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INDIVIDUAL DARTS LEAGUE

 

Latest reports from the 2005-2006 season in the
Boston Friday Night Individual Darts League are:  

 

 

Reports round-up for April 2006

 

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Round-up for week ending April 28, 2006

 

It’s all to play for as the season draws to a close with the top four positions and a large amount of cash still up for grabs in all three divisions of the Friday Night Darts League. 

 

Boston Standard Premier Division

 

In the Standard Premier Division, action was a little sparse due to several players being in action in the Butlin Cup finals.

 

The first game saw Ady Parker up against Dave Hasnip. With Ady looking to grab third place, a victory was vital. But Dave had other ideas and took the game from Ady, scoring a 180 and a 24.25 average (best of the night). All told, it scuppered Ady’s chance as Dave produced better finishing to grab a 4-2 win. 

 

Simon Trigg went into a 2-0 lead against Chris Royal before the latter got going in leg three to make it 2-1. But Simon found the doubles in the next two legs to run out a 4-1 winner. 

 

Trev Day was next to the oche up against Dave Hasnip who was looking for a quick double. And Hasnip was soon in command as Trev continued to suffer at the doubles — hence the reason why he is rooted to the bottom. Dave hit all his checkouts with precision as he gained a 4-1 win to complete his double. 

 

The final game saw Graham Sharp and Simon Trigg conclude the action. A tight battle went Graham’s way after a 100 checkout in a 17-dart leg just gave him the edge to record a 4-3 win with a 22.46 average.

Lincs Racing Division Two

 

With only a handful of games in this division, Paul Storr stole the glory this week as he faced Mick Vinters in game one. He hit a 180 and 22.00 average (best in the division) and this was just the tonic as it enabled him to take the match 3-1. He was a little unlucky in his next match against Redvers Dickinson. Although a 92 checkout drew him level at 2-2, he failed to sustain his form and 12 darts went astray in the final leg. This left Redvers to gleefully accept the gift of a 3-2 win. 

 

Scott Lea finished his season off against Dick Taylor but once again that winning line proved elusive as Dick held on to grab a narrow 3-2 win.

 

The final game saw Mick Parker start well enough against Rick Woods as a 60 checkout secured a 1-0 lead. But by the end of the match it was Mick who had been felled as Rick gained a 3-1 win to leave his opponent once again bemoaning his luck!

John Smith’s Division Three

 

This is the tightest division of them all with Chris Ray and Adie Blackham tied at the top after Adie gained a 3-0 win over Di Jenkins. It means that with one game to play it could yet result in a play-off if both challengers gain identical results next week.

 

The results from other games played on the night meant that any player in the top six could yet get into the prize money.

 

George Harness gained a 2-1 win over Emma Grant but he then found Emma’s hubby Matt a bit more difficult. With both players looking to finish their respective campaigns with a win, it was Matt who came away the happier with a 2-1 success to leave George clinging on to third spot, albeit powerless to do any more.

 

Rob Birtwhistle is also bang in there. Looking for a 3-0 win over Carla Slade to maintain his challenge, things looked okay at 2-0 up. But Carla hit back with a 107 checkout to avoid a whitewash and grab a vital point off Rob.

Richard Atwell hit a 180 as he out played Christine Holmes but doubles went astray giving Chris plenty of chances to grab some unlikely points. However, it was not to be and Richard went on to secure a 3-0 win.

 

The final game saw Keith Dack gain a 2-1 win over Don Holmes to conclude a bad night for the Holmes household.

 

Well done, Debra

 

Elsewhere, congratulations must go to Debra Royal. The former England international and snubbed county player had beaten all-comers in Lincolnshire to qualify for a contest at Hemsby in Norfolk at the weekend. And there she beat the best 64 ladies in the country to win the BDO National Singles competition. Well done to her.

 

Ladies league quest

 

Still on the subject of ladies’ darts, a further reminder that the search for additional females in on-going in a bid to establish a ladies-only league next season. Full details from Emma c/o Shodfriars.

 

Finals night date set

 

The Friday Night Darts League finals night and presentations will take place on Friday June 2 at Shodfriars.

 

Round-up for week ending April 21, 2006

 

Boston Standard Premier Division

 

This week’s action saw a century of 180s reached as six players produced seven maximums, taking the overall total to 101.

 

Martyn Palmer hit one as did Dave Hasnip when their match went the distance.  Martyn came away with a 4-3 win by hitting a 23.54 average to Dave’s 22.68 in defeat.

