Red Dragon Sheffield Franchise League (Week 20)
Congratulations to the Black Eagles who have retained there SFL Premier Division title
With results elsewhere going there way and winning a terrific battle with the Railwaymen
Thursday 22nd March 2018
Railwaymen 1-5 Black Eagles
Mark Gurran 0-3 Micky Stocks
Steve Brittle 0-3 John Walton
Martin Scott 3-2 Charlie Stocks
Tom Gurran 2-3 Steve Briggs
Glen Payne 2-3 Owen Cubitt
Pete Bramley 0-3 Trevor Burkhill
Over at the Station their was a top of the table clash as the Railwaymen entertained leaders Black Eagles knowing they had to get something out of the match to claw them back in.
Up first the Champions got off to a perfect start as Mickey Stocks hit a maximum, a 20 dart and a 15 darter to win plus a 120 high checkout to round it off against opponent Mark Gurran to put the leaders ahead.
Railwaymen's Steve Brittle faced former World Champion John Walton next up and it was Walton who carried on where Stocks left off in his last match as he started with a 15 dart leg to go in front. Walton continued in good form taking out a 102 finish and winning the match with another 15 dart leg to put his team two up.
In the first of three consecutive five leg matches Railwaymen's Martin Scott faced youngster Charlie Stocks in arguably game of the season. Scott took the lead with a break of throw. Stocks replied with two 180's plus back to back 21 dart legs and a 124 finish to add which put him one leg away from the win but it was Scott who on levelled in the fourth leg himself taking out a 20 darter to force a decider in which Stocks had throw but Scott won it in 18 darts in a very entertaining match which had everything as the Railwaymen reduce the arrears.
Following on from that game Steve Briggs for the Black Eagles took on Tom "Inferno" Gurran who started with the darts but couldn't capitalise on the as Briggs broke throw to go one ahead. Gurran equalised with a 21 darter to break straight back then held his own to nudge 2-1 up. Briggs had the throw to stay in the match and calmly made the match go into a fifth leg in which experience pulled through as Steve Briggs won it in five to make it 3-1 to the Black Eagles in a very tough game for him.
As the fifth game got underway Glen Payne had to defeat "Ice" Owen Cubitt to force a decider. Both players got off to a good start holding throw each as Payne took out a 21 dart leg. Payne then broke in the third to throw for the match in the fourth leg but Cubitt found his range and hit a 20 and a 21 darter to grab victory for him and his team.
In the final game "Perfect" Pete Bramley took on "Turbo" Trevor Burkhill in a match with saw "Turbo" fire in a 19 dart leg against the darts to start. Bramley had no response to Burkhill's speed and accuracy as he quickly made it two. "Perfect" ad to hold to stay in the tie in the third as Trevor finished off his opponent with a 180 and a 14 dart finish to end the night which extended the Black Eagles lead at the top of the table.
Hawks 5-1 Warriors
Matt Allen 3-2 Barry Brittle
Ben Dulley 3-1 Ian Webster
Paul Moore 3-0 Nicola Warne
Laura Taylor 1-3 Steve Newton
Steve Ewington 3-0 Paul Brittle
Marc Ellis 3-0 Jodie Bruce
We open week 20 of the Red Dragon Sheffield Franchise League at the Hawk & Dove as the Hawks who are on a run of 3 defeats in the last 4 host a Warriors side looking of gain ground on the team's above them.
Hawks' night started off in good fashion as debutant Matt Allen and Barry Brittle took us all the way. Brittle held throw to take the lead, Allen replied with his first ever leg on the board to level. In the third leg Allen kept up the pressure by breaking the Brittle throw which put him on the hill. Brittle showed good fighting qualities to keep himself in the tie forcing a decider in which Allen secured the win to put the Hawks one up.
In the next game Warriors Ian Webster played Ben Dulley who started with a 19 dart leg to open, he then followed it with a break to double his lead. Webster fought back in the third leg to break straight back but that's all he had as Dulley won it in four to make it two for his side.
Nicola Warne knew she had to get something in her game with Paul Moore to keep Warriors in with a chance. Moore was too good for her a he took out two 18 darters both against throw plus a 120 high finishes on his way to a 3-0 victory to put the Hawks three ahead.
Warriors were staring defeat in the face by the time Steve "Hero" Newton stepped up and played Laura Taylor. Newton knew he needed to get off to a good start in which he did by taking a 2-0 lead. Taylor did well to hold her throw in the third leg to keep herself in the game but she couldn't break Newton which eventually cost her a 3-1 defeat which kept the Warriors in the contest.
In the fifth match Steve Ewington was in full control of his game with Paul Brittle taking out back to back 21 dart legs plus a 118 finish on his way to a resounding 3-0 win to give the Hawks victory with one to play.
In the final game of the night with the result wrapped up "Tiny" Marc Ellis made light work of Jodie Bruce winning at a canter by three legs to nil to finish off the night which gave the Hawks a 5-1 win which consolidated seventh in the table.
Vulcans 3-3 Pirates
Mick Swift 3-0 Simon Chivers
Steven Caley 1-3 Lee Slack
James Thomas 3-0 Martin Baugh
Alex Sproston 0-3 Sie Simmons
S. Walters 0-3 Michael Slack
Phil Lambert 3-2 Anne Lofthouse
We head to the Punchbowl next as two teams out of the bottom three collide as the Vulcans took on the Pirates with just three points separating the team's at the start of the match.
