Salopian Super League – Week 2
The Second week of the UKDA Salopian Super League saw just three teams take their undefeated run to two games Dawley Social Club, Market Drayton’s Salopian Star and Shrewsbury’s Charles Darwin.
Dawley Social Club proved too strong for a resolute Bulls Head (Whitchurch) side recording an emphatic 6-0 home victory. It could, however have been a different story with Bulls Head’s Nigel Neale (22.89), Rob Paine (21.80 including a 180) and Tony Lloyd (23.97 with a score of 171) all pushing the hosts and taking legs. In response Dan Astbury (25.44) fired three maximums as well as recording a 14 darts leg, whilst team mate Dave Phillips (20.01) edged out Rob Paine in a last leg thriller before Danny James (23.40) put the Dawley side on the brink. Mark Jones (24.14 and a 180) and Sam Hamilton (22.77) took the remaining two games without conceding a leg to seal the perfect win for the Telford outfit that have dropped just one game in their opening two matches.
Market Drayton’s Salop star also recorded a perfect 6-0 win, away at Monkmoor (Shrewsbury), recording an impressive 22.34 per dart team average and dropping just four legs in the process. Joe Higgins (25.3, 180) led the way followed by Derek Coulson (23.99), Richard Wotton Jones (24.14) and Rob Henderson (21.52). Tim Eley (17.99) and Pete Eley (21.07) both notched 180’s to complete back to back wins. David Darlington (18.83) hit a maximum for Monkmoor who suffered their first defeat of the season.
Charles Darwin’s fine stat to the season continued with an impressive 5-1 victory away at the Griffin (Oswestry). Paul Rowley (24.14) recorded an 18 darts leg whilst team mates Matt Elsey (20.52) and Ash Hilditch (23.82) both went one better with 17 dart legs. Darwin’s Dan Dean (22.40) chalked up the games only maximum.
Kacey Jones (22.25) was the Griffins solitary winner although they kept on battling away and took a further six legs in the remaining games.
Bagley Club also enjoyed an excellent 5-1 away win at the expense of Charles Darwin ‘B’ to maintain their solid start to the season. However the dynamics of the match were set in the first game that went the full distance as Darwin’s Wayne Evans checked out on 112, but it would be Bagley’s Mike Lewis (18.65) who prevailed in the deciding leg. Neil Southern (20.54, 2×180) doubled the advantage before Andy Kynaston (21.04, 105f) made it 3-0 to Bagley. Will Smale (17.01) replied for the hosts but any hopes of a comeback were snuffed out by respective 4-0 wins for Bagley’s Paul Harris and Paul Andrew to take their team’s unbeaten run to two games.
Wem outfit Dickin Arms enjoyed their first game of the season making the perfect start with a 6-0 home win over Shrewsbury side Inn on the Green ‘B’, the stand out match of the night saw Dickin’s Andy Saunders (20.24) edge out Jason Thompson (19.90, 17 darts game) over seven legs. Dickin’s Kev Rogers (20.66) scored a maximum whilst team mate Paul Ashworth recorded the highest finish of the week 115.
To the South of the county and the “Battle of the Mynd” saw the Inn on the Green (Wentnor) come out on top at home against the Plough (Church Stretton). Although never behind the home side had to work hard for the win after being pegged back twice. Ben Bevan (20.24) put the hosts ahead only for Duncan Morris to level (17.13). There then followed three games that went the full seven legs with the Inn on the Green coming out on top in two of them, firstly through Eddie Price (24.16) who recorded 16 and 17 dart legs before Glyn Thomas (20.39) edged out Plough’s James Carter (21.20) who had a 113 outshot. Matt Simpson (19.88) replied for the Plough before the overall match was settled in favour of the hosts through Tony Burton (19.09) who with a 15 darts leg had a 4-0 victory.
The final game of the night, an all Shrewsbury affair saw honours even between the Compasses and Hop and Friar. Scott Towers (22.52) put the Compass ahead only for Steve Ritchie (19.71) to level the score. The hosts took the next two through Andy Mullinder (20.24) and Jon Mansell (23.11) who edged out Sarah Roberts (21.98, 180) before the visitors bounced back to share the spoils with fine wins for John Roberts (22.24) and Evonne Taylor (17.70) to gain there first point of the season.
Team of the week:- Dave Phillips (Dawley), Joe Higgins (Salopian Star), Kev Rogers (Dickin), Neil Southern (Bagley), Paul Rowley (Charles Darwin ‘A’), Eddie Price (Wentnor), Evonne Taylor (Hop and Friar).
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