WORTHINGTON’S MERTHYR & DISTRICT DARTS LEAGUE

DIVISION ONE MERTHYR LABOUR CLUB 10 BAILI-GLAS A 1

THE Baili A travelled the short distance to the home of the defending champions and suffered a crushing 10-1 defeat, but in all honesty the visitors deserved a few more points with poor finishing costing dear.

The home side hombres of Wayne Davies 100, Chris Galleozzie and Ron Morgan 100 took the first triples against the throw beating Kerry Ryan, Ian Thomas 100 and Mark Hulbert 100 for an early lead and this they then doubled with Gareth Dunn, Kevin Forbes and David Rowlands edging past Terry Morgan 140, Wayne Robinson 100 and Andrew Morgan as the away side boys missed shots at the doubles.

The first pairs saw Ian Thomas and Andrew Morgan in action for the Baili in a bid to get their side into the game but despite their best efforts the home side edged further ahead at 3-0 with Wayne Davies and Chris Galleozzie 100 apiece breaking their throw and then a hold from the outstanding Kevin Forbes 137, 140, 180 and Anthony Carstairs in a 16-dart leg over Terry Morgan 135 and Tim Charleston 100 saw the hosts race 4-0 ahead.

The final pairs leg saw the Labour lads go further ahead with Gareth Dunn and Kevin Mahoney stealing the leg off Kerry Ryan and Mark Hulbert 2x100 with the Baili boys missing at least seven darts at a winning double before their opponents had a shot at a double, giving the home side a commanding 5-0 lead going into the singles battles.

Wayne Davies 2x100, 105, 140 was in fine form for the hosts in the first singles with a 2-0 hold over Ian Thomas 100, 118 and then in an excellent second singles Kevin Forbes 4x100, 2x140 including a 16-dart second leg beat Terry Morgan 3x100 by a 2-0 margin with the Baili man hot on his tail. Gareth Dunn 2x100, 121, 140 comfortably beat an out of sorts Andrew Morgan by a 2-0 margin for an 8-0 lead which then became 9-0 with Chris Galleozzie 2x100, 138, 180 beating Mark Hulbert 100, 140 against the throw by a 2-0 margin. Another 2-0 winning margin saw Ron Morgan 2x100, 140, 121 out beat Tim Charleston with a hold of throw making it 10-0 to the hosts but with the threat of the dreaded whitewash now looming large Kerry Ryan 121, 140 stepped up to the plate for the visitors and held throw 2-0 over Kevin Mahoney gaining the away side a very much deserved point.

GRAWEN ARMS ............ 9 PENYDARREN SOCIAL CLUB B ........................... 2

PHIL Locke, Marcus Davies 100 and Jason Launchbury got the hosts off to a great start with a break over Nathan Morgan 100, Kendrick Howe 121 and Graham Elias and then a hold from Kerry Green 100, 121, Steve Thomas 100 and Roy Element over Steve Smith, Lyndon Price 100 and Dai Richards doubled the hosts lead to 2-0 heading into the pairs games.

The Grawen kept up their momentum in the first pairs with Steve Thomas 100, 125 and Jason Launchbury breaking Neil Smith and Graham Elias and then a held second pairs from Kerry Green and Roy Element over Nathan Morgan 2x100 and Kendrick Howe made it a comfortable 4-0 to the home side. The Pen then finally made their first mark on the board with Steve Smith 118 and Lyndon Price 100 holding over old campaigners Phil Locke 100 and Marcus Davies in a tightly fought game with the sides now looking at the singles battles.

