Tuesday 29 May 2012

Not-a-Bank Holiday Knockout Results

Match Report
I'd like to start by thanking James and others for pointing out that it wasn't a Bank Holiday. However it was still a knockout night - I wasn't about to shuffle the fixtures around yet again - and produced some good performances.

Andy and Anne got the ball rolling, Andy putting in some very good scores including a 180 followed by a 2-dart 120 with an unlucky deflection off the darts in the bed causing a bounce out on the third. Anne played steadily but was too far behind in the scoring to mount an effective challenge and Andy won 2-0.

James played Sam in a neck-and-neck match, Sam winning the first leg and James coming back to level it in the second. Well matched score-wise, it came down to the finishing. With both players having a little shakiness on the doubles it could have gone either way but James was the one who hit the target first to win 2-1.

In the third match it was Ram against Darren. In another close match it was the deciding leg that sealed it with Ram's steady eye for his double giving him the 2-1 victory. Completing the first round matches were Ben and Craig. Ben had a slow start and was still well away from a finish when Craig reduced his target to 32, but at that point the gremlins set in and even with more than 20 darts Craig didn't manage to check out, leaving the door wide open for Ben to catch up and steal the leg. Ben then hit a purple patch and led through the next fast-paced leg, checking out comfortably to win 2-0.

In the first semi-final Andy was up against Ram who it seemed could do no wrong. Andy appeared to suffer from some uncertainty setting up his out shots while Ram just powered on, hitting the targets with confidence to win 2-0 and book his spot in the final.

James and Ben faced off in the second semi and Ben's form continued as he took the first leg. James threw with more focus in the second leg and with both players on a double he proved the more accurate making it 1-1. Another very close leg decided the match 2-1 in James' favour.

And so on to the final: Ram versus James. The first two legs were steady but unexceptional performances with neither player showing quite the same level as the previous round, but in the deciding leg Ram pushed himself up a gear and kept finding that treble-20 to build up an almost unassailable lead. A steady hand on the doubles was all that was needed to finish on top and collect the night's prize.

Congratulations and £10 to Ram, and a bonus £5 prize to Andy for his 180. Thanks to everybody for taking part.

Next Week
It's a big, long weekend coming up and we'll be joining the celebrations on Monday night - it's Martin Adams 56th birthday so come along and have a go in the Martin Adams Birthday Knockout. No work for most of us on Tuesday because there's something going on that day as well - party at the pub with a live jazz band and BBQ in the afternoon, followed by a disco into the night to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Tuesday 22 May 2012

League Match Report - Round 11 - 21st May 2012

Match Report
It was a super, smashing, great night of darts with very close results all round. Darren and Ben played first with Darren winning the first leg after a shaky start from both on the doubles. Ben then came back and won the next two with accurate checkouts, despite Darren scoring a 140 in one leg. Darren then took the final leg for a 2-2 draw and a point each.

It was an all-female match next with Sam against Anne. Despite playing with a bad back, Sam took an early 2-0 lead, also hitting the highest checkout of 42, but Anne came back winning the third leg with some strong scoring. It all came down to the doubles again in the fourth leg with Sam coming home to win the match 3-1.

The big guns were in action in the third fixture between Ram and Andy. Ram, returning after a 3 week break, looked as if he'd never been away from the oche, while Andy was cool and steady as usual. It was 2-1 to Ram going into the last leg after he had narrowly missed making it 3-0, missing his double to let Andy back in. The last leg might not have been as intense as the first three but it remained close with Andy first to a double and taking the leg for a 2-2 draw.

The final match of round 11 saw James take on Craig. In a fast-paced match with a good many ton-plus scores, both players hit 140 and it was honours even as it finished in another 2-2 draw.

Next Week
There's a two week break from the league because of Bank Holidays and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, so next week will be a knockout. If people are interested I will also run a competition on Monday 4th June, possibly with some kind of a royal theme - watch this space as they say.

EDITED - As a reader has kindly pointed out, next Monday (28th May) is not a Bank Holiday, but it will still be a knockout.

