Fair result as McGrath's hold Guns to a draw

Young Guns 4

AT the half way stage this game was tied at 2-2 and by the end both teams had a share of the spoils in a fair result.

It was the visitors who took the lead through leading thrower David Wilton who made it 15 wins this season. He took the three legs to beat Marty McQuaid.

Marty was well behind in leg one when David (95) took the lead but Marty (100) took advantage of poor finishing by David (100, 95) in leg two and again David was having trouble with the finish, ending on double one but was able to win the game before Marty got a shot at the double.

Ivan Waddell just couldn’t get going when throwing against Richard McKee and was a long way behind in both legs when Richard (100, 100/100) finished to give the Guns a 2-0 lead.

Cliff Taylor (95) had a top 148 finish to lead with 21 darts while Joe McKee was also throwing steady and could have levelled the legs but left himself on 11 after scoring 95 and 125 before Cliff (100, 100) opened his teams score.

The teams were level by game four; Tom Black (100, 100), after being left with double trouble in leg one against Andy Watson (100, 95), fought back to win the remaining two legs with Andy needing 56 and 117.

Richard Malcomson (100, 100) gave McGrath’s the lead for the first time when he finished on 96 with 17 darts and double 16 in leg two to leave Mark Gracey (100, 140) needing 156 and 17.

But at the end of the singles the game was tied at 3-3 with Guns’ Michael Kennedy (140, 95) proving too good for Chris Malcomson, leaving the latter needing 108 and 109.

PAIRS – The visitors regained the lead when Gareth Moody (131/132) and Richard McKee (140, 140/100, 180/100) beat Richard Malcomson (100) and Ivan Waddell (121, 100/100, 140) 2-1 but a fighting Tom Black and Cliff Taylor (168,123) secured a point for McGrath’s, beating David Wilton (125) and N Johnston 2-0.

Higgins 0

Halfway Aces 6

Higgins’ poor season continues but it was a tough match against the league leaders Halfway Aces who now have the championship in there own hands

Gary Gracey found himself trailing on 182 when Ronnie Herdman took the lead but a good 64 finish from Gary (100, 99) had him level but Gary (95) couldn’t continue his form and was trailing on 185 when Ronnie (100) made it 2-1.

Game two was close between Billy Bell and visiting Neville Reid (97) who took the lead with double eight. Billy (100) was on level terms when a double nine left Neville (100) on 45.

It was all down to leg three and Neville’s (95) Tuesday night practice proved to be helpful when he finished on double 13.

Game three and it was 3-0 to the visitors, Roy Livingston with a 20 and 32 finish against Paddy Higgins (98); and Nipper Boyce (140, 100) joined the 180 club when he beat Damien Savage 2-1.

The next game also went to the Aces with top thrower Dylan Woolsey (100, 125, 100) finishing both legs on 21 darts against Desmond Weir who has yet to find his form.

Higgins needed the last singles to save the brush and Eamon Savage got a good start, winning leg one against Brian Reid (100, 100, 95), who got stuck on double one but Brian made amends with the next two wins and make it 6-0 to Aces.

Red Star A 6

Top of the Town 2

Top of the Town were visitors to near neighbours Red Star A where their season’s poor form continued.

Christopher Dillon (140) had chances in the first game against Maurice Orr (139) but his finishing let him down.

Stars’ Alan McKnight (95) was left a long way off the double in leg one when David Weir (100) took the lead but Alan (100, 134), after levelling the legs, made it the win with scores of 100, 100, 140, 81 and a 80 finish on 15 darts.

Candy Toman (125, 140) with double 16 left Jason Hamill on 115 and 69 when he gave the Star a 3-0 lead.

Town pulled one back through a bye to Billy Lecky to leave the half time score 3-1 to Star.

Steven Weir (100) scored the visitors second win when he beat Robert McMullan (120) after losing the first leg but back came the Star with Marty Conlon (134) finishing on 97 and double eight to beat Kristen Buchanan (100) 2-1.

PAIRS – Candy Toman (136) and Alan McKnight (100/125) beat Steven Weir (135) and Christopher Dillon (95/96) 2-0 while Maurice Orr and Marty Conlon made it six by beating David Weir and Billy Lecky (125) 2-0.

Halfway House 4

Kevin’s 4

This was a blow to Kevin’s championship hopes while the Halfway gave their sister team a bonus and a three point lead with five games to go.

The first game saw top darts from Tony McKinstry and Nigel Peden. Nigel (140, 177) had darts but it was Tony (118, 100, 114), who was on the double first, left himself on 15 to do. Nigel took the lead with double 16 but Tony (100) was outplayed in leg two and left on 185 when Nigel (140) finished on 65 with 21 darts.

Home captain Derek Reid (100, 100) had a 20 finish against John Broome (95) who was on 30. Derek (95, 140, 95) made it 2-0 but John (140) didn’t take his chances when on 12.

