Park get revenge over the Halfway Aces

Halfway Aces 4

PARK Inn, with home advantage, gained their revenge over the Aces but they had to fight after going 3-0 down.

This is the second time the Park has knocked the Aces from cup competitions, this time going all the way to the final of the Malcolm Graham Cup.

First to the oche was Davy Wallace and Nipper Boyce and it was Nipper (140) with a good lead and after double trouble the dog house finish left Davy needing 170. In leg two Nipper (100, 100) went on to make it the win with double four.

Clare Thornbury (133) was on the double first against Dylan Woolsey (100) in game two but got stuck with 13 to do. Dylan took his chance with double 18 and a quick finish on 51 made it 2-0.

Park’s Fiona McQuiggan should have opened her teams account when throwing visiting captain Neville Reid but the doubles let her down. Fiona (98, 100) was left on six when Neville took the lead on double five and again Fiona (100) had chances to level the legs when on eight before Neville (115) gave his team a 3-0 lead.

The last game of the half paired Nigel Kerr and Brian Reid. Nigel (100, 100) took the lead with double eight and Brian (100) on tops but the visiting thrower was well behind, looking 184 when Nigel (100, 100) finished on 20 darts to open the Park’s score.

Game five and Lindsay McFadden (100, 100) was in form. A 52 finish saw opponent Ronnie Herdman trail a long way behind but Ronnie (100) got himself back into the game. However he couldn’t continue his form and was left on 120 when Lindsay (126) made it two wins for his team.

Last singles and the teams were level at 3-3 with steady darts from Noel Gates (140, 100) who was proving too strong for Brian Graham, leaving the latter on 97 when he took the lead on 20 darts.

Brian was further back on 256 when Noel (140) finished on 100 for a 18 darter and a 2-1 win.

PAIRS - Clare Thornbury (95, 95) and Nigel Kerr (140, 100/140) took the lead when Clare finished on 21 and leg two on 52 to leave Nipper Boyce (100/140) and Neville Reid needing 123 and 32 to give their team the lead for the first time in the game.

Noel Gates (125/140) and Fiona McQuillan made it the win for the Park when they came from one down to beat Ronnie Herdman (100) and Dylan Woolsey (100)

The last pairs game went to the Aces; Brian Graham (121) and Brian Reid (100) beating Parks Robert Thornbury and Lindsay McFadden (180, 100/125) 2-1.

Halfway House 9

McGrath’s 0

This is a match that McGrath’s will want to forget for out of the nine cup games they could only manage one leg win in the singles.

Game one was a 2-0 win for Tony McKinstry (100/100) when he left Freddie Steele needing 93 and in the 100s and Raymond Williamson (100/100, 100) was in great form when he checked out on a 20 and 19 darts to give Ronnie Malcomson no chance and a long way of the double in both legs.

Jim Brown scored his third maximum of the season but unfortunately it doesn’t count in the 180 club as it is a cup match. Jim (156) was throwing against Tom Black and finished the first leg on 20 darts with Tom (100) nowhere near the finish. It was similar for Tom (97) in the next leg when Jim (180) checked out on 19 darts.

Game four saw Alan Cochrane (100) show his form and a 36 finish on 18 darts proved too strong for John Mooney. A 66 finish in the next leg made it 2-0 for Alan (100, 100).

The points were in the bag after this game and this was the match that give McGrath’s their one and only legs win. Tom Alderdice was throwing against Chris Malcomson and with both on the double Chris took the lead and had chances to win but Tom (119) levelled with double 8.

Tom made the double first in the deciding leg and his quick finish on tops left Chris needing 74.

Captain Derek Reid (125) made it 6-0 with a first leg 21 darter against Marty McQuaid (100, 100) who was on 103. In the second leg Derek (140, 100) finished on 64 but Marty should have leveled when on 40.

PAIRS - Alan Cochrane (95/98) and Tom Alderdice beat Marty McQuaid (100) and Tom Black 2-0.

Derek Reid (100/140/100) and Tony McKinstry (98) beat John Mooney (140) and Ronnie Malcomson (100, 100) 2-1 and the last pairs was also won by Halfway; Willie Herdman and Jim Brown (100) beat Freddie Steele and Chris Malcomson 2-0.

First Round

Kevin’s 7

Red Star B 1

Kevin’s entertained neighbours Red Star B and an easy win saw them through to the next round before a pairs game was thrown.

First out of the hat were John Broome and Linda McDowell. After four defeats in a row John (140) got a good start, finishing on 50 to take the lead. John (100) got back to winning ways, leaving Linda (95) needing 90.

Paul Dillon (95, 96, 100) was in fine form against Colin Crothers and a 16 darter left Colin (100, 100) back on 99.

But Colin (100, 100) was given the chance to level on 12 before Paul (100) made it the win.

Neville Reid (121) gave his team a 3-0 lead but it was a tough game against Jacqui Wilson. Jacqui (100, 100) hit the treble 18 and unfortunately when going for the single hit another treble, letting Neville in for a 57 finish.

Leg two was close. Jacqui (123) had darts this time and left 41 only to see another quick finish from Neville (96, 132), checking out on 68.

