West of England v Shropshire
On a high after their opening 20-16 home win over Tyne and Wear, Shropshire’s next challenge in Division Four of the BDO Inter County Championships was an away game at the Patchway Sports and Social Club, Coniston Road, Patchway, Bristol, BS34 5J where they took on West of England.
Sue Lane gave the ladies ‘B’ the ideal start when she chalked up a 3-2 win over Jayne Fitzgerald after Fitzgerald had twice fought back to level terms after trailing 1-0 and 2-1.
The scoreline was levelled in the second when the home side’s Abbie Champ beat Julie Pugh 3-1 and with two further 3-0 wins from Mev Kelly and Yvonne Savery over respective opponents Rachael Mooney and Suzie Barnham, West of England were in an unbeatable 3-1 lead.
The hosts achieved their win in the fifth game when Emma Smythe after leading 2-0 and then being pegged back to 2-2 by Tammy Walmsley won the fifth leg for her 3-2 result.
With the game now won the final game between Sheridan Chapman (West of England) and Julie Griffiths was only a formality to see by how many the home side would win but obviously the main objective was for the pride of the two contestants. Sheridan Chapman won the first leg but that was to be the only leg she did win as Julie Griffiths went on to not only win the tie 3-1 but also for the second successive fixture take the lady of the match award, on this occasion for her average of 15.29. The final score 4-2 to the home team.
The men’s ‘B’ match like the ladies ‘B’ saw Shropshire win the opener and kicking off for the men was Martin Riggs who made short work of his opponent Mark Rose with a straight 3-0 victory, Brian Hickman (Shropshire) won the opening two legs against Phil O’Connell and although he had chances to win the fourth it was O’Connell who got the 3-2 result to square the game at one each.
The hosts took the lead for the first time in the third when Wayne Allen won 3-1 against Connor Pickett only to see the running score levelled again in the fourth when Sam Aitkens beat Liam Dawe 3-1. Aitkens won both of the first two legs in 18 darts and despite losing the third in the same 18 darts then won the fourth in 20 to earn him the match award for a fine 25.73 average.
Although Paul Harrison checked out on 125 in his third leg against Kieran Grimmitt he finished on the wrong side of the 3-1 result to see West of England forge ahead for second time, that lead extended to 4-2 by the halfway stage as Roger O’Connor added his 3-1 win over Mark Bayliss to their account after Bayliss had won the opening leg.
As at the beginning of the first half the opening game of the second once again went to the visitors as Robert Pierce after leading 2-0 against Martin Davies, then being pulled back to 2-2 won the decider for a close 3-2 victory.
At 4-3 down Shropshire were still well and truly in the game but that was all to change as Dan Raby began a string of three wins to put the result beyond Shropshire’s reach. Raby was pressured all the way for his 3-2 win by Richard Bowen but his team mate Martyn Lansdown had a more positive 3-0 result against Phil Mayo before Nick English added his 3-1 success over Will Roberts to put the hosts into a winning 7-3 lead.
John Simms stopped the rot for Shropshire but he was made to fight all the way for his 3-2 victory over Matt Draper as both players won every leg they had the first throw advantage in.
A final 3-1 win for Andy Vellender against Gary Grimmitt made the result a little more respectable and acceptable standing at 7-5 to West of England.
The West of England ladies ‘A’ were first off the mark as their Emma Bowles won 3-1 against Allsion Gallagher. Lucy Connor went 1-0 up against Jenna Ball but it was Shropshire Ball who got the 3-1 result to restore parity.
Lou Ballantyne looked all set for a quick victory when she went 2-0 up against Sophie Fawcett but Fawcett hung on in there to level at two each. The decider saw both ladies struggle to find the big scores but it was West of England’s Ballantyne who eventually won the leg and the game 3-2.
The fourth encounter saw the advantage swing one way then the other as Marie Riggs (Shropshire) won the first leg only to see her opponent Laura Phillips win the next two. The last two legs were tight but both went to Marie Riggs to give her a 3-2 victory and the lady of the match award for her 17.15 average.
