2001-02-01

As far as the West Midlands are concerned the year 2000 did not finish in the manner they would have wished and must certainly be hoping that 2001 will be a happier New Year.
The Millenium year was seen out in division two of the BDO Inter Counties Championship with an away trip against Buckinghamshire. With three games under their belts and still without a win to their name West Midlands were in need of a victory, not just for the points but also as a morale booster.
The ladies ‘ B’ got off to a bad start when Amanda Kuling, Angela Webb, Ann Wakefield and Jane Sobey all chalked up 3-0 straight wins over Claire Hobbs, Sue Smith, Val Arnold and Angela Barnett to give the hone side an unassailable 4-0 lead. Janet Cox took a leg off Fiona Carmichael, but went down 3-1 before West Midlands won their one and only game of the match. Anchor girl Janet Hubbard (14.05) won the match award with her 3-0 success against Dawn Goff putting the final score at 5-1 to Buckinghamshire leaving the West Midlands ladies ‘B’ still seeking their first win.
The men’s ‘B’ were looking to continue their impressive start to the season by adding to their three previous victories. However, they did not begin the match in the manner they would have wanted. The home’s side Anthony Davies opened his team’s account with a 3-1 victory over Bill Hadley, after he had lost the first leg. Frank Johnson squared the match when he beat Phil Barter 3-2, Johnson twice having to come from behind. From here on in the remainder of the first half turned sour. Fred Parsons after leading 1-0 against Paul Comb lost 3-1. Fred’s son Jamie was taken out in three legs as Tony Moore with his 3-0 win moved the scoreline along to 3-1 in favour of Buckinghamshire. Mark Day’s straight legs success over Ron Johnson made it 4-1 and at the halfway mark the hosts had taken a commanding 5-1 lead thanks to a further 3-2 win by Ian Wise against Roger Kinsella.
Veteran Joe Biggs reduced the arrears for the Midland side when in the opening game of the second half he beat Phil Simpson 3-0, checking out on 116 in the second leg. It was but a brief respite for the visitors as Raymond McKeating, in just three legs defeated Peter Hadley. Another straight victory went to Mick Wroe as he accounted for Martin Tibbetts. Wroe’s win putting the result beyond West Midlands reach as their opponents opened up a 7-2 advantage and at the same time inflicting on their counterparts their first defeat of the campaign.
West Midlands man of the match In Hartland (26.59) was on at number ten. Hartland wrapped up his 3-1 win over Les Charvill with a superb fourteen darts leg. Paul Minns moved the home team’s lead along to 8-3 when he beat Clive Francis 3-1 and in the final encounter Steve Brindley made the result a more respective 8-4 with a 3-2 win after trailing 2-0 to John Tarbox.
The ladies ‘A’ like their ‘B’ team had not produced a win so far, but they had managed to finish all square in the game with Suffolk. So a win would be most welcome. The match began with promise as Diane Tolley when her tussle with Jackie Hampshire 3-1. Unfortunately that promise was not fulfilled as West Midlands were made to wait as long as the last game before recording their, second and only other success. Gill Cook (2-3) lost to Kate Drake, Frances Allen (0-3) went down to Dawn May, Angie Perry (1-3) lost to Barbara Legge and Claire Downing was another player to lose 3-0 in her tie with Carol Trevarrow.
Seasoned campaigner Rose Mycock was the Midlanders other winner as she won 3-1 against Helen Webster, her 19.12 average earning her the lady of the match award.
The men’s ‘A’ were left an almost impossible task as they were required to win 11-1 just to earn an overall draw. Their first two games dismissed any thoughts in that direction. Steve Penwright began with a winning 19 darts leg, only to see his counterpart, Terry Adolpho (30.11) reply in 17-15 and 15 darts to win 3-1. Paul Farnes was also in fine form as he chalked up a 30.32 average against Avtar Singh to also win 3-2.
Tom Aldridge was taken to a deciding leg, after twice taking the lead, before securing his 3-2 win over Damien Fyffe. Then a 3-1 win from Dave Robbins against Mark Leather levelled the match at two each. Colin Davies forfeited a 1-0 lead over Nigel Beavan to go down 3-2 and give the home side the lead again. Their lead extended when Graham McFarlane beat the previous day’s man of the match, Ian Hartland 3-0 to open up a 4-2 lead at the midway point.
Dave Babb made it five for Buckinghamshire with a 3-2 victory over Jonathon Platt, but Ian Jones managed to reduce the deficit to 5-3 when he got the better of Darren Williamson with a 3-2 verdict. The gap was shortened even further to 5-4 after Adrian Arnold beat Lee Rose 3-1, leaving both teams with everything to play for.
Mick Carrick ensured at the worst a share of the spoils for Buckinghamshire, when he finished on the right side of a 3-0 result against Paul Johnson. Then Rob Allen followed up with a similar straight legs win over Nick Walters and the home team were suddenly in an unassailable 7-4 position.
The last tie went in West Mids favour, Mick James strolled to a comfortable 3-1 win, Peter Stockley on the receiving end. The final score 7-5 to Buckinghamshire.