Red Dragon Sheffield Franchise League (Week 18)
Thursday 22nd February 2018
Academicals 4-2 Warriors
Harry Hatter 3-1 Angela Brittle
William Pollard 1-3 Ian Webster
Tom Hogg 3-0 Nicola Warne
Tim Close 3-0 Sandra Webster
Conall Doughty 2-3 Steve Newton
Thomas Wright 3-1 Paul Brittle
We start week 18 of the Franchise League at the University Arms as the draw specialist Academicals face bottom of the table Warriors.
It was Harry Hatter to step up first for the home side as he played Angela Brittle. Hatter got off to a good start by breaking throw early, Hatter went on to make it two in the next leg. Brittle managed a leg back in the third but Hatter put the Academicals in front in four.
Up next was Warriors, Ian Webster looking to level up as he played William Pollard. It was Pollard who took the opener on throw. Webster equalised then broke in the third leg to go 2-1 up. Webster then went on to win the match in the fourth to level the scores up at one each.
Academicals Tom Hogg played well in his game with Nicola Warne as he broke her throw to get off the mark, Hogg then went on to double his lead to leave Warne in trouble. Hogg finished off the match in the third leg with his best leg of the game a 17 darter against the darts to put the Academicals back in the lead.
In the fourth match it was Sandra Webster needed to defeat Tim Close to level the scores again but Close was too strong for his opponent after taking the opener, Close broke Webster's throw to make it two. Webster needed to break back but didn't manage it as Close ran out the winner to make it 3-1 with two to play.
Warriors were under pressure to deliver in the final two games of the night as "Hero" Steve Newton was looking to save his team and keep them in the contest against Conall Doughty in a good encounter. It was Newton to throw first and he started well holding his throw, back came Doughty to level up then breaking Newton in the third leg to throw for the match. It looked all over for Newton but "Hero" dug in and fought back to defeat his opponent in the decider to bring it back to 3-2 heading into the final game.
In the decider it was up to Academicals Thomas Wright to defeat opposition captain Paul Brittle to win the match for his side. Wright couldn't have wished for a better start racing into a 2-0 advantage. Brittle managed to break straight back to make it 2-1 but Wright won it against the darts in the fourth leg to secure a 4-2 win for the Academicals for their first win in eight games.
Hawks 1-5 Aces
Ben Dulley 3-1 Andy Umney
Peter Bell 1-3 Ian Speed
Laura Taylor 0-3 Wes Deane
Marc Ellis 1-3 Mick Smith
Steve Ewington 0-3 Simon Birkett
Joelle Taylor 0-3 Trevor Tye
Over the the Hawk & Dove, home side Hawks who have had in-different form of late which sees them start in mid-table sixth place face an Aces side who have won six out of the last seven games which has propelled them up to third.
We open with Hawks, Ben Dulley who put on a good show against Andy Umney starting with a break of throw to open, Dulley then went on to hold his own to go two up. Umney took the third leg to peg it back but Dulley won it in four legs to give the Hawks the early lead.
Aces Ian Speed didn't get off to the best of starts in his game with Pete Bell as Bell went one up. Speed found his range in the second leg as he levelled up then turned the game around in the third as he broke Bell and throw for the match in which he managed with some steady darts to equal the scores up.
Up next Aces Wes Deane ran out a 3-0 winner over Laura Taylor and registered a maximum in the process to turn the score around to put the Aces in front.
Marc "Tiny" Ellis tried his best in his game with Mick Smith but as Smith took off with back to back legs and a 130 finish thrown in too, it gave Ellis a lot to do to get back in it he did well to pull a leg back in the third but the writing was already on the wall as Smith won it in the next leg to make it 3-1 to the Aces.
In the fifth game on Steve Ewington needed to win his match with Simon Budha Birkett to keep the Hawks in the game but Birkett was in no mood to give him a chance after holding throw to take he lead, Simon then went on to register an 18 dart leg against the throw followed by a quality 15 darter to win the match for him and the Aces with one to play.
In the final game with the Aces already having the win, it was up to Joelle Taylor to put some pride back in the scoreline as she took on Trevor Tye. Aces, Tye broke throw to start which set him up nicely for the remainder of the game as he went on to hold and make it two. Taylor was looking to stay in it on her throw in the third leg but Tye wrapped up the night to give the Aces a 5-1 win to make it seven victories out of the last eight.
Railwaymen 5-1 Pirates
Pete Bramley 1-3 Lee Slack
Mark Gurran 3-1 Martin Chivers
Martin Scott 3-0 Anne Lofthouse
Steve Brittle 3-0 Martin Baugh
Tom Gurran 3-1 Sie Simmons
Gav Pilling 3-1 Michael Slack
We're at the Station next up where second placed Railwaymen who are on a run of four consecutive wins take on a Pirates side who are struggling with just three wins all season.
Up first was "Perfect" Pete Bramley for the Railwaymen as he took on Lee Slack who got off to a good start by holding throw in the opener. Bramley hit back with a 17 darter to level but after that he couldn't get a rhythm going as Slack played well to run out a 3-1 winner to give the Pirates a shock lead.
Martin Chivers was looking to capitalise on the early lead in his match with Mark Gurran but he didn't start well as Gurran broke him in the opener, after that he went on to make it two. Chivers got a leg back in the third leg but it was Gurran who wrapped up the win to equalise for the Railwaymen.
