Red Dragon Sheffield Franchise League (Week 19)
Thursday 15th March 2018
Aces 4-2 Railwaymen
Andy Umney 3-2 Mark Gurran
Wes Deane 3-2 John Hirst
Mick Smith 2-3 Martin Scott
Ian Speed 0-3 Steve Brittle
Trevor Tye 3-2 Pete Bramley
Simon Birkett 3-2 Gavin Pilling
Week 19 of the Franchise League started at the Newbold where third played second in this top of the table clash between the Aces and the Railwaymen in a game which saw five out of the six matches played all went to deciding legs.
Up first we had Aces Andy Umney up against Mark Gurran. Umney got off to perfect start taking a commanding 2-0 lead. Gurran responded well and hit back taking out a 21 dart leg to force a decider in which he had the arrows but it was Umney who was the victor to put the Aces one up.
Next up it was Railwaymen's John Hirst who played well against opponent Wes Deane and even hit a maximum but it wasn't enough as every leg went with throw and Deane after taking out an 18 darter he also record two high finishes of 127 and also 107 to take the spoils and make it two for the home side.
Railwaymen were on the back foot and chasing the game as Martin Scott stepped up to play Mick Smith and didn't get off to the best of starts as Smith broke throw in 21 darts. Scott hit back over-turning the deficit plus a 148 finish to go in front. In the fourth leg Smith took out the double to force the third consecutive deciding game. It was Scott who threw first in that last leg and produced a steady 21 darter to win the match to pull the Railwaymen back in the game.
In game four the Railwaymen were chasing the game but some good darts by Steve Brittle pulled the teams back level as he defeated Ian Speed without dropping a leg.
Scores was level with two to play, up next was home sides Trevor Tye up against "Perfect" Pete Bramley in a match where the players just couldn't hold throw as every leg went against the darts. Tye started by taking the opener, Bramley then took out a 20 darter to draw level. Tye kept the to the script and broke for the third leg in a row to throw for the match, back came Bramley with a response and it was his turn to throw in the last leg shootout but Tye finished it off to grab the win and give the Aces chance of victory heading towards the final match of the night.
In the decider another battle took place between Gavin Pilling who was throwing to rescue a draw for the Railwaymen played Simon Birkett who was looking to finish it off. It was Birkett to start and he got of well and took the lead. Pilling replied with a 180 and a 21 darter to equalise, Birkettt went one better in the next leg also hitting a max but then took out a 19 dart leg to nudge back in front. Consistent Pilling forced a fifth leg by achieving his second 21 dart leg plus a ton finish to make it go a final leg for the fifth time out of six matches and it was Birkett to throw for the win and he did it with confidence to give Aces a huge win which closed the gap to tonight's second placed opponents to four points.
Black Eagles 6-0 Hawks
John Walton 3-1 Peter Bell
Jelger Tuinstra 3-0 Ben Dulley
Trevor Burkhill 3-0 Matt Pryor
Steve Briggs 3-2 Steve Ewington
Marie Tuinstra 3-1 Laura Taylor
Owen Cubitt 3-0 Bye
We head to the Woodbourne Hotel next as the defending champions and league leaders the Black Eagles took on mid-table Hawks who started a player short which made a mammoth task much more tougher.
It was former World Champion John Walton which started us off for the Black Eagles as he took on Pete Bell who gave a good account of himself in this match after Walton broke his throw to start, Bell took out a 21 dart leg against the darts to break straight back and level but then Walton hit the form button which saw him take out a 16 and a 17 darters to win it in four to put the Black Eagles in front.
Next up for the Hawks were Ben Dulley searching for an equaliser but faced a good opponent in Jelger Tuinstra. It was Tuinstra who started off the match and he held his throw well. Jelger then broke Dulley with a 21 darter to double his lead. Dulley didn't play too bad but Tuinstra was on form and he finished him off in three to make it two for the Champions.