Phil Locke 100, 140 took the first singles with a 2-0 hold over young Steve Smith 100 as the Pen fell four points behind but then the living legend Lyndon Price 2x100, 125 beat Marcus Davies 100, 125 by a 2-1 score to slightly reduce the arrears. Evergreen Kerry Green was then as steady as a Bournemouth rock hitting 5x100 in a 2-1 hold over Nathan Morgan 2x100, 140 putting the hosts 6-2 ahead and this then became 7-2 with Steve Thomas 100, 123, 140 beating Neil Smith (21) in a hard fought game. Roy Element 100, 140 held throw 2-1 over Kendrick Howe 100 in a nervy game with Jason “The Joker” Launchbury 100 then beating a disappointed Dai Richards 2x100, 125 with a 2-1 break to complete a fine 9-2 home win.

HEOLGERRIG SOCIAL CLUB ............................... 3 GUEST KEEN BOWLS CLUB A ........................... 8

IN a match containing some 52 ton-plus scores the Guest got off to a quick start with Justin Davies, Phil Williams and Tex Pearce 116 holding over Bob Watkins 100, Meirion Evans and Richard Calahane and then 2-0 appeared on the scoreboard with Craig Morgan, Jamie Evans 100 and Dale Pinch breaking the throw of Ray Williams, Mike Evans 100 and Iory Haines as the sides eyed up the upcoming pairs legs.

Kevin Roberts 100 and Bob Watkins broke the throw of Justin Davies and Phil Williams 180 in the first pairs to get the home side into the game but the relief was short lived as Craig Morgan 2x100, 120 and Jamie Evans beat Iory Haines 2x100 and Trad Davies 120 against the darts making it 3-1 to the away side. The final pairs went the way of the visitors with Dale Pinch 180 and Andrew Coombs 100 holding over Ray Williams 2x100 and Mike Evans for a 4-1 lead going into the singles encounters.

The first singles produced something of a minor shock with Mike Evans 4x100, 2x140 holding 2-1 over Justin Davies 4x100 to pull a point back for the home side but the Guest replied in the next game with Andrew Coombs 100, 140 breaking B Watkins 3x100 by a 2-1 score putting his side 5-2 ahead. Craig Morgan 2x100, 121, 137, 140 in legs of 18 and 19 darts beat the legend Iory Haines 100, 180 by a 2-0 margin for a 6-2 lead before Jamie Evans 135, 2x140 including a 16-dart second leg beat Meirion Evans 100 again 2-0 making it 7-2. Ray Williams 3x100, 125 came from 1-0 down to beat Phil Williams 3x100, 101 with a 2-1 hold gaining the home side a vital third point with Dale Pinch 122, 2x140 holding by a 2-1 margin over Kevin Roberts 140 to complete a fine 8-3 victory.

BAILI-GLAS B ................ 8 HILLS PLYMOUTH CRICKET CLUB ............. 3

THE visitors were throwing well with Dean Lewis, Jason Woodford and Jason Castaldi holding over Geraint Thomas 100, 123, Andrew Rough and Mervyn Matthews but the Baili were soon level with Jeff Pearce 180, Steve Haman 100 and Paul Thomas 100 beating Rhys Lee 100, Craig Clayton and Keith Harnedy 137 for one apiece heading into the pairs legs.

Geraint Thomas 100, and Andrew Rough 100, 180 took the first pairs against the head over Craig Clayton and Rhys Lee 2x100 putting the hosts 2-1 ahead and then 3-1 followed with Jeff Pearce 135 and Steve Haman holding over Jason Castaldi 2x100 and John Harnedy. The last pairs leg went the way of the Cric with Dean Lewis 2x140 and Jason Woodford 140 reducing the arrears heading into the singles with a fine hold over Mervyn Matthews and Hywel Llewellyn 100.

The Typhoon Geraint Thomas 2x100 blew hot and cold in a 2-0 hold over John Harnedy 100 making it 4-2 to the home side and this soon became 5-2 with the Galactico Andrew Rough 2x100, 102 beating Jason Castaldi 100 by a 2-0 margin against the throw. Paul Thomas 137, 3x140, 120 out including a 13-dart first leg beat Jason Woodford (2-0) with a fantastic debut performance with Steve Haman 5x100, 119, 140 holding throw 2-1 over Rhys Lee 100, 140 making it 8-2 to the home side. Deadly Dean Lewis 2x100, 140, 180 took the final game of the match for the Cric with a fine 2-0 hold over Big H Hywel Llewellyn 2x100.