In the third match on Martin Scott played solidly against Anne Lofthouse in a game which saw Scott open with a 21 dart leg break of throw. Lofthouse couldn't get going throughout as Scott won it at a canter to put the home side in the lead.
Railwaymen took command of the match from here on in as Steve Brittle opened with a 21 darter against Martin Baugh with a maximum to boot. He then broke Baugh in the second leg to give his opponent no way back in the contest as Brittle ran out 3-0 winner to make the score 3-1.
The fifth match started with the Pirates on the ropes but Sie Simmons gave them a bit of false hope against Tom "The Inferno" Gurran after nicking the opening leg albeit on throw it was youngster Gurran who kicked in and after recording a 180 he went on to win it in four to wrap up the win for the Railwaymen with one to spare.
Once again like the match before it the Pirates went ahead with Michael Slack opening the scoring in his match with Gavin Pilling but just like a carbon copy of the other match, Railwaymen's Pilling got his act together and after breaking straight back he hit back to back 19 darters to round off a good night for his team to make it five wins on the spin for the home side.
Wades 0-6 Black Eagles
Antonio Cruz 0-3 Trevor Burkhill
Tom Briggs 2-3 Marie Tuinstra
Stephen Naisbitt 0-3 Steve Briggs
0-3 Owen Cubitt
0-3 Jelger Tuinstra
0-3 Jason Burkhill
In the final two games of the week it was a battle royal of all four Woodbourne teams going head to head, first up was the Wades who unfortunately only had three players on the night in their tough match with reigning champions and league leaders Black Eagles.
We start with Wades Antonio Cruz struggling to cope in his match with "Turbo" Trevor Burkhill who was on fire as he started with a 13 darter, "Turbo" then broke the Cruz throw with a 14 dart leg and he then finished off Cruz in the third in 16 darts to finish off a brilliant performance to already give the Champions the win after the first game.
Marie Tuinstra got off to a flyer in her game with Tom Briggs with every leg going against the throw. Tuinstra took a 2-1 lead following a 21 darter but Briggs levelled with a 20 of his own in which he threw for the match but couldn't cross the finishing line as Tuinstra made it five for the Black Eagles with one to play.
In the final game of a short night in the Woodbourne, Wades captain Stephen Naisbitt was looking to get some sympathy from Steve Briggs but Briggs wasn't in that sort of mood and after holding his throw in the opening leg, Briggs went on to ease to a 3-0 win to wrap up a whitewash Black Eagles win to put them five points clear at the top of the table.
Wolves 4-2 Panthers
Lee Cushworth 3-1 Kieron Potts
Pete Daffin 3-0 John Schultz
Graham Waller 2-3 Mick Hulley
John Lieber 3-1 Russ Simons
Iain Fulton 3-0 Mick Wood
Dave Cliffe 0-3 Richard Brown
To finish the week off the other two Woodbourne teams went face to face as the Wolves who have just won their first match in four face a Panthers side who sit fifth after their heavy mauling last time out at the hands of the Railwaymen.
We start with "The Dartin' Demon" Lee Cushworth for the Wolves who set off like a rocket against Kieron Potts as he took out a 14 dart leg against the throw to settle in. Potts replied with a break straight back in what looked like a close game but then Cushworth reeled off the third leg to throw for the match in which he did in 19 darts to put the Wolves ahead.
Up next for the Panthers was John Schultz who faced a daunting task as he played Wolves captain "Super Daff's" Pete Daffin. It was Daffin to start and he kicked off with a 17 darter. On the Schultz throw Daffin gave him limited chances and the captain broke with another 17 dart leg to throw for the match in the third leg in which he did with ease finishing in 21 darts to double the Wolves lead.
In the third match the Wolves looked as though they were cruising but Mick Hulley had something to say about that as he faced Graham Waller in a match that went the distance. Both players started with a break of throw each then Hulley took the third leg to put himself 2-1 up. Waller held his throw to force a deciding fifth leg in which Hulley took it with the deciding double to keep the Panthers in the game.
Panthers thought they were getting back in the match as we headed into the second half of the night but Wolves John Lieber put a halt to the proceedings in his game with Russ Simons with both men starting with 20 dart legs it looked like a close match but then Lieber took the third leg to nudge himself towards the finishing line. Simons had the darts in the fourth leg but Lieber finished it to make it 3-1 Wolves.
It was Wolves Iain Fulton fifth on making his debut knowing that a win for him will also give his new team victory, facing him was Mick Wood who needed a win of his own to force a deciding game. Fulton started well for his new team as he broke the Wood throw by registering a 19 darter in his very first leg in the league. Fulton carried on where he left off in the next leg as he eased to a 2-0 lead. Wood had throw to stay in the match but it was the debutants day as he won it in three and it gave the Wolves victory with one to go.
In the final match of the week, Panthers Richard Brown made the score more respectable as he faced Dave Cliffe, Cliffe had throw but couldn't hit the big scores as Brown took advantage to break, he then carried on into the next leg where he doubled the lead leaving Cliffe with it all to do. In the third leg it was Brown who finished off the night in three to win the game but it was the Wolves' night as they won overall 4-2.
Pat Finney (Projectdarts Reporter/Media)
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