete "Perfect" Bramley, as Bramley broke Sawford's throw in the first leg with a 20 darter. "Perfect" carried on the consistent darts in the next leg and held to double his lead. Sawford needed to hold his throw to stay in the contest but Bramley won it at a canter to make the score 3-1 to the away side with two to play. 

It looked a cert after game four that the Railwaymen were going to win but "Shooter" Tom Sawford had other ideas as he set off in his match against Gavin Pilling with a 21 dart leg against the darts. Sawford held his throw in the next leg to go two up. Pilling had to hold to stand any chance but Sawford rounded off the game to force a decider. 

In the sixth and deciding match N. Campbell needed to defeat Wades Tom Briggs to give the Railwaymen victory but it didn't go as he planned as Briggs kicked off with a hold of throw which set him on his way to bossing the match throughout which led to Briggs winning in three to rescue a draw for the Wades. 

Warriors 2-4 Vulcans 

Barry Brittle 0-3 Steven Caley

Ian Webster 0-3 Mick Swift 

Steve Newton 3-1 T. Wright

Nicola Warne 2-3 James Thomas 

Paul Brittle 1-3 Phil Lambert

Angela Brittle 3-0 Jim Smith

In the final game of the week at the Midland, the bottom two teams went head to head as the Warriors who had nine defeats on the bounce before the break face a Vulcans team who have yet to achieve a victory this season.

We open with Warriors Barry Brittle hoping to get his team off to a good start against Steven Caley, but it was Caley who took the lead with a hold of throw. Brittle had to hold throw in the next leg to level but he couldn't keep up with Caley's scoring as Carey ran away with a 3-0 win to open with a win for the Vulcans. 

In the next match on Mick Swift for the Vulcans was always on top against Ian Webster after breaking his throw to go one up, Swift kept up the pressure all game to run out the victor in three. 

Warriors "Hero" Steve Newton kept them in the match in the next game against Wright after breaking to go one up. Newton then doubled his lead soon after. Wright managed to get a leg on the board but Newton won it in four to bring the Warriors back in the game. 

In the closest game of the night, Vulcans James "Tank" Thomas and Nicola Warne battled it out in a match that went all the way. Warne had throw but it was "Tank" who took the first leg. Warne hit straight back with a break of her own to level, then it was Warne who took a 2-1 lead and looked favourite to win. In the fourth leg it was Thomas who held to stay in the match and make it into a last leg shootout in which Warne had the throw which gave her the advantage but she didn't make use of it as it was "Tank' who took out the winning double to make it 3-1 to Vulcans.

In the fifth match the Warriors had it all to do as captain Paul Brittle faced Phil Lambert who had a shot at winning the game for his team but Lambert didn't get off to the best of starts after losing his throw in the opener. Brittle had darts to double his lead but couldn't convert them as Lambert found his way back in the match and after breaking straight back, Lambert took the third leg to go 2-1 up and throw for the match in the fourth in which he did to give the Vulcans their first win of the season which closed the gap to them and tonight's opponents to just one point.

The game was over as we headed into the final match of the evening as Warriors Angela Brittle put in a solid performance as she swept away Vulcans captain Jim Smith 3-0 to make the scoreline a respectable 4-2 to the Vulcans which finally ended their long run without a win and it closed the gap between the two teams to a single point in the league table.

Report by

Pat Finney (Projectdarts Reporter/Media)