Bears Secure Debut Win as SFL Kicks Off Season 3

Red Dragon Sheffield Darts Franchise League 2018/19 Season (Week 1)

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Thursday 13th September 2018

Bears 4-2 Academicals 

Red Dragon Sheffield Darts Franchise League 2018/19 season kicked off on Thursday night with a brand new format of four singles, two pairs matches and a triple game to end the night with points in that match going to the brand new 801 league table. 

SINGLES

Adam Smith 3-1 Jack Lewis 

Brian Jones 3-2 Tim Close

Adam Chadwick 3-0 Conall Doughty

Andy Smith 0-3 Adam Warner

We start with the newcomers to the league Woodbourne Bears who have a mix of youth and experience in their ranks which could stand them in good stead as the season progresses taking on the Academicals in a good test for both teams to kick off the season. 

Singles kicked off with Bears Adam Smith making his Franchise League debut and making an impact defeating Jack Lewis by three legs to one as he recorded a 19 darter and a maximum to get the Bears up and running.

Up next Tim Close stepped up for the Uni looking to level up the scores as he played another debutant Brian Jones in a closely fought contest that went all the way as every leg went with throw. Close took out a 21 darter to force a decider but it was Jones who grabbed the win to make it two for the Bears. 

Bears were on a roll after the opening two games and Adam Chadwick kept the ball rolling in his match with Conall Doughty after hitting two 20 dart legs and a 180 to secure a win in three and make it 3-0 for the home side at the halfway stage.

In the fourth game on Academicals Adam Warner showed his class in his game with Andy Smith who had no answer to Warner's back to back 21 darters plus an 18 dart leg to win it in three to keep the Academicals in with an outside chance going into the pairs. 

PAIRS

Andy Smith/Adam Chadwick 2-0 Adam Warner/Jack Lewis

Patrick Finney/Mick Wood 0-2 Conall Doughty/Tim Close 

We open the first best of 3 doubles game in the league with the Bears Andy Smith who lost his singles and Adam Chadwick who performed well and looked in good form face Adam Warner who won his singles with every leg 21 darts or under partner Jack Lewis who opened the night with a defeat in four. It was the home pairing who started the better and they continued the form to take a 2-0 victory and win the game for the Bears on their debut with one to spare.

In the other doubles game Conall Doughty and Tim Close played well together as they defeated Pat Finney and Mick Wood to reduce the arrears on the night to make the score a respectable 4-2 win for the new team from the Woodbourne.

801 League

Patrick Finney/Mick Wood/Tracy Bell 571-801 Adam Warner/Conall Doughty/Tim Close

In the brand new triples 801 League it was Academicals Adam Warner, Conall Doughty and Tim Close taking on pairs partners Pat Finney, Mick Wood and Tracy Bell who was making her debut in the league. It was success for the Academicals as they raced to the finishing line pretty comfortably in the end and took the spoils. 

Black Eagles 6-0 Pussies 

SINGLES

Jelger Tuinstra 3-2 James Thomas

Trevor Burkhill 3-0 T. Wright

Ryan Goffin 3-2 Alex Sproston

Steve Briggs 3-1 G. Harris 

Back to back champions Black Eagles opened up with a home game against the Punchbowl Pussies looking to lay down a marker for the season. 

Jelger Tuinstra took on James "Tank" Thomas in the opener and the latter started all guns blazing taking out a 16 dart leg. Tuinstra replied with a leveller but Thomas went back in front and looked set for the win but Jelger turned it on in the final two legs after equalising with an 18 darter he went into the final leg which saw him miss out on an 11 darter to win it hitting a 180, 81, 140 which left him with a 100 checkout to finish but he finally got over the line winning the match in 17 darts to put the Black Eagles in front but fair play to Thomas he gave a good account of himself. 

Next was a very consistent "Turbo" Trevor Burkhill in which he defeated Wright with three consecutive 21 dart legs plus a ton finish to make it two for the home side. 

In another close game in the third Pussies Alex Sproston went all the way with "The Manic" Ryan Goffin with the latter kicking off with a max and 21 dart leg. Sproston levelled soon after but Goffin then took out a 140 to nudge bakin front. Once again Sproston wasn't going to lie down as he took out the fourth which made it another five leg match which saw confident Goffin shine through to take the match to make it three in three. 

In the fourth match G, Harris needed to win Steve Briggs to keep the Pussies in it. Briggs opened with a 15 to go ahead, Harris kept his nerve to level but Briggs showed his experience to take out a 17 darter to make it 2-1 then finishing of the singles with a win in four and give the Champions the win before the double games.

