Aces hold all the cards at the Halfway House

Halfway Aces 7

ACES showed no mercy against their sister team, Halfway House, with a great victory.

On this form have every chance to become champions for the first time and must now have taken the title of Halfway House’s ‘A’ team.

Jim Brown (124, 95) lost the battle of the doubles and let Ronnie Herdman take the lead. In a similar second leg Jim (140) was left with three to do when Ronnie (100, 97) made it 2-0.

Captain Derek Reid (100) was a long way behind when Nipper Boyce took the lead and in an even second leg Derek (140, 100) left 60 only to see Nipper finish on a similar score.

Tom Alderdice and Brian Reid (140) were at the oche in game three and in a poor scoring two legs Brian give the Aces a 3-0 lead.

It was 4-0 at the break for the Aces but this was a much closer match between Willie Herdman and Aces captain Neville Reid.

Neville (100) was nowhere near the near the double when Willie (140) took the lead but leg two saw both players on the double when Neville levelled.

The deciding leg could have gone to either thrower, Willie missing 20 and Neville (100, 100) checking out on double 20.

After the break there was no stopping the Aces and this game produced a maximum for Dylan Woolsey in a top scoring game with Alan Cochrane.

Alan (100) had the first throw but it was Dylan (100, 100, 125) who took the lead and left 46 only for Alan to check out on 90 for the lead on 18 darts.

It was a 20 darter that levelled the scores for Dylan (100, 100) with Alan (100) trailing on 174.

In a top deciding leg Dylan (125) scored the maximum and a 76 finish on 15 darts left Alan in the 200s. It’s been a long time since Alan was on the end of such a heavy defeat. This gives Dylan his 11th win in a row.

The last singles game saw Roy Livingston (125, 100) make it 6-0 when he beat Tony McKinstry (123, 100) 2-1.

PAIRS – Alan Cochrane (117, 95/100/98) and Tony McKinstry lost 2-1 to Nipper Boyle (100/100) and Tony McKinstry (129) while Halfway House scored the last game; Derek Reid (100, 99/100, 140/100, 100) and Willie Herdman (96/119) beat Neville Reid and Brian Strain (100) 2-1.

Castle Bar 3

Park Inn 5

Park Inn made the short journey to Gilford’s Castle Bar and had to depend on the last two pair’s game to return home with full points

Game one paired Paul Ritchie and Davy Wallace. Paul came out on top when Davy got stuck on his doubles.

Cliff Ritchie (100) made it 2-0 to the home team a double 20 and 32 finish left opponent Andrew Douglas needing 155 and 40.

Noel Gates (121, 100) of the Park was too strong for Castle’s Shane Haffey and left Shane needing 92 and 152. At the halfway mark the teams were level, Lindsay McFadden (135, 99/140) winning his eighth game of the season by beating the out of form Gordon Maginness 2-0.

After the break the visitors took the lead for the first time in a good game between Lee King and Gareth Chambers. Lee (95) took the lead with tops when Gareth (100) missed double 18 but an 18 darter by Gareth (100, 100, 100) with a 56 finish left Lee (100) needing 135.

Leg three was close as Lee (100, 100, 95) got on the double first but his missed chances saw Gareth (100, 95, 95) come down for a tops finish.

The end of the singles came in the next game and the teams were level at 3-3. Castle captain Greg Harper (100, 100, 100) beat Nigel Kerr (100/140) 2-0.

PAIRS- Greg Harper and Lee King lost to Lindsay McFadden and Noel Gates and in the final game Paul and Cliff Ritchie lost 2-1 to Nigel Kerr and Gareth Chambers.

Top of the Town 3

Young Guns 5

THIS was a game that an unlucky Top of the Town should have won or got something from.

After holding a 3-2 lead they let the visiting Young Guns in to win the remaining three games.

Christopher Dillon (100, 99) took the lead on 32 when Mark Gracey (140) hit double trouble and Christopher (98, 100) should have made it 2-0 before Mark (3x100) levelled.

But a quick finish in leg three made sure of the win for Christopher (100).

Game two and the home team were 2-0 up as ex-Mighty Eight thrower Billy Leckey (100, 100), after being left on seven to do, levelled against Michael Kennedy (140) who was left on 96. And in a close third leg Billy (125, 99) gave his team a 2-0 lead.

