Young Guns shooting for the top

Young Guns 6

Higgins 2

YOUNG Guns have kept themselves in the running for honours with this victory over Higgins.

They made two chances from last week’s defeat while Higgins brought back Billy Bell. It’s nice to see the Savage brothers claiming wins on the same night - the last time this happened was on January 8 against Red Star B.

Top thrower for the Guns, David Wilton - who has been only beaten twice this season - was drawn against Midge Hylands who has also been in good form with seven wins in a row.

Midge had the advantage of throwing first but a loss of form saw him fall behind and David (100, 97), under no pressure, took the lead but had to depend on double one. It was similar for Midge in leg two, giving David (100) an easy win when a tougher game was expected.

Richard McKee and Mark Foulks were next at the oche. Richard has been having a lean spell with only two wins from his last six and Mark has a similar record but steady darts from Richard (100, 140) and a 62 finish on 21 darts left Mark a long way behind.

In leg two Richard (100, 140) kept his form to go on and score the win.

Guns captain Gareth Moody missed double 16 and Damien Savage with tops took the lead. A quick 60 finish by Damien made it the win and opened Higgins score and also stopped a run of nine defeats.

Aaron Watson (120) was throwing his second game of the season and was trailing to Billy Bell after the first leg but a 113 finish pulled him (100) level.

The deciding leg was close - Billy (100) missed 28 only to see Aaron finish on double six to give the Guns a 3-1 half time lead.

Michael Kennedy was hoping to get back to winning ways after a run of five defeats against Eamon Savage who hasn’t had a great season either. Eamon (140) took the lead, leaving Michael (140) a long way off the double but a quick 68 finish by Michael (121) levelled the legs with Eamon (140) needing 48.

The deciding leg saw both throwers struggle on their doubles but Eamon got there first for his season’s third win.

The last singles game paired Kenneth Halliday and Gary Gracey. Kenneth (96, 100) took the lead but found himself trailing on 155 when Gary (125, 125, 100) levelled the legs after good scores but the scoring dried up in leg three and Kenneth gave the Guns a 4-2 lead.

PAIRS – David Wilton (100, 100) and Kenneth Halliday (100, 100) made it full points for their team, beating the Savage brothers Eamon (140) and Damien after trailing in the first leg and Gareth Moody and Richard McKee made it 6-2, beating Mark Foulks and Gary Gracey (125) 2-0.

Halfway Aces 5

Red Star A 1

This game was thrown on Wednesday night to accommodate host team Halfway who had other engagements on the Thursday.

I can’t understand why the Star captain didn’t choose to rearrange the game to a night when he had a full team rather than go to the league leaders with three throwers.

Match details – Nipper Boyce (10098/100) beat Ian Redmond (125/133) 2-0; Brian Reid (135) lost 2-0 to Alan McKnight (100, 100/123, 99) and Roy Livingston (140, 121) beat Maurice Orr (119/100) 2-0.

THROWN LAST WEEK

Kevin’s 6

Park Inn 2

KEVIN’S, with home advantage against third place Park Inn, got back to winning ways after last week’s set back.

But the visitors were forced to make two changes from last week - Gareth Chambers and Davy Wallace were unavailable.

In the first game home thrower John Broome (100) was no match for Nigel Kerr (100) and a double eight left John with over 100 still on the board. It was similar in leg two, John was on 102 when Nigel (123, 142) chalked up his 11th win after two recent defeats.

Paul Dillon (99, 100) and Lindsay McFadden (95, 101) were having no luck at the doubles in the next game. Paul took the lead but Lindsay (98) had the legs level with double top when Paul (100, 100) missed double 10.

The deciding leg saw Paul (99, 100) take the lead and a quick tops left Lindsay (99) needing 83 to level the teams.

Simon McIvor (100, 140, 180) checked out on 13 darts in leg one and a 19 darter made it 2-0 against Fiona McQuiggen.

At the halfway stage the teams were level; Noel Gates (125, 100) scoring his second 180 of the season to leave Andy McComb (100) on 192 after 17 darts but Andy (156, 125) threw better in leg two and had chances to level before Noel (121, 100) made it 2-0.

After the break Nigel Peden (100, 98, 97) regained the home team’s lead. Twenty-one darts left Andrew Douglas (125, 100) on 93 and after a shaky finish Nigel (140) made it 2-0.

In the last singles game it was Steven Banks against Clare Thornbury. It took the three legs to decide a winner.

Steve came from behind to lead Clare (133) with a 56 finish when she missed double 16 but the Park thrower was back on level terms another 133 and double 10 made it 1-1.

But Steve (125, 100) held his consistency and a 81 finish left Clare (95) needing 130.

PAIRS – Nigel Peden (137/135) and John Broome (100/100) beat Noel Kerr (99) and Nigel Gates (100, 100/100, 97) 2-1 for full points while Simon McIvor (100, 140/100/180) and Paul Dillon (100) beat Andrew Douglas (100) and Lindsay McFadden (140/100/100) 2-1.

Halfway House 6

Young Guns 2

Halfway House keep the pressure on the front runners with this home victory over Young Guns. The points were secured before going into the pairs.

Guns took the lead through top marksman David Wilton who inflicted the fifth defeat on opponent Alan Cochrane.

David (140) took the lead with double 14 with Alan trailing on 80 but a good 16 darter comeback had Alan (123, 140) level with David (100) needing 132.

It was down to the deciding leg and it would have taken a good man to bet on a winner. Alan (125) was on the double first but struggling on six David (100, 100) took his opportunity with a double 10 for the win.

Derek Reid (100), after trailing, took the lead over Kenneth Halliday (100, 131) who couldn’t finish but the latter didn’t get any chances in leg two and was on 145 when Derek (140,125) levelled the teams.