With the score at two each and two to play both teams were still well in the hunt but a 3-0 win for West of England’s award winner Jayne Fitzgerald over Deana Sheldon gave the home side a 3-2 lead.
In the final encounter Laura Dalziel with 109 and 51 game shots went 2-0 up against Michele Pritchard, Pritchard then produced a tremendous fight back to level at two each but was unable to seal her win as Dalziel won the leg and her game 3-2 giving her team a 4-2 victory.
The first half of the men’s ‘A’ match was not a good one for Shropshire as after Matt Jackson had given West of England a 1-0 lead when he beat Mike Hampson 4-0, Chris Hartey made it 2-0 when he won 4-3 against Chris Fox after Fox had drawn level at 1-1 and 3-3.
John Speed was Shropshire’s first winner when in the third game he handed his opponent Robbie Long a 4-1 defeat. The comeback for the visitors was short-lived as Bill Bird beat Jamie Barrowman 4-1, Mike Norton won 4-2 against Nik Bloor and Darren Davies took the score at the midway point to 5-1 with a similar 4-2 win over Eddie Austin.
The second began with Andy Jervis reducing the arrears for Shropshire as he accounted Dom Taylor with a 4-2 result, however at the worst a share of the spoils was guaranteed for the home team as in the eighth game Steve Brown beat Paul Bromley 4-0 to give them a 6-2 lead.
Richard Parker (Shropshire) had a fine game against Gary Harding, Parker winning 4-2 including a 102 finish in the second leg.
West of England’s match winner came in the tenth in the form of John Brown who with a 4-1 win against Reece Colley took the score to 7-3, beyond Shropshire’s reach.
With two games to play Shropshire then had their best run of the match as man of the match Dan Astbury beat Darren Purnell 4-3 and anchor man Martin Riggs won 4-0 against Jon Rogers. Dan Astbury went 2-0 up in 21 and 18 darts against Purnell and although Purnell levelled in 15 and 16 Astbury took the lead again in the fifth in 15 darts. In the same 15 darts Purnell then forced a deciding leg which Astbury won in 20 darts with his opponent left nursing 70. Dan Astbury’s 28.50 average secured him the match award making it two awards in two games.
Martin Price rounded off his straight 4-0 victory over Jon Rogers with a tremendous 150 game shot and with winning legs of 18,23,21 and 15 darts had a very creditable 26.03 average.
The final score for the men’s ‘A’ match was 7-5 to West of England who also got the overall result of 22-14.
Full Results:Division Four:West of England v Shropshire (22-14):West of England names first:Men’s ‘A’:- Matt Jackson 4 Mike Hampson 0, Chris Hartey 4 Chris Fox 3, Robbie Long 1 John Speed 4, Bill Bird 4 Jamie Barrowman 1, Mike Norton 4 Nik Bloor 2, Darren Davies 4 Eddie Austin 2, Dom Taylor 2 Andy Jervis 4, Steve brown 4 Paul Bromley 0, Gary Harding 2 Richard Parker 4, John Brown 4 Reece Colley 1, Darren Purnell 3 Dan Astbury 4, Jon Rogers 0 Martin Price 4, Men’s ‘B’:- Mark Rose 0 Martin Riggs 3, Phil O’Connell 3 Brian Hickman 2, Wayne Allen 3 Connor Pickett 1, Liam Dawe 1 Sam Aitkens 3, Kieran Grimmitt 3 Paul Harrison 1, Roger O’Connor 3 Mark Bayliss 1, Martin Davies 2 Robert Pierce 3, Dan Raby 3 Richard Bowen 2, Martyn Lansdown 3 Phil Mayo 0, Nick English 3 Will Roberts 1, Matt Draper 2 John Simms 3, Gary Grimmitt 1 Andy Vellender 3, Women’s ‘A’:- Emma Bowles 3 Allison Gallagher 1, Lucy Connor 1 Jenna Ball 3, Lou Ballantyne 3 Sophie Fawcett 2, Laura Phillips 2 Marie Riggs 3, Jayne Fitzgerald 3 Deana Sheldon 0, Laura Dalziel 3 Michele Pritchard 2, Women’s ‘B’:- Jayne Fitzgerald 2 Sue Lane 3, Abbie Champ 3 Julie Pugh 1, Mev Kelly 3 Rachael Mooney 0, Yvonne Savery 3 Suzie Barnham 0, Emma Smythe 3 Tammy Walmsley 2, Sheridan Chapman 1 Julie Griffiths 3.