Steven Banks and Kevin Conlon (97) were both struggling on their doubles in game four and eventually ended on double one with Steven getting there first. A better leg saw Steven (140, 100) take the lead and a 32 finish left the half time score 4-0 with the Stars thrower needing 191.

After the break it was Andy McComb and Gareth Crothers at the oche. A 61 finish gave Gareth (100, 100) the lead with Andy a long way from the double.

Things changed in leg two and Andy (100) leveled when Gareth missed tops. Andy went on to secure a next round draw for Kevin’s when he made the score 5-0.

The last singles of the night also went to Kevin’s Nigel Peden, beating Margaret Barry.

Nigel (140) knew he was in a game when he only scraped through 2-1 after winning leg one. He (100, 100) was left on 57 when Margaret (129) hit double two and Margaret (100) could have went on to make it the win when on 32 before a relieved Nigel (100) hit a winning 25 finish.

PAIRS - Steven Banks (140) and Neville Reid (125) beat Antoinette Barry and Colin Crothers (140, 140) 2-0. The blushes were saved by Stars’ Gareth Crothers (100) and Jacqui Wilson who beat the home throwers 2-1.

Halfway House 7

Young Guns 1

Young Guns were expected to give host team Halfway House a close game in this cup match with the chance of a win.

But it was a bad night at the office for the visitors and captain Gareth Moody will have to try and get the confidence back into the team.

Halfways captain Derek Reid (100, 140, 95, 22d) got his team of to a good start when a tops left John McKee needing 109. John (100) had a slight lead in leg two and left 57 only to see Derek (140) finish on 93 with 21 darts.

Alan Cochrane (140), after lasts week’s slip, had a 81 finish to lead Richard McKee (100) who was on 90 but Richard (100,137) should have leveled when on 20 before Alan (136, 95) made it the win with double four.

Game three paired Tony McKinstry and Guns’ leading thrower David Wilton who has 13 wins from 15 games.

Tony (100,140) took the lead and should have secured the win after consistent scores of 81, 81, 81 and 85 but a slow finish spoiled a good game before leveling with double five, David (100) still on 20.

In leg three Tony (100) left eight when David (100) made it the win.

Jim Brown and Michael Kennedy had a close tussle in game four and Guns’ Michael (122, 119, 100) was hitting top scores but his doubles let him down and this give Jim (121) time to come down and take the lead with a 53 finish.

Again it was double trouble for Michael when on 25 and Jim (140, 99) made it a 2-0 win to leave the score.

Game five and Tom Alderdice (100, 97) was in form and a 20 finish left Kenneth Halliday (100) back on 98. It was a doubles battle for both throwers in leg two, Kenneth (100) missing double four with Tom (100) winning the game with a similar double.

Halfway had booked their place in the next round as Raymond Williamson (140, 100) left Andy Watson (100) with 158 on the board. A great 116 finish from Raymond (100,140) on 15 darts gave Andy no chance.

PAIRS - Derek Reid (100) and Tony McKinstry (134/95) beat Gareth Moody (98) and Richard McKee (140/100) 2-1. Tom Alderdice (100) and Alan Cochrane (136/140) beat Andy Watson and David Wilton (128/125/100) and the last pairs also went to Halfway, Jim Brown (100) and Willie Herdman beating Michael Kennedy (100,100) and John McKee 2-0.

Red Star A 5

Higgins 1

It’s great to see the Star A with a full team - they were too strong for sister team Higgins, making the next round with only having to throw the singles games.

Marty Conlon recorded his third win of the season when throwing against Mark Foulkes. A 63 finish put him one up when Mark (133, 95), who had a good lead, was left on eight but a better finish in leg two had Mark back on level terms when Martin (95) missed a 20 finish.

The deciding leg was another close game - Mark (95) was on 10 when Martin opened the Stars account.

Alan McKnight (140) has been having a good season and was in form when a double 18 left opponent Eamonn Savage (100) on 136. In leg two the latter was so far behind it wasn’t recorded and Alan (140, 98) finished on tops.

Candy Toman (100) had double trouble in the first leg against Damien Savage but still left Damien on 80. In leg two Damien’s score was too far behind to publish and Candy (140) finished on 17 darts.

Maurice Orr (99) is starting to show his old Seapatrick form and a double four left Gary Gracey (100) on 56.

Gary (100, 140) leveled the legs one all but his finishing let him down in the deciding leg and Maurice give his team a 4-0 lead with double 20.

Richard McMullan was throwing against Higgins’ top marksman Midge Hylands and was on 32 when Midge took the lead. However he was back on 97 when Midge (100, 100) scored Higgins’ opening game.

The last singles game saw Ian Redmond and Billy Bell at the butts. Ian was having double trouble but still took the lead over Billy (98) and again the doubles were proving difficult for Ian but a double four put his team into the draw.

Fixtures for Thursday March 11 - Young Guns v Park Inn, McGrath’s v Red Star A, Castle Bar v Kevin’s, Top of the Town v Halfway House, Halfway Aces v Red Star B. Higgins – bye.

FOOTNOTE - All captains should have the individuals and pairs entries so please return as soon as possible.