 

But it looks as if he will have to settle for second place behind Shane Parker who holds a single point lead with a game in hand after he gained a hard-fought 4-3 win over the “Cliff Thorburn of darts,” Kev Lenton. Kev seems to play seven legs most weeks but rarely reaches the winning post. He started every leg superbly by scoring 135, 174, 180, 140, 100, 85, 125 with his first three darts each time. But Shane held on to win with the division’s best average 23.90.

 

Mick Ray could finish in third spot. He hit his 12th maximum this season in a flattering 4-0 win over Chris Royal with the latter unlucky in the doubles department.

 

Ady Parker would like to finish third but legs difference could work against him — even if he wins his last three matches. He kept up the pressure on Mick with a win over Steve Davis. Ady produced a 16-dart leg to lead 2-0 but Steve hit back to draw level with an 18-dart leg. However, Steve’s in-and-out season came back to haunt him, allowing Ady to take the match 4-2.

 

Trev Day is not quite assured of the wooden spoon despite going down 4-2 to Simon Trigg. He still managed to close the gap on Bob Mountain as the latter went down 4-1 to Tony Hillyard. Tony averaged 21.30 — a long way off his best hence his mid-table position.

 

Lincs Racing Division Two

 

Richard Pearson is assured of the title after he picked up an impressive double on the night. He started with a 3-0 win over Mick Parker and followed that with a season’s best performance against high-flying Mick Flynn.  Richard rattled in legs of 22, 18 and 21 darts to storm to a 3-0 win with an average of 24-50.

 

Harry Lee slipped up yet again despite hitting two 180s (taking his total to nine thus far). The doubles were once again his downfall. This allowed Redvers Dickinson to get back in to the match and steal a 3-2 win with a 21.02 average to Harry’s 21.52 in defeat. This was spoiled by 15 darts failing to find the target for the second week running.

 

This seemed to boost Redvers and he retuned to face yet another top four opponent — this time Derek Johnson. Redvers hit a 21.78 average including a 180 as he raced to a 3-0 win to dent Derek’s top three aspirations. But this was only a temporary blip as Derek gained a 3-2 win over Kev Dickinson to stay in the hunt.

 

Missed doubles were to the fore in the next match as Pedro Silva and Rob Scrupps clashed. A 3-0 win to Pedro goes in the record books, but both players knew it should have been a lot closer.

 

Rick Woods has battled away at the wrong end of the table all season but he caused an upset when beating Mick Flynn 3-2. The result Rick off the bottom rung and leaves Mick hanging on to third after a poor evening’s action from his perspective.

 

John Smith’s Division Three

 

Adie Blackham is doing his best to throw away the title. The odds-on favourite lost again for the second week running. This time Rob Birtwhistle boosted his chances of a top four finish with a 2-1 win to throw the league wide open.

 

Things got worse for Adie when Dennis Turner also gained a 2-1 win over him, boosting his own chances and leaving six players fighting for four places.

 

The advantage is with Chris Ray. A 3-0 win over Di Jenkins means he sits on top with the points in the bag as the chasing pack clamber over each other in the chase to catch him.

 

Matt Grant hit this week’s best stats — a 79 checkout and 18.30 average helped towards a 3-0 win over Carla Slade.

 

George Harness was the only other 3-0 winner. He stays in the chasing pack after victory over Christine Holmes.

 

Elsewhere, Pete Johnson scraped home 2-1 against Keith Dack to stay clinging on to third. And there were wins also for Suzy Watson and Richard Atwell over Don Holmes and Emma Grant respectively — both by 2-1

scorelines.

 

All-ladies league idea reminder

 

The search is still on for any females interested in creating a ladies-only division when the next season of action gets under way in late summer (August or September). Anyone interested in getting involved can

contact Emma via the league HQ at Shodfriars.

 

Round-up for week ending April 14, 2006

 

Boston Standard Premier Division

 

This week’s action saw long time leader Shane Parker notch another 4-0 victory. It included a 180 maximum as he looks to end his playing career with yet another Friday night title. The win kept him in front of the chasing pack and left opponent Trev Day rooted to the bottom and no doubt pleased to see the back of Shane if the rumours are true about his intended retirement.

 

The division’s best match toed the oche next as a revitalised Graham Sharp clashed with Mick Ray. It was always going to be tight and so it proved. Mick needed two 180s in the first six legs to force the match to 3-3. Then it was Mick who just had the edge in the decider to take victory 4-3 with a 25.06 average (top in division) to Graham’s 24.00 in defeat .