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Shropshire v Gloucestershire
Having played two, won one and lost one in Division Four of the BDO Inter County Championships, Shropshire’s third fixture was a home tie against Gloucestershire.
Rachael Mooney was first on for the ladies ‘B’ and produced a 3-1 win over Lindsay Hawkins. The home team looked as though they would go two up when Deana Sheldon opened a 2-0 lead over Sharon Brewer but it was a case of missed doubles that cost Deana the win as her opponent won the tie 3-2.
Cath Brennan (Gloucestershire) twice took the lead against Sue Lane but a spirited performance from Lane saw her go on to win 3-2, restore Shropshire’s lead and take the match award for her 13.68 average.
Tammy Walmlsley cancelled out leads of 1-0 and 2-1 for the away side’s Debbie McGauley but was unable to seal a win in the deciding leg which went to McGauley.
Gloucestershire took the lead for the first time in the penultimate encounter when Carol Smith beat Sophie Fawcett 3-0 and although Caroline Powell fought all the way against Lin Smith it was the visitors Smith who got the 3-2 result. Powell after going one down levelled with a 109 game shot, she then took a 2- 1lead before Smith came back with wins in the last two legs giving Gloucestershire the 4-2 win.
The men’s ‘B’ team had an absolutely fabulous start as they stormed into an unassailable 8-0 lead. Man of the match Sam Aitkens began the rout when he opened up with a 3-2 win over Dean Terry after Terry had gone 2-0 up in 19 and 15 darts. Aitkens won the third in 18 darts and with wins in the last two legs earned himself the man of the match award for the second consecutive fixture with a 23.61 average. Connor Jeffs trailed twice to Ian Higgs but his 3-2 win doubled Shropshire’s lead at 2-0. Brian Hickman had a similar game as Jeffs as he also went behind 1-0 and 2-1 before he won 3-2 against James Atkins.
Andy Vellender and Richard Bowen in turn won 3-1 against Jamie Evans and Mark Turley to take the hosts lead to 5-0 which by the break was extended to 6-0 as Paul Harrison beat John Raynsford 3-2, Raynsford winning the second and fourth legs.
The second half began like the first with Shropshire once again leading the way as Paul Bromley accounted for Wes Cole with a 3-1 result to take the score to an unbeatable 7-0. Making it 8-0 with a straight 4-0 win over Darren Mitchell was John Simms before Gloucestershire recorded their first winner in the form of Elliot Seddon who won 3-1 against Phil Mayo.
Will Roberts made it 9-1 for the home team when he won 3-1 against Rob Long and although Robert Pierce went one up against Marcus Castle it was Castle who chalked up the away team’s second win as he won the next three legs.
The final score was taken to 10-2 when in the last game of the day Mike Hampson, with a 3-0 margin defeated Sam Brough.
Gloucestershire won the opener in the ladies ‘A’ match, Vicky Fairbrother in 15 darts second leg which included a 132 game shot beat Sue Lane 3-0. Wendy Booth attempted to double the away side’s lead as she went 1-0 and 2-1 up against Julie Griffiths but it was Julie Griffiths who got the 3-2 result to level the game.
Elaine Powell with her team’s second 3-0 result gave Gloucestershire the lead for a second time when she won against Jenna Ball. Michele Pritchard (Shropshire) but for finishing doubles could have won against Jenni Bridgens as she opened leads of 1-0 and 2-1 but it was Bridgens who won the fourth and fifth legs to give her team a 3-1 advantage.
Marie Riggs kept the home side in the game when in the penultimate encounter against Kirsty Dixon she won 3-0 and with a final 3-2 success for Stephanie Clarke over Karen Brown the result was a 3-3 draw. Stephanie Clarke won the first two legs against Karen Brown and although Brown won the next two a win in the fifth gave Stephanie not only the 3-2 result but also the lady of the match award for her average of 18.36.
