Carsons Bar lift League Shield

Coatbridge team start the season in style

Carsons Bar lifted the opening silverware of the season last Monday night – the Airdrie & District Darts League Shield.

The Coatbridge- based team probably saved their best performance of the tournament for the final itself to see off The Swan, who had been quite impressive but were just not up to matching the hot-shots in the final.

Indeed, what was evident during the evening was that if some of these teams keep the players they have for the league season ahead, and hold their form, the league itself should be far more competitive.

The Swan started off the night in great form – easily beating The Clansman.

Jim Parker nailed a 15-dart win with a 115 checkout with Alex McPheat’s 156 checkout for The Clansman their only cheer.

The Swan then battled hard to beat a much improved Workmen’s C who had beaten their fellow ‘B’ team lodgers earlier in the night.

The Chapelhall lads had to go right to the wire in the last game to beat the ‘C’ boys who now will be looking forward to the league campaign.

In the other half of the draw, Carsons were in cruise control.

First off, it was The Boar’s Head who felt the full power of the darting machine including new UK Open champion Cameron Menzies who was shaking his head if he only scored a ton.

This man is in terrific form at the moment and The Boars had no answers.

In the semi- finals, though, Tommy Slaven’s Eagle Inn troops were right up for the battle and the match went right to the last double before Carsons made it through to the final.

However, the Eagle showed that they can match it with the best when they are on their game.

On to the final then which had many pundits giving The Swan a chance of victory.

Ernie Brown, though, opened up for Carsons to make it 1-0 and when Graham Anderson beat Parker it seemed as if the fire went out of the bellies of The Swan with their main man beaten.

Menzies then had a 14- dart success against Ray McCardle and soon after Jim McGeary made it 4-0.

Derek Cunningham took care of Jim Simpson in 15 darts and right after that Tam Meechan made it 6-0.

Some consolation for The Swan with Robert McIlwraith getting on the scoresheet but the match was over before the pairs games with victory secured by Alan Henry.

The Swan though will be far from downhearted if they keep this pool and they will be top three contenders for certain – maybe better.

As for Carsons? With the likes of Menzies, Cunningham, Anderson and Brown, it was just another night at the oche.

League Shield results for Monday, October 17: Quarter-finals: The Swan 7 The Clansman 1 Workmen’s C 7 Workmen’s B 5 Eagle Inn 7 The Forge 5 Carsons Bar 10 Boar’s Head 0 Semi-finals: Eagle Inn 5 Carsons Bar 7 Workmen’s C 5 The Swan 7 Final: Carsons Bar 7 The Swan 1 League fixtures for Monday, October 31: The Clansman v Albert Bar Workmen’s B v Workmen’s A Boar’s Head v Wilson Arms Workmen’s C v Carsons Bar The Forge v The Swan Eagle Inn v Banks’ Social Club

In form Cameron Menzies