DIVISION TWO ABERFAN SOCIAL CLUB X ........................... 5 MERTHYR EX CLUB ..... 6

THE away side started well with Jason Davies 2x100, Wayne Jones and Matthew Sullivan taking the opening triples with a fine hold over Glen Kitchen 125, Greg Butler 2x100 and Phil Green but the lead was brief as Mike O’Neill, S Rees and Dai James levelled with a hold over Jason Baynham, Andrew Davies and Wayne O’Neill.

The first pairs went the way of the Ex with Wayne Jones and Richard Knight beating Glen Kitchen and Greg Butler 124 with a hold for a 2-1 lead and a break from Jason Davies and Andrew Davies 100 apiece over G King and Phil Green saw the away side go 3-1 ahead, the final pairs though went to the home side with Mike O’Neill and Dai James getting the better of Jason Baynham 2x100 and Wayne O’Neill against the darts to leave the X trailing 2-3 going into the matchdeciding singles battles.

The first singles went the way of the away side with the excellent Jason Davies 3x100, 140 beating G King against the throw and then a hold from the great Jason Baynham 3x100, 140 over Glen Kitchen 120, 125 saw the visitors seemingly take control at 5-2. Aberfan though had other ideas and a fine showing from Greg Butler 3x100 over Matthew Sullivan 100 and a Phil Green 101, 2x125, victory over Andrew Davies by 2-1 margin saw the X draw to within a point. Dai James 123, 140 held throw over Wayne Jones to level the match at five apiece setting up a last game decider which saw Wayne O’Neill of the Ex edge past Mike O’Neill 100 of the X earning the away side a narrow lastgasp 6-5 win.

DIVISION THREE PENYDARREN SOCIAL CLUB A ........................... 8 MORLAIS TAVERN ....... 3

WAYNE Lee 100, Richard Beynon and Nigel Owen got the home side off to a great start with a break over Kevin Hyde 100, Gareth Coombs 100 and George Scott and then they stretched the lead to 2-0 with P McCarthy, Jonathon Evans and S Clark holding over S Davies, Adam Hyde and Chris Brogden ahead of the pairs legs.

Phil Bond 100 and Jonathon Evans 140 kept the ball rolling for the Pen with a break in the first doubles over George Scott 100 and Kevin Hyde 2x100 and a fine hold from Wayne Lee 132, 135 and P McCarthy over S Davies 134 and Adam Hyde. It then became a tremendous 5-0 for the Pen with Richard Beynon 100 and Nigel Owen edging past Chris Brogden and Nikki Griffiths against the darts in the final pairs leg.

Home skipper Phil Bond 100 beat Gareth Coombs 100, 139 in a great game making it 6-0 and then the magnificent seven appeared with inform Nigel Owen 2x100 beating S Davies against the throw. Jonathon Evans 125 held throw over Jimmy Winstone making it 8-0 to the Pen and you would think that at this stage the opposition would throw the towel in, grab the sandwiches and order the minibus, but not the Morlais.

They battled on with George Scott 100 holding over Richard Beynon 100, 140 to get the Morlais a point and one then became two with Nikki Griffiths holding over S Clark 100, 140.

Visiting captain Kevin Hyde 140 then grabbed a third point for the away side with a narrow hold over Wayne Lee in the final game.

MERTHYR VALE EX CLUB A (DAGGERS A) .. 4 ANGEL HOTEL .............. 7

THE Angel travelled to the Merthyr Vale Ex and stuck it to their opponents with Chris John, Steve Phillips and Graham Hancock holding the opening triples over P George 140, B Lloyd and Mike Terrett but the lead was short lived as M Griffiths, G Robertson 100, 125 and Kerry Lloyd hit back beating Mark Jones, Rhys Phillips and Steve George for a level match at one apiece.

