League leaders Young Guns fall to the Aces

Halfway Aces 6

Young Guns 2

YOUNG Guns were going into this match in pole position along with hosts Halfway Aces and Kevin’s on 12 points each.

But by the end of the night the Guns were well beaten and dropped into fourth place.

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Halfway Aces used their home advantage to the full and at the halfway mark had a unbeatable 4-0 lead. Home captain Neville Reid (97) gave his team a good start with a 2-0 win over Mark Gracey (99, 95) but Mark’s poor finishing left him on six when a 56 finish gave Neville the lead.

In leg two it was Neville’s (140, 140) turn to have double trouble after good scores, letting Mark down to leave six before making it 2-0.

Brian Reid was starting this game following two defeats and found himself trailing after the first leg to Michael Kennedy (100) but a 17 darter by Brian (122, 95, 180) and a maximum score levelled and left Michael back on 167.

It was down to leg three and Michael (97, 121) was on the double first but missed chances saw Brian with an 84 bull finish for game.

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Guns’ David Wilton was going into this match undefeated and took the lead over Ronnie Herdman (100) with a 20 finish. It was even in leg two with both on their double and Ronnie (100, 95) levelling the scores.

Leg three saw Ronnie (140) take the lead and a quick tops finish left David (140) with 102 on the board.

At the halfway mark the Aces were in a commanding 4-0 lead. Dylan Woosley (100, 100/121) won the battle of the doubles over Richard McKee (97/100, 100) who was left on five and 14.

After the break John McKee (105, 140) kept the Guns in the game but it was a tough battle in the first leg when he ended on double one against Brian Graham who was on tops.

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Leg two saw John (100) take a good lead and double 20 left Brian (100) on 124 .

In the last singles game Kenny Halliday, who has been blowing hot and cold this season, came from behind with a 74 finish over Roy Livingston (98, 140, 139) and in leg two it was Roy’s turn to come from behind to level.

The Aces thrower was well behind on 124 when Kenny (100, 100) made it a 2-1 win.

PAIRS – Young Guns were going into the pairs needing both games to share the points. Neville Reid and Roy Livingston, after losing the first leg, hit back to beat Kenny Halliday (106) and Richard McKee (100,180) and win full points.

Castle Bar 5

McGrath’s 3

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Castle Bar move up the league courtesy of this home win over McGrath’s but it took the pairs game to earn full points.

Captain Greg Harper (121, 100) gave the Castle the lead over Tom Black (99) who was left with 137 but his doubles let him down next leg and Tom (125, 99) levelled with 20.

In the deciding leg, with both players on their doubles, Greg (100) finished on 20.

McGrath’s were level in the next game. Visiting captain Marty McQuaid (100), after losing the first leg to Andy Joe, had a 60 finish to level and a double five give Marty (140, 95) the win.

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Lee King (100, 100), who has been throwing well for Castle, made it four wins in a row. A 34 finish on 20 darts left Ronnie Malcomson (125) with 54 and Ronnie (97, 100) was further back on 94 when Lee with consisting throwing regained his teams lead finishing on 53.

After a poor start to the season Paul Ritchie (100) has hit a winning run. A double 12 just piped John Mooney to the lead, but then Paul got stuck on five to do and John (118, 98) levelled with double eight.

In the deciding leg Paul took the lead and went on for the win to give Castle a 3-1 half time lead.

Cliff Ritchie and Cliff Taylor were paired in game five and it was Taylor (100, 100) who was in good scoring form. A double eight left the home thrower looking 115 but it was much closer in leg two; Ritchie having no luck when on 12 before a five to do won Taylor his fifth game this season.

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In the last of the singles the teams were level at 3-3 going into the pairs. Chris Malcomson (100) scored a 2-1 win over Shane Haffery who just couldn’t finish.

PAIRS – Greg Harper and Lee King won the doubles battle against Cliff Taylor and Marty McQuaid while Cliff and Paul Ritchie won the game for Castle, beating Tom Black and Ronnie Malcomson 2-1.

Kevin’s 6

Red Star 1

Kevin’s stay at the top of the league after this home victory over bottom club Red Star B.

Simon McIvor (140, 121) was at the butts against Star captain Linda McDowell (100) who was left on 166 when Simon finished leg one.

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The in-form Simon (140, 98) proved to be too strong for Linda in the next leg, leaving her a long way off the double.

Steven Banks (100) was throwing steady darts but his finishing let him down in the first leg when he ended on double one against Gareth Coulter (100).