Up first was Vulcans Mick Swift who raced out of the traps in his game with Simon Chivers taking out an 18 darter and a maximum on his way to a 3-0 win to give the Vulcans a perfect start.
Pirates Lee Slack was next on facing Steven Caley and it was Caley who took the lead on throw but Slack took out the remaining legs to win in four and level the scores.
James "Tank" Thomas put the Vulcans back in front in the third game defeating Martin Baugh by three legs to nil.
In the fourth match on the Pirates replied once again with Sie Simmons winning his match with Alex Sproston also without dropping a leg to level the scores up at two each with two to play.
In the crucial fifth game saw the Pirates go in front for the first time as Michael Slack won the third consecutive 3-0 match against S. Walters to give his team the advantage going into the decider.
In the closest match of the night was the most crucial as Vulcans Phil Lambert was looking to save his team a draw in his game with Anne Lofthouse. Lambert started very well taking the opening two legs but Lofthouse fought back like she can and after breaking back in the third leg Anne held in the fourth to force the final match into a final leg to end the night as Lambert had the throw he took full advantage of that and finally crossed the finishing line to win it and rescue a draw for the Vulcans.
Wades 4-2 Academicals
Tom Briggs 3-2 Tim Close
Stephen Naisbitt 3-2 Steven Godfrey
Craig Ingram 3-2 Ritesh Deo
Lee Siddle 1-3 Adam Warner
Jonathan Szymankiewicz 1-3 Conall Doughty
Antonio Cruz 3-2 Jonny Stevens
Over at the Woodbourne, home side Wades with their form being inconsistent of late rotating from victory to defeat in the last seven games took on an Academicals side who secured the first win in eight last time out.
To open it was Wades Tom Briggs in a close match up with Tim Close. In the first leg Close held throw, Briggs kindly replied with a levelller. In the third leg it was Close that went ahead again on throw. Briggs then took out a 19 darter to hold and force a deciding leg in which Close had the throw but couldn't manage what he managed in the other legs on throw and Briggs took advantage of that and secured the win to put the Wades ahead.
Next up was Academicals Steven Godfrey taking on Wades captain Stephen Naisbitt in which every leg went with throw. Naisbitt took an early lead only for Godfrey to level every time until the fifth and final leg in which Naisbitt played the better and secured the win to make it two for his side.
It was the third consecutive five leg matchup that took place between Craig Ingram and Ritesh Deo. Ingram started the better and broke Ritesh from the off but Ritesh found his range which saw him take a 2-1 lead. Ingram held well in the fourth to force another decider in which Ritesh had throw but it was Ingram who finished well and secured the win to make it three for the Wades.
After three five leg matches all went the way of the Wades the Academicals felt very unlucky not to nick at least one as Adam Warner took to the oche in the fourth game taking on Lee Siddle. It was Siddle to start and he held to take the lead. Warner replied with a 16 darter and then a 20 dart leg to break the Siddle throw and throw for the match in which Warner did to get the Academicals on the board.
Academicals were looking to fight back as Conall Doughty played Jonathan Szymankiewicz who started the better as he broke in the early exchanges but that's as good as it got for Szymankiewicz as Doughty took full control and ran out 3-1 winner to force a deciding game which didn't look likely after the first three.
In the decider, Academicals felt good just to get to this point in the match as Jonny Stevens took on Antonio Cruz looking to rescue an unlikely draw. Cruz started with a hold to take the lead, as the match followed that pattern all the way through as it went to a deciding leg to finish off the night and with the result hanging in the balance it was Cruz who secured the win for him and his team to keep the Wades in fourth place.
Wolves 4-2 Aces
Graham Waller 0-3 Andy Umney
Sue Edwards 0-3 Wes Deane
Pete Daffin 3-0 Mick Smith
Lee Cushworth 3-2 Ian Speed
John Lieber 3-0 Trevor Tye
Iain Fulton 3-0 Dave Belfitt
To round of the week we head back to the Woodbourne as the Wolves who have won the last three host an Aces team who sit in third place and who have won six out of the last seven played.
It was Graham Waller up first for the Wolves taking on Andy Umney. Umney had the darts and made them count as Waller struggled throughout and Umney took a 3-0 win to put the Aces ahead.
Up next we saw the Aces double the lead as Wes Deane took out Sue Edwards in three to give a bit of breathing space for the away side.
Captain Pete "Super Daff's" Daffin started the Wolves fightback as he took on Mick Smith and recorded a third consecutive 3-0 scoreline to reduce the arrears at the halfway point in the match.
Wolves now started to get to grips with the match and in the fourth game on Lee Cushworth and Ian Speed played a five leg thriller which saw Cushworth race into a 2-0 lead. Speed pulled it back level at two a piece then in the decider with Cushworth throwing first he took out the finish in the end to secure the win to equalise for the Wolves.
In the fifth game on with the scores tied Trevor Tye took on John Lieber knowing a win for either players will give his team chance of a win in the last match. It was Tye to throw first but that didn't matter to Lieber who broke throw early and after a hold which made it two, Lieber took out the double in the third to give the Wolves the advantage going into the final game.
In the decider Iain Fulton faced Dave Belfitt for a chance of victory for his team and he took his chances well in securing a 3-0 win to give the Wolves an overall 4-2 victory on the night to make it four wins on the spin for the Wolves which tighten the grip on fifth place in the table.
Report by
Pat Finney (Projectdarts Reporter/Media)