Trevor "Turbo" Burkhill was in fine form in his encounter with Matt Pryor which started with a 13 dart leg and a 180 against throw, Burkhill followed that with a 19 to double his lead and leave Pryor in all sorts of trouble needing to hold just to stay in the contest but "Turbo" took the plaudits with a 130 finish and a 15 darter to win the match in a fine display of arrows thrown which made the score 3-0 at the halfway stage and effectively give the Black Eagles the win.
In the fourth game on Steve Ewington was looking to make the scoreline more respectable as he faced Steve Briggs and Ewington set off like a steam train after hitting a 21 darter, 109 checkout against the throw he followed it up by holding his own to double his lead. In the second half of the match Ewington tried to get across the finishing line as Briggs showed his experience and after taking out a 20 and a 17 dart legs also against the darts, it was Briggs in the driving seat as he threw for the match in the decider and Briggs won it to complete the comeback to make it five going into the fifth and last match.
Ladies battled it out in the final game as Black Eagles Marie Tuinstra faced Laura Taylor and it was Taylor who took an early lead. Tuinstra hit back to level and then the turning point of the game came in the third leg as Tuinstra broke throw and she threw for the match in the fourth where she finished off the night with some good darts and completed the Black Eagles whitewash to extend their lead at the top to seven points.
Panthers 3-3 Vulcans
Kieron Potts 0-3 Mick Swift
Mick Hulley 3-0 Steven Caley
Mick Wood 3-2 Alex Sproston
Russ Simons 2-3 Phil Lambert
Richard Brown 1-3 James Thomas
Ryan Goffin 3-0 S. Walters
In the second match of the night at the Woodbourne we had the Panthers taking on the Vulcans with both teams needing a win to make moves in the table.
We start with Vulcans Mick Swift who played in his game with Kieron Potts after starting the night with a 21 dart leg, Swift continued on to break throw to go two up. Potts had the darts in the third to stay in the game but Swift finished it off nicely to give the Vulcans an early lead.
Up next we had Panthers Mick Hulley in good form as he defeated Steven Caley in three to level the scores up.
In a tight affair in the third game Vulcans Alex Sproston looked certain of victory as he raced into a 2-0 lead but Panthers Mick Wood didn't lie down as he fought back and after forcing a deciding leg, Sproston had the throw which made him favourite but Wood finished it well to take victory which put the Panthers ahead.
In another match that went to the wire Russ Simons was looking to extend the Panthers lead against opponent Phil Lambert. It was Simons to start but Lambert broke throw then after hitting a maximum on his way to a 2-0 lead it looked plain sailing but Simons did well to fight back and after bringing the score back to two each he looked favourite to finish it off but it didn't go that way as Phil Lambert held his nerve to take out the winning double to level the scores at 2-2.
It was a crucial fifth game where Vulcans James "Tank" Thomas took on Richard Brown and with the darts Thomas took the lead. In the second leg "Tank" continued in good form as he broke to double his lead. Brown managed a break back but Thomas won it in four to the Vulcans a chance of the win going into the final match.
Panthers captain "The Manic" Ryan Goffin needed to save a draw for his side going into the decider against Walters who was looking to win it for the Vulcans. Goffin kicked off with a 19 dart leg to open the scoring. On the Walters throw he needed a good start but Goffin took out a brilliant 13 darter to throw for the match in which he gave his opponent no chance as the captain won it in 21 darts to rescue a draw for his side.
Pirates 1-5 Wolves
Martin Baugh 0-3 Lee Cushworth
Michael Slack 1-3 John Lieber
Anne Lofthouse 0-3 Dave Cliffe
Sie Simmons 3-2 Iain Fulton
Lee Slack 0-3 Pete Daffin
Bye 0-3 Graham Waller
Over at the Players Bar third bottom Pirates who started a man down took on mid-table Wolves hoping to add to the points tally to put pressure on the teams above.