But Gareth (100) was having finishing trouble in the next leg when on 18 and this let Steven level with a 75 finish.

Steven (140, 100) was now showing confidence and took a good lead and a 20 finish left Gareth with 90 on the board.

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An 18 darter gave Paul Dillon (140, 100, 120) the lead over Antoinette Barry (100) and Paul (100, 97) went on for a 2-0 win and Kevin’s a 3-0 lead.

Andy McComb (100) got a winning start over Colin Crothers, leaving the latter needing 128 and Andy (100) had chances to make it 2-0 before Colin (140) levelled the scores.

The deciding leg saw Colin (140, 100, 100) hit good scores and take a good lead but his

finishing was poor.

He ended on double one but had time and this saved the white wash for the Star as after the break Kevin’s won the two remaining singles games.

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Neville Reid (130/140) beat Margaret Barry 2-0 after a close opening leg and John Broome (100/100) beat Jacqui Wilson (100, 97/100) in a good game 2-0.

Higgins 5

Top of the Town 3

Higgins and Top of the Town put up a good performance and at the end it was only the pairs that separated the teams.

In the first game Desmond Weir took the lead over David Hanna (121) when they both ended on double one but it was David (100, 100) who went on for the win, leaving Desmond a long way behind in the next two legs.

Midge Hylands joined the 180 club in leg one over Sharon Leckey and good scores from Midge (125, 100, 137) saw him go on for his second win of the season.

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Game three paired Mark Foulkes and Jason Hamill. Mark was left on 77 when Jason (100) finished on tops. Mark (98) made it to 36 in leg two only to see Jason finish on 60 to give Town a 2-1 lead.

The last game of the half saw Billy Bell and C Dillon at the oche and it was Dillon who took the lead. A double seven left Billy a long way off the double.

It was Billy (120, 100) who was now throwing steady arrows and a double 10 levelled the legs with Dillon not on a call. In leg three Billy (100) was still in form with a 60 finish and levelled the teams at 2-2.

Town’s David Weir (105) got off to a winning start with a 20 finish over Damien Savage but couldn’t finish in leg two, letting Damien in to level.

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But a good finish on 25, treble 10, double 10 from David regained his team’s lead.

Unfortunate for Town they had to forfeit game six and this left the score 3-3 going into the pairs.

PAIRS – Midge and Damien Savage beat Jason Hamill and C Dillon while G Gracey and Eamon Savage made it the win for Higgins, beating David Hanna and David Weir.

Red Star 3

Halfway House 5

Red Star put up a fighting performance with only four throwers to hold visiting Halfway to a 5-3 score.

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It’s sad to see this club, who have been in the Vintners since it was formed, struggle so any thrower that’s not attached to any team on a Thursday night should make a visit to the Red Star Bar.

Maurice Orr was left on 34 and 164 when former Star thrower, Jim Brown (140, 140), finished on 40 and double eight with 20 darts.

The in-form Alan McKnight (100, 100) took the lead over Tony McKinstry (100, 95) with a 68 check out on 20 darts. Alan (95,100,100) went on to make it 2-0, leaving Tony (100) needing 71.

Skippy (95) took the lead over Derek Reid (100, 97), who got stuck on double one. In a close second leg with both throwing good darts Derek (100) levelled when Skippy (140, 140) missed a 39 finish.

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The deciding leg saw Skippy (100, 100, 137) take the lead and should have made it the win but his doubles let him down and Derek checked out on 40 for a 2-1 win.

Ian Redmond and another ex-Star thrower, Alan Cochrane, were at the butts and it was a doubles battle in leg one. Ian (100) was on six when Alan (140, 100) took the lead with four.

Ian (99, 97) was on level terms 21 darts later next leg when a 49 finish left Alan (100, 99, 100) needing 79.

But Ian couldn’t keep his consistency and Alan (135, 100) finished leg three on 20 darts.

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The Star had to give Halfway two byes and this left the score at 5-1.

PAIRS – Alan McKnight (100, 100, 19d) and Skippy (122, 100, 96) beat Victor Smith and Willie Herdman (100) 2-0. Star also won the last game, Maurice Orr (140) and Ian Redmond beat Jim Brown (100) and Tom Alderdice (140, 97).

Fixtures for Thursday January 14 - Park Inn v Higgins, Kevin’s v Red Star A, Halfway Aces v Castle Bar, Red Star B V Young Guns, Top of the Town v McGrath’s. Halfway House – bye.

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