Tuesday 15 May 2012

League Match Report - Round 10 - 14 May 2012

Match Report
Round 10 was played last night with a few changes to the published fixtures due to the absence of two of our players. Darren and James got the ball rolling. A solid performance from Darren including the night's highest score of 135 left James behind on the scores. He checked out all three legs, one with the highest on the night - 54, to win the match 3-0 and gain 4 points to move ahead of James in the table.

Andy took on Craig next in a top-of-the-table clash. Both players were evenly matched, although perhaps not showing their best form as the scoring was below average with a few more darts than usual straying from the 20 and hitting 5 or 1. In the end you couldn't separate the two and it finished with a 2-2 draw.

The third and final match saw Ben play Sam. Ben took a 2-0 lead with a couple of accurate checkouts - looks like the practice helped - but Sam kept the pressure on with an impressive string of treble-19's, scoring 134 with one throw and just missing out on the highest score. Ben needed 133 in the third leg, hitting treble-20 followed by treble-17 to leave one dart at double-11 for the match. However the dart went half an inch wide to leave Sam with a chance to come back which she took: 2-1. She had the advantage of the throw in the final leg and scored steadily to stay ahead and take that leg as well, ending up with a well-deserved 2-2 draw.
Next Week
Round 11 is to be played on Monday 21st May.
Darren v BenRam v Andy
Sam v Anne
James v Craig

Tuesday 8 May 2012

Bank Holiday Knockout - 7th May

Match Report
Two words - double trouble - sum up last night's knockout. The format was best-of-three from 301 with double-in as well as -out. While nobody actually failed to start a leg (by the skin of my teeth in one leg - more about that later), there were some close calls...

James and Darren played first, James taking an early lead in a slow first leg. Then Darren came back with some good scoring and even better checkout (74) to draw level and then win in the deciding leg. Sam was drawn against Andy in the second match. Andy put in his usual steady performance to win in straight legs with Sam having some trouble hitting her starting doubles. Anne received a bye to go straight into the semi-final round, leaving Ram and Ben to battle for the remaining place. Ben barely got started in the first leg, only hitting a starting double 7 when Ram had already reduced his total to double-top which he hit on his next throw. The second leg was much closer, both players getting off to a quick start and Ben even throwing a 140. However he was let down by poor finishing again, missing three chances to check out and giving Ram the chance take the second leg and the game.

Darren played Andy in the first semi. Andy had the edge in accuracy on the doubles and with his steady scoring again secured the first final place. Anne faced Ram in the second semi-final but struggled and lost in straight legs to Ram, this despite a dip in his form in this round.

The final saw Andy take on Ram and I would have backed Andy after the previous round. However as it turned out both players were sharp when it came to the opening doubles but Ram was well ahead on the scoring and took advantage to check out both times without too much pressure from Andy. So it was congratulations and £10 to Ram as the winner, and commiserations and £5 to Andy as runner up. A big thank you to the players and also to those who watched and supported.

League News
Because of holidays there has been a small change to the match schedule to insert a catch-up week before the finals - many thanks for letting me know this far in advance because it makes my job so much easier. Here's the new updated fixture list.
Next Week
Round 10, postponed from last week, will be played on 14th May.
Andy v Anne
Ben v Sam
Craig v Ram
Darren v James
James v Ram

Friday 4 May 2012

Updated Fixtures

Match Postponed
Because the pub was so busy with the Manchester derby being played on Monday night I took the decision to postpone that night's darts. This means that all the remaining fixtures have been pushed back.
Next Week
Next week, Monday 7th May, is a Bank Holiday and there will be a knockout. £2.50 to enter, starting from 8pm. Double-in, best of 3 legs played from 501 (301 in the case of a big turnout). As usual all are welcome to join in - not just regular league players.

Next League Matches
With Craig back from his holiday we should have a full complement for Round 10 on the 14th May. These will be the matches:
Andy v Anne
Ben v Sam
Craig v Ram
Darren v James
James v Ram