Vince Burns (132) was left on 39 and 84 when Kenneth Halliday (100, 121/100, 100) opened the scoring for the Guns.

John McKee (105, 140) was too strong for Town’s David Hanna in leg one and it was John (100, 100) with a double 10 who levelled the teams.

Steven Weir and Richard McKee were next at the butts. Steven, with a 64 finish, took the lead and Richard (96, 95, 100) should have levelled the legs after being in front but ended on double one. Steven (100) took advantage to give Town the lead once again.

At the end of the singles it was 3-3. David Wilton (100) was left on 90 when Jason Hamill (99) took the lead. He should have made it 2-0 when both were on double eight.

The deciding leg was also close, Jason (138) on five to do when David (100) finished on eight.

PAIRS – Steven Weir (100/100) and Christopher Dillon lost 2-1 to John McKee (100) and David Wilton (100/100) and the last pairs also went to the Guns; Michael Kennedy (100, 125) and Richard McKee beat Jason Hamill (100, 100) and Billy Leckey (100) 2-0.

Higgins 8

Red Star B 0

Higgins were throwing against a weakened Red Star team and its nice to see some of their throwers winning for the first time this season.

Midge Hylands (100) beat Jacqui Wilson (95) 2-0; Eamon Savage (111) had to take the three legs to beat a determined Margaret Barry 2-1; Gary Gracey (140, 100, 180) and Colin Crothers (100, 140/180) both hit the maximum in this game, the second of the season for Colin, but it was Gary who put Higgins into a 3-0 lead.

Paddy Higgins (95), after losing the first game, beat Antoinette Barry (101) 2-1 and Billy Bell (137, 100/100) beat Brendan Flynn (98) 2-0.

The last singles also went to Higgins Mark Foulks (100) beating Adrian Higgins (95) 2-0.

PAIRS – Midge Hylands and Gary Gracey beat Jacqui Wilson and Colin Crothers while Eamonn Savage and Michael Grimes made it 8-0, beating Margaret and Antoinette Barry 2-0.

Kevin’s 5

McGrath’s 3

Kevin’s were in for a shock when they squired up to sister team McGrath’s as no love was spared.

It took the last game for the joint league leaders to win full points.

Steven Banks and Marty McQuaid were the first at the oche and Marty (100) was left on 32 when Steven (100) took the lead, but missed doubles let Marty in to level.

Again both throwers were finding the going tough at the doubles in the deciding leg before Marty finished.

John Broome (98/125) was hoping to get back to winning ways but Tom Black (140/98) had other ideas and gave McGrath’s a 2-0 lead.

A good 101 finish gave Neville Reid (99) the lead over Ivan Waddell (140) but steady darts got Ivan (125, 99) back into the game. His finish in leg three let him down for the win and allowing Neville, who scored the maximum, win Kevin’s first game.

The teams were level at half time. Simon McIvor (135, 119, 100, 100), after losing the first leg to Cliff Taylor (132, 100), threw great darts in leg two to finish on 14 arrows. He completed the win (121, 100) with a 94 finish.

Paul Dillon (140/100/121, 112) put Kevin’s into the lead for the first time, beating Ronnie Malcomson (100) 2-1 and Andy McComb (140) made the score 4-2 by beating Chris Malcomson (100) 2-1.

PAIRS – Paul Dillon (137) and John Broome (100/125) lost 2-0 to Tom Black (131/111, 140) and Marty McQuaid while Simon McIvor (140, 100/100, 121/100, 140) and Neville Reid (100) came from one down to beat Cliff Taylor (100, 100/1000) and Ivan Waddell (125/100) 2-1.

Fixtures for Thursday 11th February 10: Red Star A v Higgins, Halfway Aces v Kevin’s, Castle Bar v Halfway House, McGrath’s v Red Star B, Park Inn v Top of the Town. Young Guns – bye.

Committee meeting: A committee will be held in the Red Star dart room on Monday February 15, starting at 9pm to make the draw for the Kevin McGrath Cup.

Captains please note on the fixture list, the committee had to use Monday nights to throw individuals and pairs or fixtures would have run well into May due to the late start to the season and the extra teams.