 

Kev Lenton continues to spend an age at the oche as he often makes his games seven-leg marathons. Up against Deb Royal, this was no classic. And as both players tired, it was Deb who came away with a hard-fought 4-3 win.

 

Unfortunately for those following, it turned into a long night as Kev was soon back to play Simon Trigg in a rearranged fixture. Thankfully Simon came away with a 4-2 win to cut Kev short. But some 30 minutes had already been lost thanks to the Cliff Thorburn of darts!

 

Ten years ago the next game would have produced a classic with Martyn Palmer and Bob Mountain both at the top of their game. Sadly Bob is now in the twilight of many a year darting while “Mr Consistent” keeps going steadily. Martyn hit two 180s and had a 24.28 average as he eased to a 4-1 win to remain on course for yet another top three finish.

 

It was a night for 180s. The fifth of the evening came in the next match as Ady Parker rattled in a maximum when he beat Deb Royal 4-0. The result kept Ady in the money but left Deb fuming with her see-saw form.

 

It’s been a long while coming, but at last Chris Royal has got back to winning ways after he beat fellow struggler Steve Davis. Some clinical finishing with no more than three darts at a double gave Chris a much-needed 4-1 win.

 

The final game of the night saw Dave Hasnip beat Tony Hillyard 4-1 with a 22.96 average as both players struggled on doubles.

Lincs Racing Division Two

 

Richard Pearson took a huge step towards taking this title with victory over his nearest challenger. A 19.53 average gave him a 3-2 win over Harry Lee to leave the 76-year-old bemoaning his luck at the doubles. This handed the advantage to Richard in his first campaign as the top two slugged it out.

 

The top average came from Derek Johnson his stat of 21.70 and a 138 checkout repaired some of the earlier damage as he beat Mick Vinters 3-1. This followed a narrow 3-2 defeat to Richard Pearson after the latter averaged 20.55 to secure a win that completed a double to take him to within reach of the title. 

 

Scott Lea gained a narrow 3-2 win over Kev Dickinson. But Rob Scrupps brought Scott’s campaign to a losing close with a 3-0 scoreline. Mick Flynn may find himself struggling to hold on to third place after he crashed to a 3-0 loss to Mick Vinters. 

 

There was a hat-trick of five-leg matches to conclude the action. Dick Taylor beat Pedro Silva, Paul Storr beat Rick Woods and Mick Parker concluded the night against Redvers Dickinson.  The committee awarded a 3-0 victory to Scott Lea over Rick Woods. A points deduction will be applied to the latter.

 

John Smith’s Division Three

 

An unfortunate accident has meant the withdrawal of Angie Upsall when she sustained two broken arms. Everyone connected with the Friday League scene wishes her a speedy recovery and a quick return to action. All necessary points have been amended. 

 

Down to the action on the night and Chris Ray moved back to the top of the division after he secured a 2-1 win over Suzy Watson, although his position looks under threat from Ady Blackham who has games in hand. But Ady came unstuck against Keith Dack as the latter sprang a surprise 2-1 win and hit the division’s best average of 19.82 denting Ady’s hopes. 

 

Third versus fourth were next to the oche as Pete Johnson and Denis Turner. Denis took a 1-0 lead but Pete hit back with a 98 checkout before going on to take a 2-1 win to remain just ahead of Denis on leg difference only. 

 

The race is on for third and fourth positions with several players still in contention Rob Birtwhistle gained a 2-1 win over high flying George Harness this was enough to tie with George in fifth only two points out of a prize money position. 

 

Matty Grant’s penultimate game of the season before he takes on child minding duties saw him gain a 2-1 win over Richard Atwell. 

 

Although rooted to the bottom most of the season Christine Holmes keeps battling away. This resulted in her third victory to date at the expense of Suzy Watson by a 2-1 scoreline. 

 

There will be no wooden spoons for Emma Grant this season. In fact she may pick up some prize money after she came out on top against Carla Slade. A2-1win puts her in second spot for the ladies awards.  The final game saw Don Holmes secure a 2-1 win over Di Jenkins.

 

All-lady league entries sought

 

As the season draws to its close it is hoped that an all-lady league can be started next season. Anyone wishing to enter should contact Emma Grant. Her number is available from committee members at Shodfriars.

 

Finals night reminder

 

The finals night will take place on Friday June 2 with the new season looking to start August / September anyone wishing to partake should contact organisers at Shodfriars.

 

 

Round-up for week ending April 7, 2006

 

No matches were scheduled, thus avoiding a clash with the Old Leake Darts League finals night.