Paul Dillon regained Kevin’s lead with a 2-0 win over Alan Cochrane but Paul (100, 100, 140) almost slipped up when he was left on double one. Alan (100) didn’t take his chance and in leg two he (100) was in the lead and on the double first but again his missed chances saw Paul (96, 100) come in with an 88 finish on 20 darts.

At half time it was level at 2-2, Willie Herdman (137, 96) leaving Steve Banks (100) needing 76 and 20.

Kevin’s were back into the lead after the break. Simon McIvor (97, 100, 135 - 17 and 21 darts) was too strong for Tom Alderdice who was left on 234 and 231.

At the end of the singles the teams were again level. John McDermott (100, 100), finishing the first leg on tops, left Neville Reid in the 100s but John (95) found himself in a similar position next leg when Neville finished on 68.

Leg three was close with both on their doubles before Tom finished.

PAIRS – Derek Reid (100, 140/140) and Willie Herdman beat the strong pair of Kevin’s Paul Dillon and Nigel Peden (100) 2-0 but John Broome (140, 125) and Simon McIvor (121, 99) earned the visitors a draw by beating Alan Cochrane (140, 140/140) and Tony McKinstry (100, 100) 2-1 to leave it a fair result.

Park Inn 8

Red Star B 0

Park Inn hold their third position in the league with this easy victory over Red Star B.

Gareth Chambers (100, 100, 140) opened his account with a 80 finish over Antoinette Barry and a double four made it 2-0.

Clare Thornbury (100/133), who has been throwing steady this season, beat Margaret Barry 2-0 and after losing the first leg to Linda McDowell (100) Lindsay McFadden (100, 100) had to depend on double one to level. Lindsay (100, 100, 99) went on for the win with double five.

Andrew Douglas (100, 100, 140 - 17 darts) made it 4-0 by beating Kevin Conlon (97,100) 2-1 and the points were in the bag when Nigel Kerr (100, 140) beat Gareth Crothers (140, 100) 2-0.

The final singles game also went to the Park, Noel Gates (100, 140, 100) beating Colin Crothers (140) 2-0.

PAIRS - Gareth Chambers and Robert Thornbury beat Kevin Conlon and Margaret Barry 2-0 and Park went on to make it 8-0 as Clare Thornbury and Fiona McQuiggan beat Colin Crothers and Antoinette Barry 2-0.

Thrown Monday March 15

Park Inn 5

Halfway House 3

Park Inn have got themselves back into the hunt for honours with this important win over Halfway House in this rearranged match and a rehearsal for the Malcolm Graham Cup final.

Park’s Clare Thornbury was in form and showed Tony McKinstry no mercy. She (133) took the first leg on 22 darts with Tony needing 59 and Clare (95, 114) made it 2-0, this time leaving Tony back on 112. To be fair to Tony he had other things on his mind after receiving tickets from his wife to see Jedward.

Gareth Chambers and Victor Smith were second at the butts and a 20 finish from Gareth (100, 100) left Victor (100) on 46 but it was a one way second leg for Gareth (140, 100) and a 18 darter with a 74 finish left Victor needing 225.

Raymond Williamson (100) won the first leg of the night for Halfway when Noel Gates (100) missed tops. Noel (140, 140, 140) levelled on 16 darts which could have been a lot lower to leave Raymond (100) on 116 and 136 in leg three when he give the Park a 3-0 lead.

By the halfway stage the visitors pulled one back but captain Derek Read had to come from one leg down against Robert Thornbury who took advantage of poor finishing from Derek (97, 97). Robert should have made it 2-0 but was left on eight when Derek (100, 100) who was on the double first levelled.

It was all Derek (140, 96) in the deciding leg and a 17 darter with 100 finish left Robert needing 337.

Andrew Douglas (100) made sure the Park earned a point when he left Jim Brown (98) needing 68. Andrew (128, 100), with a double seven, made it 2-0 and the score 4-1.

Lindsay McFadden (100) and Alan Cochrane were the up last in the singles and it was Alan who took the lead, but this was short lived when Lindsay levelled on 32. Alan (140, 140) showed better form in leg three and kept Halfway in the game with a 20 darter to leave his opponent with 148 on the board.

PAIRS – Both games were required by the visitors to share the points. Tony McKinstry (123) and Alan McKnight (135, 140) of Halfway got their team off to a good start by beating Lindsay McFadden (180) and Clare Thornbury (95) 2-0 but Noel Gates (123, 100) and Gareth Chambers (135) were too strong for Derek Reid (100) and Tom Alderdice (137, 95), leaving the latter needing 106 and 212 with 21 and 17 darts and full points for the Park.

Fixtures for Thursday March 25 - Kevin’s v Young Guns, Park Inn v Red Star A, Higgins v Castle Barr, Red Star B v Halfway House, Halfway Aces v McGraths. Top of the Town - bye.