In the opening game of the night Pirates Martin Baugh faced a tough opposition in Lee Cushworth. It was "Cushy" to start us off and after easing to the first leg he got into his stride. Baugh couldn't hold on to his throw in leg two as Cushworth doubled his lead. In the third leg "The Dartin' Demon" won it convincingly to give the Wolves a perfect start.
Up next Wolves John Lieber took on Michael Slack who threw well but Lieber raced into a 2-0 lead. Slack managed to make his good darts count by pulling a leg back but Lieber took out a 17 darter to win to put the Wolves two up.
It was up to Anne Lofthouse to save it early for the Pirates as she faced Dave Cliffe. Cliffe was consistent throughout which showed in the scoreline as he ran out a 3-0 winner to effectively win it for the Wolves with two to spare.
Wolves were looking to clean up as new-comer Iain Fulton played Sie Simmons in a close match in which every leg went with throw. Simmons started with a 19 dart leg to open, Fulton responded well and equalised. In the next leg Simmons made it 2-1 to put pressure on the Fulton throw in which he was equal to it to force a decider in which Simmons took advantage of having the darts and gave Fulton no chance as he won it with another 19 darter to put a point on the board for the Pirates.
In the fifth and final game of a short night in the Players Bar. Wolves captain Pete "Super Daff's" Daffin rounded off the night with a 3-0 win over Lee Slack to give Wolves a 5-1 victory to make it three wins in a row.
Warriors 1-5 Wades
Sandra Webster 0-3 Lee Siddle
Ian Webster 1-3 Tom Sawford
Angela Brittle 0-3 Courtney Hine
Jodie Bruce 0-3 Tom Briggs
Nicola Warne 1-3 Stephen Naisbitt
Steve Newton 3-1 Jonathan Szymankiewicz
In the final match of week 19 in the Franchise League we head to the Midland as bottom side the Warriors needing to start picking up points host a Wades side who sit fourth following their 6-0 thumping at the hands of the Black Eagles in the last set of league fixtures.
Warriors needed to get of to a good start as Sandra Webster stepped up to face Lee Siddle but from the off she struggled to get to grips with match as Siddle took an early lead. In the next leg Siddle broke Webster throw and registered a maximum to his name as he powered on to a 3-0 win to put the Wades ahead.
In a good match in the next game as "Shooter" Tom Sawford played Ian Webster as Webster got off to a shock lead with a hold of throw, Sawford took it in his stride and manage to jump up a few gears after holding to equalise "Shooter" broke in the third leg to throw for the match in which he did in 20 darts to make it to for the Wades.
In the third match on Wades debutant Courtney Hine faced Angela Brittle looking to get her Franchise League career off to a perfect start and it couldn't have gone any better for her as Hine started with a hold of throw which followed a break to double her lead. Hine threw for the match in the third which she gave Brittle no chance as she registered her first win which made it three for the Wades.
Jodie Bruce needed to defeat Tom Briggs to keep the Warriors in the match but it was a difficult task as Briggs practically ran away with the tie and took all three legs to give the Wades the early win.
It was captain Stephen Naisbitt up next with his team already wrapping up the win he was looking to keep the run going over Nicola Warne but he struggled in the first leg as Warne broke throw to take the lead. Warne had a chance to make it two but the captain broke straight back then he took a 2-1 lead. In the fourth leg Warne had the darts but captain Naisbitt played well to win it which made it five in five.
In the last game of the week Warriors Steve "Hero" Newton was looking to finish off with a point on the board as he took on the second Wades debutant of the night in Jonathan Szymankiewicz who got off to a flyer as he broke to take the lead. Newton broke straight back then fired in an 18 darter to nudge in front. Symankiewicz had to hold throw in the fourth but "Hero" finished off the night by winning three legs to one to avoid a whitewash as the Wades got back to winning ways.
Report by
Pat Finney (Projectdarts Reporter/Media)
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