SFL report

Red Dragon Sheffield Franchise League (Week 21)

Thursday 29th March 2018

Academicals P-P Hawks

MATCH POSTPONED

Aces 5-1 Vulcans

Andy Umney 3-0 Steven Caley

Trevor Tye 3-0 Alex Sproston 

Ian Speed 3-0 Mick Swift

Dave Belfitt 0-3 Tom Wright

Wes Deane 3-1 James Thomas

Mick Smith 3-0 Phil Lambert 

We start week 21 of the Franchise League at the Newbold as third in the table Aces who lost ground on the top two last time out take on a Vulcans side who stopped a four game losing streak with consecutive draws in the last two outings to push away from bottom spot.

Up first was Aces Andy Umney who started with a 16 darter against the throw against Steven Caley. Umney kept the pressure on with a hold on the second leg. Caley had the throw to stay in the game but Umney won it in three with a 20 dart finish to I've the Aces the lead. 

Vulcans Alex Sproston was next on for the Vulcans looking to level the scores but he found it tough against Trevor Tye as Tye took an early lead and never looked back as he rattled home a 3-0 win to make it two for the Aces. 

In the third game on and the Vulcans struggling for form it didn't get any better for them as Mick Swift couldn't cope with Speed's consistent darts as Speed took out two 20 dart legs against the darts and a 21 sandwiched in between to put the Aces three up.

Tom Wright for the Vulcans kept his side in with a chance in game four as he made light work of Dave Belfitt after taking all three legs to reduce the scoreline to 3-1 with two to play.

Aces Wes Deane played "Tank" James Thomas in game five looking to wrap it up for his side and Deane started well with a break of throw and a hold to go two up. Thomas managed to pinch a leg on throw but it was Deane who took out a 19 darter to win it for himself and the Aces with one to spare.

In the final match of the night Vulcans Phil Lambert was looking for a consolation for the Vulcans as he played Mick Smith. It was Smith to throw first and he made it count after nudging ahead, Smith went on to hit a maximum and an 18 darter against the darts on his way to a victory in three to wrap up a 5-1 win for the Aces.

Black Eagles 3-3 Wolves

Jelger Tuinstra 3-0 Dave Cliffe

John Walton 3-0 Graham Waller

Marie Tuinstra 0-3 Pete Daffin 

Steve Briggs 2-3 Lee Cushworth 

Owen Cubitt 0-3 John Lieber

Trevor Burkhill 3-0 Iain Fulton

Over at the Woodbourne a derby game took place between back to back champions Black Eagles and the Wolves who are looking to finish the season strong after recording four successive wins. 

In the opening match Black Eagles Jelger Tuinstra got the champs up and running with two 20 darters both against the the throw and a maximum in his 3-0 win over Dave Cliffe to put his team in front. 

Former World Champion John Walton then took out Graham Waller by the same 3-0 scoreline also recording a maximum, Walton then took out a 15 dart leg and securing the win with a 13 darter to put the Black Eagles two up. 

Wolves captain Pete "Super Daff's" Daffin gave his team a lifeline in game three against Marie Tuinstra as he held throw in the opening leg, Daffin then broke throw with an 18 darter and Tuinstra didn't have a reply in the third leg as captain Daffin reduced the scoreline to 2-1.

Match four was a game changer as Lee Cushworth played a brilliant game against Steve Briggs. Briggs had the throw and took the lead, Cushworth replied with his first 17 darter to level. In the third leg Briggs went in front again but Cushy was equal as he hit a maximum on his way to another 17 dart leg to force a decider with Briggs the favourite with the darts the consistent Cushworth wrapped up the win with a third 17 darter from him on the night to secure the win which levelled the game with two to play.

The match was tight heading into the fifth game as youngster Owen Cubitt faced an experienced John Lieber and it was experience what shone through as Lieber ran out a 3-0 winner taking out a 20 dart leg against the throw to go with it and give the Wolves the opportunity of victory going into the final game. 

In the decider "Turbo" Trevor Burkhill rescued a draw for the Black Eagles against Iain Fulton after taking out back to back 16 dart legs to go two up Fulton was always on the back foot and chasing the game as Burkhill finished it in three legs and grabbed a draw for the leaders in a good performance from both teams. 

Pirates 1-5 Panthers

Martin Baugh 0-3 Russ Simons 

Simon Chivers 0-3 Richard Brown 

Sie Simmons 3-2 Ryan Goffin 

We head to the Players Bar next as the Pirates only turned up with three and only have one win in the last eight took on the Panthers who were without a win in three but looked to take full advantage tonight.

In the first game on Pirates Martin Baugh took on Russ Simons who found his range early and took the lead. On the Baugh throw Simons managed to break to make it two and throw for the match which he did winning it with a 20 dart leg to effectively give the Panthers the win in the night.

Next up was Richard Brown for the Panthers and he made it five with a steady 3-0 win over Simon Chivers. 

In the final game Panthers captain Ryan "The Manic" Goffin" faced Sie Simmons looking for the clean sweep and Goffin raced into a 2-0 lead and a 21 dart leg to boot, after Goffin looked certain of victory Sie Simmons fought back in the second half of the match and brought the game to two each and a deciding leg to finish off the night with Goffin favourite with the throw it was Simmons who won it and nicked a game for the Pirates as the Panthers ran out 5-1 winners.

Warriors 1-5 Railwaymen 

Barry Brittle 0-3 Steve Brittle 

Steve Newton 0-3 Mark Gurran 

Nicola Warne 3-2 "Noggin"

Sandra Webster 0-3 Tom Gurran

Ian Webster 2-3 Gavin Pilling 

Paul Brittle 0-3 Pete Bramley 

In the final game of the week at the Midland, bottom of the table Warriors with only one win all season faced a tricky Railwaymen side who are on the back of successive defeats for the first time this season.

We open the night with Warriors Barry Brittle who couldn't get it going against his namesake Steve Brittle and paid the price as Steve took all three legs finishing with an 18 darter and a 128 finish to give the Railwaymen the perfect start.

Next up Railwaymen's Mark Gurran doubled his team's lead as he played a good game against Steve Newton recording a 180 on his way to a successive 3-0 win to make it two for the travelling team.

Nicola Warne managed to pull one back for the Warriors as she won a deciding leg to reduce the score to 2-1.

In the fourth game on "Inferno" Tom Gurran played a steady game against Sandra Webster as he cooly took a 3-0 victory against his opponent and put his side 3-1 up with two to go.

Warriors were staring down the barrel of another defeat as Ian Webster gave it a good go in saving the match against Gavin Pilling after opening with a break of throw which put Webster in front it was looking positive. Pilling hit back to take the next two legs to put himself in the driving seat. Webster equalised to force a decider as Pilling had throw and he won it to give the Railwaymen the win to put them back on track.

In the last game of the week with the Railwaymen guaranteed the win "Perfect" Pete Bramley ran out a 3-0 winner over Paul Brittle to finish off the night and keep Railwaymen in second place with a 5-1 victory.

Report by 

Pat Finney (Projectdarts Reporter/Media)