Dorset v Cleveland - BICC 2015/2016 Season

Week ending 2nd/3rd April saw Dorset hosting Cleveland the home of the B.D.O's no 1 ranked player Glen Durrant, the last time we met exactly a year ago we played them at there home venue and it ended all square at 18-18 it was a long drive home only achieving the draw and I hoped we would make them feel that feeling but one thing was for sure it wasn't going to be an easy match. So how did we do?

At Dorset our ladies teams just seem to get stronger each game and today was to be no exception as the ladies B gave us a DREAM START with Katie Mitchell, Cath Campbell (our lady of the match with a 19.03 average) Donna Mabbatt, Lin Bellingham, Julie Boggust and Sally Old all winning yes I know a real DREAM START, 6-0 up.

Bring on the Men's B. Now you know they say at football "it's a game of two halves" well how true as Daniel Perry, Bryan Pearson, Dan Walker, Terry Gowans, Nigel Lamb, John Clark, and Matty Woodhouse all lost and our 6-0 lead VANISHED and the B team were 0-7 down. Never been known before to say I was gutted is an under statement. We took small comfort from Graham Innis who got his first win for Dorset hitting 3 doubles the only real thing keeping him from winning in the past I'm sure, now he has got his 1st win they will keep coming and a nice 25.49 average too.

Next up Robby Morris whose game went to a deciding leg after checking out 130 on the bull, unfortunately he lost to Cleveland's M.O.M John Hardman (27.13). Up stepped Robbie Martin chasing his 3rd man of the match in a row which he achieved winning 3-0 with a 28.36 average. At last something to cheer about but then losses for Alan Ayres and Sean McMurray (his last game for Dorset for the time being after stepping down from the squad) gave our men's B team a disappointing defeat 2-10 so at the end of Saturday's games we were 8-10 behind.

Well all to do Sunday. Would our women save us again and the Men's A well the last time we met Cleveland beat us 4-8 so to say I went home DISAPPOINTED is by far an UNDER STATEMENT.

Sunday a different day and we have got a great ladies team and if they could give us a good start then WHO KNOWS what might happen. Wins for Suzy Trickett, Claire Rogers, Peri Yarrow (20.04) and Sarah Chick our lady of the match with a 20.38 average gave us an ideal start 4-0 up and we all started to think just maybe, but then losses for Julie Frampton and Trina Perry gave our ladies a 4-2 win and put the match ALL SQUARE so it was all up to our Men's A.

Our Men's A were without our world champ Scott Mitchell who was unavailable but one player doesn't make a team and confidence is what's it's all about.

Up 1st (Potty) Mark Porter who got us off to a good start winning 4-2, followed by Ryan Gowans who played Glen Durrant and this was one of the best games of the weekend, things didn't all go the BDO no 1's way the match going to a deserved final deciding leg Ryan had his chances to win but missed doubles and even big numbers at a crucial time but he did give Glen Durrant a big SCARE hitting a 27.91 average Glenn's 28.48 was Cleveland's highest earning him M.O.M not for the first time, experience told but it won't be the last time Ryan gives a top player a scare he's young and good.

Wins then for Thomas Chant (24.89) Mark Grimes our M.O.M winning 4-0 with a unbeaten 28.63 average the highest of the weekend, and Lee Turle (26.37) put us in front, Lee with superb finishing going out on 115, 116 and 82 on the bull. Next losses came for Richard Gomm and Kevin Smith but then a win for Matt Read (25.80) put us 17-15 up.

One more game needed for the draw, two for the win with 4 to play. Then as often happens we struggled to reach that magical 18 with losses for Lee Edwardson (26.98) who had a great game taking his game to a deciding 7th leg and Matt Yarrow. Suddenly it was all square again at 17-17.

A great game from The Big Show Dale Masterman back to his winning ways meant it was all up to the experience of Gary Stevens (Cleveland) and our James Lane a youngster playing his first game in the A. The draw guaranteed, and what a game it was, confident and nothing was going to rush him he took it all in his stride both players hitting 24 plus averages but Dorset got the win 19-17.

Only one game to go and the last game of the season sees Dorset away to Oxfordshire all thoughts of relegation or promotion gone but a good win and we could finish 3rd in the league that in itself would be a good result, but it was nice to see our men fight for the win and support each other Dorset green army marching on and marching up the table.

MARTIN'S HIGHLIGHTS

For me as always the tremendous result from our girls winning 10 of the 12 points available, Graham getting his 1st win Robbie Martin getting his 3rd M.O.M in a row surely now a return to the A is on the cards, a riveting game from Ryan a little unlucky not to beat Glen Durrant (but no disgrace there) Mark Grimes as steady and consistent as ever and James Lane as they say your only as good as your last game that makes him great long may it last, and nice to see the determination of the men's A to get the win.

What will next season bring promotion who knows but what a GREAT TEAM TO BE PART OF.

RESULT

Dorset 19 - 17 Cleveland
Women's B Won 6-0 // Mens B Lost 2-10
Women's A Won 4-2 // Mens A Won 7-5

Match Report by Martin Maidment