Home v Humberside - Saturday 25th / Sunday 26th March 2023
Week ending Saturday March 25th - Sunday 26th March saw Dorset playing a home game against Humberside. This match a top of the table clash Dorset top Humberside a close 2nd. We knew it was going to be one of the toughest tests so far. Dorset playing out of The Conservative Club in Ashley Road, would the home venue be an advantage? At least not a lot of travel involved for our Dorset players. So how did we do?
Ladies B
Sally Old (ladies captain 15.79) took her game to a deciding leg, where both had goes at a double, Sally taking her unbeaten run to 6 winning 3-2. Macie Woodrow (18.06) up next now Macie always hits the scores but can struggle at the double, but today no worries running out a 3-1 winner and was Dorset's Lady of the Match. So the perfect start Dorset 2-0 up. Julie Boggust (18.54) v Jane Nicholson (17.69) next up Julies game going to a deciding leg against throw. The throw making the difference as Julie sat on tops as Jane hits the winning double. Jane Nicholson was Humberside’s Lady of the match Julie a little unlucky hitting the highest average of the day and played really well.
Lorraine Woodrow (Lily 15.02) v Dawn Williams (15.26) next up Lily’s game going to a deciding leg Lily with the darts misses 3@tops and Dawn pinches the 3-2 win. Katie Mitchell (16.45) up next just not finding it today losing 1-3. So Dorset have gone from 2-0 up to 2-3 down leaving Jamie Walker (17.60) to get the ladies a draw. Jamie obliges winning 3-1 getting our ladies B team a 3-3 draw.
Mens B
Up first Declan Harris (23.20) in a close game against Christian Stevenson (23.14) what a close game to get us underway Declan’s game going to a nervous deciding leg the “GET IN” from Declan tells me he’s taken the 4-3 win and is very happy, Declan returning to County after a break. Mark Porter (Potty 21.31) next up, Potty today just couldn’t find it losing 1-4 to Liam Gorden (22.66) the score line not reflecting the game. Jamie Elm (25.89) v Kevin Richmond (27.26) Kevin hitting the first 180 of the day taking the first leg. Jamie takes the next then Humberside’s Kevin Richmond takes the next 3 legs hitting another 180 and a 15 dart leg Kevin playing like an A player Jamie playing well, most 25+ averages win in the B. Kevin Smith (21.20) playing well goes 2-0 up then pokes 132 to go 3-0 up then as they say “The Wheels Fell Off” Kevin losing 3-4 (WHAT) that’s the cruel side of darts needless to say his opponent Steve Tranmer (21.85) is over the moon. Rob Channing (22.23) next up losing to Luke Rutter (23.10) 1-4 so after 6 games Dorset trail 2-4
Owen Bowden (24.97) v Mark Howard (24.39) what a battle this was Owen going into a 3-1 lead Mark battling back to force a decider the throw making the difference match going to Humberside. Matt Mooster Read (25.68) up next Matt scoring and finishing well comes out a deserved 4-2 winner. Richard Perry (22.13) v Lee Smith (25.03) his match going to 2-2 then Lee started scoring and hitting his doubles Richard losing 2-4.
James Green (25.64) v Richard Allen (24.72) James game going to 2-3 then after 12 darts James is sat on 25 having missed the bull for a 164 shot out but James loses his match 2-4. Liam Blakeley (28.39) v Lewis Drabarek (25.15) what a high scoring game this was the match deservingly going to a deciding leg. Liam against the throw in a very close leg Liam breaking throw to take a 4-3 win. Up last Richard Wright (25.17) v Neil Dobson (24.23) Richard playing well taking a 4-1 win. Just as well that Dorset won the last two matches otherwise it would of been a stuffing as it was they lost 5-7 so going into Sunday we trail Dorset 8 Humberside 10 with A teams to follow and Humberside’s Men are top of the table.
Sunday Ladies A
Up first Beverly Scarff (17.87) v Sam Lewis (17.31) a close first game to get us under way a game of high scores and missed doubles Beverly coming out a worthy 3-1 winner. Suzy Trickett (21.59) v Wendy Dearing (19.68) Suzy hits a couple of tons and a 58 shot out to take the first leg. Suzy starts the 2nd 140 ton ton and pokes 60 to go 2-0 up 100% so far on the doubles. Wendy starts to find it in the 3rd leg hitting a 133 Suzy back in the two hundreds as Wendy pokes 80 to pull a leg back. Both miss doubles in the 4th leg which goes to Suzy giving her a 3-1 win, Suzy Trickett was Dorset's Lady of the match and hit the highest average of the weekend for the Ladies. Trina Perry (15.23) up next first two legs went with the darts then Michell Britton (17.58) seemed to up her game Trina losing 1-3 but Dorset like yesterday at this stage 2-1 up.