Shropshire’s men’s ‘A’, like their ‘B’ had a bright start as Chris Fox after trailing 1-0 and 2-1 to Mark Wellington went on to win 4-2, then with straight 4-0 wins for Jamie Barrowman and John Speed over respective opponents Mark Johncock and Kevin Devries the hosts were 3-0 up.
Ian Beasley was Gloucestershire’s first winner in the fourth when from 1-0 down to Eddie Austin went on to win 4-1. However the visitors then fell further behind as Martin Riggs won 4-2 against Ben Green and rounding off the half was Martin Price who added a third straight win for Shropshire when he defeated Dean Thomas 4-0 in 18,17,22 and 16 darts to give him an award winning average of 27.45.
Andy Jervis began well against Paul Lane as he went one up with a 130 outshot and then doubled his lead with a win in the second. From 2-0 up Jervis then found himself 3-2 down and although he levelled in the sixth it was Lane who won the seventh for a very close 4-3 win. Nik Bloor (Shropshire) came up against an in-form Joe Griffiths who not only beat him 4-2 but took the away side’s match award for his 27.24 average to reduce Shropshire’s lead to 5-3.
A draw was assured in the ninth when Dan Astbury, winner of the team’s previous two games match awards came from 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 down to beat Kieran Smith 4-3 before Gloucestershire won their second two games in a row as Andy Reid beat Chris Williams 4-2 and Keith Lawrence won 4-1 against Andi Chatter to take the score to 6-5 to Shropshire.
Anchor man for Shropshire was Richard Parker who was first to settle and win the opener in 19 darts against Shaun Hughes. Hughes squared the game in 22 darts only to see Parker forge ahead in 15 with a 119 game shot and then in 19 and 21 darts wrap up a 4-1 win and give his team a 7-5 victory.
The overall result for the weekend was a terrific 22-14 in favour of Shropshire and with two wins in their opening three games the best start to their season in the six I have been writing for them. Let’s have more of the same please!!
Full Results:Division Four:Shropshire v Gloucestershire (22-14):Shropshire names first):Men’s ‘A’:- Chris Fox 4 Mark Wellington 2, Jamie Barrowman 4 Mark Johncock 0, John Speed 4 Kevin Devries 0, Eddie Austin 1 Ian Beasley 4, Martin Riggs 4 Ben Green 2, Martin Price 4 Dean Thomas 0, Andy Jervis 3 Paul Lane 4, Nik Bloor 2 Joe Griffiths 4, Dan Astbury 4 Kieran Smith 3, Chris Williams 2 Andy Reid 4, Andi Chatter 1 Keith Lawrence 4, Richard Parker 4 Shaun Hughes 1, Men’s ‘B’:- Sam Aitkens 3 Dean Terry 2, Connor Jeffs 3 Ian Higgs 2, Brian Hickman 3 James Atkins 2, Andy Vellender 3 Jamie Evans 1, Richard Bowen 3 Mark Turley 1, Paul Harrison 3 John Raynsford 2, Paul Bromley 3 Wes Cole 1, John Simms 3 Darren Mitchell 0, Phil Mayo 1 Elliot Seddon 3, Will Roberts 3 Rob Long 1, Robert Pierce 1 Marcus Castle 3, Mike Hampson 3 Sam Brough 0, Women’s ‘A’:- Sue Lane 0 Vicky Fairborther 3, Julie Griffiths 3 Wendy Booth 2, Jenna Ball 0 Elaine Powell 3, Michele Pritchard 2 Jenni Bridgens 3, Marie Riggs 3 Kirsty Dixon 0, Stephanie Clarke 3 Karen Brown 2, Women’s ‘B’:- Rachael Mooney 3 Lindsay Hawkins 1, Deana Sheldon 2 Sharon Brewer 3, Sue Lane 3 Cath Brennan 2, Tammy Walmsley 2 Debbie McGauley 3, Sophie Fawcett 0 Carol Smith 3, Caroline Powell 2 Lin Smith 3.
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