Raymond Williamson (99) finished on tops against Richard McKee and good darts in leg two gave Raymond (140, 100, 100, 100) the win and Halfway the lead.

Jim Brown (100) finished on double five to lead John McKee and in a close second leg, where John (140) should have levelled; Jim scored his second 180 in as many weeks to give Halfway a 3-1 half time lead.

The second half started with Tom Alderdice and Mark Gracey at the butts and with both on double 16 Tom (97) took the lead. But it was all Tom (100, 100) in the second leg and a 21 darter left Mark (97) trailing on 171.

Last singles also went to the home team Tony McKinstry after losing the first leg levelled with double eight against Michael Kennedy (125/97) who should have had the game wrapped up but got stuck on double one.

Tony (100, 100, 125) was now in control and a quick tops left Michael needing 151.

PAIRS – Alan Cochrane (100) and Raymond Williamson (180, 100/100) beat Gareth Moody (137) and Richard McKee (100, 100/100, 96, 100). Tom Alderdice and Willie Herdman (100, 100, 100/100) beat Arran Watson (100, 100) and David Wilton (100, 139/100) 2-1.

Top of the Town 4

Red Star B 4

This was a good comeback for Top of the Town who found themselves trailing 4-1 with three games to go and win a share of the points.

Billy Leckey (132), after being left on six in leg one, fought back to go on and win the game against Margaret Barry (95).

David Weir (100) finished on double one to lead Jacqui Wilson but a good 79 finish levelled the legs for Jacqui. It was close in the third leg - with both on the double David missed 32 and Jacqui (100) scored the win with double 10.

Andrew Byrne was left on 10 and 16 when Linda McDowell (95, 96) got the luck of the doubles, finishing both legs on double one.

After four games it was 3-1 to the visitors. Colin Crothers (100, 100), throwing good darts, finished on 103 against Town’s Christopher Dillon on 21 darts and a 56 finish made it 2-0.

David Hannah (115/100) was having double trouble and it cost him the game when throwing against Kevin Conlon (132). But Steven Weir (115/100) kept his team in the game with a 2-0 win over Star’s Gareth Crothers.

PAIRS – Christopher Dillon (100) and Steven Weir beat Jacqui Wilson and Linda McDowell and in the last game David Weir and Billy Leckey earned their team a deserved point, beating Colin Crothers and Kevin Conlon 2-1.

Red Star A 5

Castle Bar 3

Red Star A scored a good victory at home to Castle Bar and are still fighting for third spot in the league.

Alan McKnight and Greg Harper were at the oche first and both throwers have been in top form. Alan was starting this game with eight straight wins in a row while Greg has a run of seven so a top match was in store.

Greg (100, 140) threw first and took the lead with a 71 finish on 18 darts but Alan (100, 100, 99) who was trailing had a never say die attitude and hit back with a 116 finish and another 18 darter to level the leg.

The atmosphere was now tense for this deciding leg and as expected it was close. Greg (100, 99, 100) was on 20 when Alan (100, 99) checked out on 32 for the win.

Ian Redmond (95, 95/95) found himself in a doubles battle with Lee King (100/100) in game two and it was double one that won both legs for Ian with Lee needing 14 and seven.

Candy Toman and Vince Conlon were at the butts and it was Park thrower Vince (100, 99) who took the lead with Candy not on the double. Vince (140, 95) should have made it 2-0 before double one levelled things for Candy.

Leg three was also close but Candy (125) came out on top when Vince missed double eight.

Maurice Orr gave the Star a 4-0 half time lead with a win over Paul Ritchie. Maurice (120) left Paul (100) on 60 but leg two saw Paul fail take his chance after steady darts and Maurice (137) finished on 10.

After the break Cliff Ritchie (95, 100) had an easy win over Skippy or a sub to open Castle’s score and in the last singles Shane Haffy (95) kept Castle in the game when he beat Martin Conlon (98) 2-0.

PAIRS – With two games left the visitors needed both to share the spoils and they got a good start when Greg Harper and Cliff Ritchie beat Alan McKnight and Candy Toman 2-0.

But the Star made sure of the points when Ian Redmond and Maurice Orr beat Lee King and Paul Ritchie 2-1.

Higgins 4

McGrath’s 4

This was a match that meant very little to both teams as far as the league goes but pride was still at stake and at the end a draw was a fair result.

Gary Gracey (100) has been consistent this season and gave the Star the lead with a 2-0 win over Marty McQuaid (100, 120).

Damien Savage (140) just can’t get it together this season and fell to yet another defeat this week. Cliff Taylor (134) was the marksman with a 2-0 win.

Back came Higgins to regain their lead. Mark Foulks (137/100/100), after going down in leg one, fought back to beat Tom Black 2-1.

But at the half way mark the teams were tied 2-2. McGrath’s Ivan Waddell (97, 100) beat Michael Grimes 2-0.

Game five and Higgins were once again in the lead. Midge Hylannds (95, 100/97, 100) in his usual good scoring form beat Ronnie Malcomson (100/98) 2-0.

It looked like the home team were on there way to victory when they took a 4-2 lead, Eamon Savage (100) finishing the last singles by beating Chris Malcomson (140) 2-0.

PAIRS – These were the last two games and McGrath’s needed both to share the points. Visitor Cliff Taylor (125/121) and John Mooney beat Mark Foulks and Eamon Savage 2-0 while Ivan Waddell (100) and Marty McQuaid secured the point by beating Midge and Gary Gracey 2-0.

Fixtures for Thursday March 4 - Halfway House or McGrath’s v Young Guns or Castle Bar; Park Inn or Halfway Aces v Top of the Town; Red Star A v Higgins; Kevin’s v Red Star B.