Wendy Lamb (18.03) v Christine Redhead (18.10) now Christine is running 24th in the County averages and Wendy finds herself 0-2 down but in the 3rd leg Wendy hits 3 tons in a row and takes the leg. Missed doubles from Wendy and she loses 1-3. Sam Kirton (20.45) v Bex Waterfall (16.36) up next Sam a little slow to start but had a dart at tops leg to Bex with throw. Sam from there hitting some big scores and no messing at the double goes onto take a 3-1 win. That left Julie Frampton (17.68) v Karen Helmore (18.23) on last. Julie making a guest appearance as Dorset short on lady players, Missed doubles at times from both but Julie keeps her head and nerve running out a 3-0 winner.
So the Dorset ladies get a deserved 4-2 win, now it really is up to the Mens A teams as the scores all even at 12-12. Now Humberside’s Men are top of the table on 53 Dorset 2nd on 46 so it really is Game on.
Mens A
Up first Ricky King (29.38) v Joshua Lowthorpe (30.85) as you can tell by the averages a cracking match. Joshua hits a 180, Ricky takes the first leg to break. Two 140s from Joshua on his way to breaking straight back. Ricky 15 darter to break again, then pokes 74 to go 3-1 up. Amazing standard of darts Ricky has a bounce out but still scores 120, Joshua pokes 156 Ricky the first to congratulate him. Ricky pokes 62 to take a 4-2 win. Great start TV darts. Ricky King was Dorset's Man of the Match. His opponent hit the highest average of the weekend 30.85 but losing averages don’t win the money (gutted for him). Follow that Carl Beattie (24.08) up next. Carl goes into a 3-2 lead then Humberside’s Darren Grey (24.57) levels and it’s another deciding leg, Carl with throw and is sat on 56 as Darren pokes 75 to take the win. Jordan Sharp (27.12) v Mike Atkinson (30.36). Jordan scoring well but loses 0-4 the score line not reflecting the match. Mike Atkinson was Humberside’s Man of the Match and wins the money for the highest winning average of the weekend.
Robbie Martin (27.53) v Lee Smith (28.46) who played yesterday. Close first leg Lee sat on tops as Robbie takes it with throw. Rob breaks to take the 2nd. Rob behind in the 3rd leg but pokes 136 to go 3-0 up. Lee pokes 111 to pull a leg back but Robbie taking the deserved 4-1 win. Nigel Lamb (25.04) v Ched Carlill (27.08) Nigel has goes at a double in the first two legs but finds himself 0-2 down. Ched goes onto take a 4-0 win doing it in style poking 106 for the win. Tommy Morris (28.23) v Shaun Rutter (22.77) Tommy on a high at the moment playing great and has just been selected to play for England along with Scott Mitchell. Tommy the entertainer as always took 9 darts to find it then a 140 to leave 116 and that’s leg one. Shaun starts 2nd with a 180 but missed doubles gave Tommy a go 2-0 up. 17 darter and it’s 3-0. Tommy starts the 4th with a 180 and after 12 darts sat on 25 which he hits in two darts to take a 4-0 win. So after 6 games nothing separating the two teams at 3-3.
Scott Mitchell (26.72) v Ricky Speroni (21.87) Scott hitting so many scores of 60 most sat on that top wire but pokes 86 in the first and 93 in the 2nd and 58 in the 3rd. Scott misses 3@40 in the 4th leg returns 5s to take a 4-0 win almost exhibition like. Dan Perry (26.64) v Gavin Lewis (25.78) Dan missing a few doubles finds himself 0-3 down, Dan pulls it back to 2-3 then what a good time to find a 180 for Gavin, but missed doubles gave Dan a go at 89 not to be this time losing 2-4. Steven Earley (24.29) v Reece Robinson (24.14) Steve playing well goes 3-1 up Reece battles back to force a decider. Steven against the throw not really in the deciding leg not scoring well then has a go at a 152 wiring the double 16 both missed that winning double Steve now the new luckiest man in Dorset pinching the 4-3 win. Next George Grant (21.47) v Karl Corcoran (28.23) well unusual Grant didn’t really turn up not his day losing 0-4 to be fair Karl Corcoran played really well. Match all even two to play. Ryan Gowans (25.47) v David Ladley (25.50) Ryan’s game going to a deciding leg the throw making the difference Humberside taking the win.
That left Dale Masterman (22.77) v James Janney (19.72) in a last match of some importance Humberside for the win Dorset for the draw. Neither player playing great I think the importance of this match getting to them both Dale a 26+ average man but doing enough to run out a 4-0 winner and never looked like losing so a well fought draw the ladies giving us a chance winning 4-2.
Well follow that Dorset still top of the table only 3 games clear of Cleveland after their 24-15 (after bonus points) win over Gwent and who have we got next Cleveland so ANOTHER top of the table clash. It doesn’t get any easier does it.
Great team spirit this weekend some cracking games some cracking averages a DRAW a fair result the ladies A giving us a chance Julie Frampton stepping in and doing the business. Ricky King stiff neck or not you just keep getting better and better. We win lose or draw as a team really looking forward to the next game away to Cleveland see most of you there. Green Army undefeated top of the tree Marching on.
MARTIN'S THOUGHTS
RESULT
Dorset 18-18 Humberside
Women's B Drew 3-3 // Mens B Lost 5-7
Women's A Won 4-2 // Mens A Drew 6-6
Match Report by Martin Maidment
John CLARK