Mark Davies and Glenn Callan regained the lead for the Angel with a hold in the first pairs over R Lloyd and Mike Terrett 106 but again the Daggers responded with G Robertson and M Griffiths beating Brent Morgan and Rhys Phillips to square the match once more. The final pairs saw the first break of throw of the match with Kerry Lloyd and D George 121 beating Ron Davies and Steve George to give the hosts a slender lead heading into the singles legs.

The hosts lead was nullified in the first singles with Chris John beating Mike Terrett 100, 138 to make it three apiece and then Mark Davies 100, 148 out held over Kerry Lloyd 2x100 in a thriller to edge the Angel back in front at 4-3. Mark Jones beat M Griffiths making it 5-3 before D George beat experienced Ron Davies pulling a fourth point back for the home side. Glenn Callan and Bent Morgan then wrapped up the victory for the Angel with wins over G Robertson and R Lloyd respectively.

GUEST KEEN BOWLS CLUB B ........................... 6 SILVER BULLET ............ 5

CHRIS Davies, Steffan Williams 100 and Neil Winstone held the opening triples over the outstanding Wayne Benbow 100, 120, 125, Mark Benbow and Carl Jones but the sides were level after the second triples with Tony Pollard 100, Steve Wilkes and Roy Wilkes getting the better of Brian Birch, Anthony Morris 100 and Dean Jenkins.

The Benbow boys Wayne 2x100 and Mark put the home side ahead for the first time with a break over Steffan Williams and Neil Winstone in the first pairs but the Bullet were quick to fire back with Brian Birch and Dean Jenkins beating Adam Pollard and Carl Jones for a 2-2 game. Tony Pollard and David Spencer then produced the third break of throw on the spin to beat Chris Davies and Anthony Morris 100 giving the Bowls B a 3-2 lead going into the singles.

Wayne Benbow 100 then won his third game of the night with a hold over Dean Jenkins for a 4-2 lead before Steffan “Van” Williams held throw over Tony Pollard to pull the Bullet to within a point of their hosts. Mark Benbow claimed his third success of the night with a fine win over Anthony Morris for a 5-3 lead and just a point away from victory but the Bullet still had some ammunition left with Chris Davies 2x100 beating Steve Wilkes to pull within a point and then a break from Neil Winstone 2x100 against Adam Pollard saw the sides level at five each with one to play. A tense nervy final leg saw local hero David Spencer break the throw of Brian Birch and the hearts of the Silver Bullet to earn the home side a tremendous last leg last gasp win.

DIVISION FOUR VNU ................................ 2 LLWYN-YR-EOS ............ 9

JORDAN King 100, R Case and D Day 140 claimed the opening triples for the away side with victory over Elaine Williams, Mark Hadley and Clive Powell and 2-0 soon followed with G Evans 133, A Dalton and S Craze 100 beating Fiona Doran, Ken Thomas and Steve Darlow 100.

Jordan King and R Case 100 won the opening pairs for the Llwyn beating Fiona Doran and Ken Thomas for a 3-0 lead but then the home side got into the game with Clive Powell and Steve Darlow 100 holding over G Evans and A Dalton to slightly reduce the arrears. The relief though for the home side was short lived as D Day 2x100 and D Thomas then beat Elaine Williams 100 and Mark Hadley for a 4-1 lead going into the singles games.

The first singles saw the away side extend their lead further with G Evans breaking Fiona Doran with S Craze 100 then making it 6-1 with a hold over Elaine Williams. D Day 78 out kept up the pressure with a win over Mark Hadley 134 but there was a little bit of respite for the VNU in game nine with Ken Thomas beating R Case to grab a second point for the home side. D Thomas then put the Llwyn 8-2 ahead with victory over Steve Darlow before Jordan King 125 wrapped up the win with a hold over Clive Powell.