PAIRS

Owen Cubitt/Jelger Tuinstra 2-0 James Thomas/Steven Caley

Trevor Burkhill/Tom Briggs 2-0 T. Wright/Alex Sproston 

As the pairs started no pressure was on the Black Eagles and it showed as Owen Cubitt and Jelger Tuinstra took out Thomas and Caley without conceding and it was the same scoreline in the next doubles as Burkhill and Tom Briggs took out Wright and Sproston to complete the whitewash and make it a perfect start for the Black Eagles.

801 League

Owen Cubitt/Tom Briggs/Steve Briggs 801-793 T. Wright/Alex Sproston/G. Harris

Night finished off with Father/Son Steve and Tom Briggs as well as Owen Cubitt grabbed victory in the 801 game against Wright, Sproston and Harris after hitting a 180 in the process as well as winning it with a 134 finish to complete a perfect night for the back to back Champions.

Cutler vs Wolves

Cutler 6-0 Wolves with Cutler also taking the 801 game

Hawks vs Warriors 

MATCH POSTPONED

Pirates 2-4 Aces

SINGLES

Lee Slack 1-3 Ian Speed 

Gareth Chivers 1-3 D. Wilks

Anne Simmons 0-3 Mick Smith 

Sie Simmons 3-2 Trevor Tye

Over to the Pirates who took on the Aces as the singles started off with Ian Speed hitting a 20 darter in the opening leg of the season against Lee Slack who levelled up soon after but then Speed went on to take it in four to put the Aces ahead.

Up next the Aces Wilks put his two ahead after defeating Gareth Chivers in another 3-1 scoreline. 

Aces were on a roll as Mick Smith started with a 21 darter in his match with Anne Simmons. Simmons didn't have any answer to Smith as he walked off with a win in three without reply. 

In the final singles match Pirates plucked a game back as Sie Simmons and Trevor Tye took us all the way to a decider in which Simmons took the win to keep his side involved going into the pairs.

PAIRS

Xenia Chivers/Mandy Slack 0-2 Ian Speed/Mick Smith

Anne Simmons/Sie Simmons 2-0 Trevor Tye/D. Wilks

The pairs started with Pirates Xenia Chivers and Mandy Slack needing a win against Ian Speed and Mick Smith but the latter was too good as they too the match in two to record a win for the Aces.

In the other pairs game Anne and Sie Simmons took out Trevor Tye and Wilks to reduce the arrears for the night to 4-2.

801 League

Gareth Chivers/Xenia Chivers/Lee Slack 793-801 Ian Speed/Mick Smith/Trevor Tye

In the 801 game to finish off Speed, Smith and Tye defeated Gareth and Xenia Chivers plus Lee Slack to round off a good night for the away side. 

Railwaymen 3-3 Panthers 

SINGLES

Steve Brittle 0-3 Russ Simons

Pete Bramley 3-1 Pat Meeson

Martin Scott 3-2 Mick Hulley

Gav Pilling 1-3 Richard Brown

In the final match of the opening weeks action in the Franchise League the Railwaymen play host to the Panthers and it was the Panthers who raced out of the blocks as Russ Simons took out a 21 and a 16 dart leg on his way to a 3-0 win over Steve Brittle to open the scoring for his side.

Up next "Landlord" Pat Meeson faced "Perfect" Pete Bramley who after a steady opening leg from both men which saw Bramley take it both players played well as Meeson levelled with a 16 darter but then Bramley fired in a 19 and he then also took out a 16 to win the game and level up the scores.

In the third game Panthers Mick Hulley and Martin Scott went all the way in a close battle between the two which saw Scott take out a 21 dart leg which saw him level the scores at two each then in the decider Scott managed to hold off Hulley to win which put the match 2-2to the home side. 

In the fourth and final singles game Gav Pilling took the lead against opponent Richard Brown but that's the best it got for him as Brown hit another gear which saw him take out a 160 finish on his way to a 2-2 between the two teams. 

PAIRS

Steve Brittle/Gav Pilling 0-2 Russ Simons/Pat Meeson 

Pete Bramley/Martin Scott 2-1 Mick Hulley/Richard Brown

Railwaymen were chasing the game by the time the doubles came around and Steve Brittle and Gavin Pilling couldn't get a rhythm going together as Russ Simons and Pat Meeson took the match 2-0 which secured the Panthers lead.

In the next pairs games Mick Hulley and Richard Brown took the lead against Pete Bramley and Martin Scott but unfortunately for them it didn't last as the latter got their act together and turned the game around to win to reduce the final score to 3-3 on the night.

801 League

Martin Scott/Gav Pilling/Pete Bramley 1-0 Mick Hulley/Russ Simons/Pat Meeson

To finish off the week we had the triples which saw Panthers side contain of Hulley, Simons and Meeson lose out to Scott, Pilling and Bramley which was consolation for the Railwaymen but no doubt these two sides will be at the top end come the end of the season. 

Report by

Pat Finney (Projectdarts Reporter/Media)