WORTHINGTON’S MERTHYR & DISTRICT DARTS LEAGUE

DIVISION ONE HEOLGERRIG SOCIAL CLUB ............................... 8 BAILI-GLAS A ................ 3

FOLLOWING a week of joy when they managed to hit the doubles and secure a great cup win away at the Merthyr Vale Ex Club B it was back down to earth with a bump for the Baili A as the doubles went back into hiding costing the visitors dear.

Things started well for the away side with the trio of Terry Morgan 180, Ian Thomas and Tim Charleston holding throw over Kevin Roberts 100, Allan Moore and Trad Davies, but the Social side hit back immediately with Ray Williams 100, 125, 135, Colin Morgan 100 and Bob Watkins blasting past Alan Mee 100, Mark Hulbert and Andrew Morgan to level at one apiece heading into the pairs legs.

The first pairs saw the first break of throw with Colin Morgan 100 and Bob Watkins breaking Ian Thomas 100 and Terry Morgan as the Baili bust a score of 90 and then suffered a bad case of double trouble further hampered things as the hosts took a 2-1 lead and this was then increased to 3-1 with Ray Williams 135 and Iory Haines edging past Mark Hulbert and Alan Mee with a hold as the away side missed yet more doubles.

The final pairs saw the Baili pull back to within a point with Tim Charleston 100, 140 and Andrew Morgan holding over Kevin Roberts and Meirion Evans 100 as the two sides readied themselves for the singles match-ups.

The first of the singles saw the home side extend their lead to 4-2 with Bob Watkins 3x100 edging past Tim Charleston 100 and 5-2 followed with Kevin Roberts 3x100, 106 out beating fellow veteran Alan Mee 140 in a hard fought game.

The third singles was a nip ’n’ tuck affair with Colin Morgan 100, 125 coming from 1-0 down to beat Mark Hulbert 3x100, 120 with a 2-1 hold as the Baili boy missed a succession of doubles. Meirion Evans scraped past Terry Morgan 2x100 with a hold of a throw making it 7-2 in Heolgerrig’s favour before visiting skipper Ian Thomas 100 held over veteran Iory Haines 100, 101, 120 pulling a vital third point back for the disappointed visitors.

Ray Williams 2x100, 180 then added to the visitors’ woes with a commanding break over a battling Andrew Morgan 100 to complete a heavy 8-3 win to put clear water between the two sides in the division and leave the Baili struggling at the wrong end of the table.

MERTHYR VALE EX CLUB B (DAGGERS) ...... 6 PENYDARREN SOCIAL CLUB B ........................... 5

THIS was a really hard fought game from beginning to end finally being decided in the last game of the match.

The Pen were the first to make a mark on the scoreboard with the trio of Kendrick Howe 100, Nathan Morgan and Lyndon Price holding over Lloyd Davies, Phil Morris and John Terrett 180 and then a break in the second triples saw R Sullivan 125, RL Smith 121 and Dai Richards 100 beat Nicky Baldwin, Karl Manns and Dai Phelps for a 2-0 lead ahead of the pairs legs.

The first of the pairs legs saw the home side get into the game with Phil Morris and John Terrett breaking the throw of RL Smith and Dai Richards 100 to halve the arrears and then the sides were level with Nicky Baldwin 180 and Karl Manns holding over Nathan Morgan 100 and Kendrick Howe.

The Daggers then made it a clean sweep of the pairs with a second break for a 3-2 lead with Derek Dobbins 100, 123 and Dai Phelps 100 beating Steve Smith and Lyndon Price 100, 140 as the sides prepared for the match-deciding singles battles.

Lyndon Price 100, 121 broke Dai Phelps 180 by a 2-1 margin to square the match at three apiece and then a fine hold from Steve Smith over Karl Manns again by a 2-1 margin saw the Pen edge into a 4-3 lead. Lloyd Davies 100 drew the sides level with a hard-fought win over Nathan Morgan 100 but back came the Pen again with Dai Richards 93 out nipping past Phil Morris 2x100 with a 2-1 hold for a 5-4 lead.

Derek Dobbins 140 secured a good 2-0 hold over Kendrick Howe levelling the contest at 5-5 with local hero John Terrett 100, 140 then earning the victory for the home side with a fine 2-0 break over an out of luck Graham Elias 100 to end a splendid contest.

YE-OLDE EXPRESS ...... 5 GUEST KEEN BOWLS CLUB A ........................... 6

THIS was another great game from beginning to end starting with a fantastic opening triples win in double quick time with Peter Locke 140, 180, Darren Locke 180 and Dean Thomas beating Craig Morgan, Dale Pinch 140 and Jamie Evans 140 against the throw and then a good hold from Steve Nicholas, Owain Davies and Wayne Titcomb over Phil Williams 100, 121, Steve Thomas and Justin Davies 100 saw the hosts go 2-0 up heading into the pairs legs.

Phil Williams 100, 140 and Justin Davies got the Bowls rolling with a hold over Steve Nicholas 100, 140 and Wayne Titcomb in the first pairs and then a good break from Dale Pinch and Steve Thomas 100 apiece over Owain Davies and Dean Thomas 140 saw the sides draw level at 2-2.

The vital third, and final, pairs again went the way of the visitors with Jamie Evans 140 and Craig Morgan 2x100 holding over Peter Locke 140 and Darren Locke to take a slender 3-2 lead into the singles match-ups.

The first of the singles went to the home side with Peter Locke 2x100, 120, 121, 3x140 including a 17-dart leg holding (2-1) over Steve Thomas 2x100, 140 for a level match, but parity was brief as Jamie Evans 2x100, 140 including a 17-dart leg held over Darren Locke 4x100, 125 in a cracking game to regain the upper hand for the visitors. Owain Davies 100, 139 dug deep to beat (2-1) Justin Davies 2x100, 2x140 making it 4-4 but yet again the Bowls responded with Craig Morgan 100, 145, 149 out holding (2-1) over Wayne Titcomb, and then a great break from Phil Williams 4x100, 137 including a 19-dart leg over Steve Nicholas 2x100, 121 by a 2-1 margin saw the away side go into a 6-4 lead.

The final game of the evening saw home captain Dean Thomas 100, 121, 140 break a gob-smacked Dale Pinch 7x100, 116, including a 17-dart leg by a 2-1 score to take the final point for the home side.

GRAWEN ARMS ............ 6 HILLS PLYMOUTH CRICKET CLUB ............. 5

ANOTHER 6-5 score and another great match from the first call of “game on” to the final shout of “game shot”.

A great start from the home side saw Phil Locke 139, 180, Marcus Davies and Steve Thomas 2x100 break the throw of Aled Walters, Jason Castaldi 120 and Phil Lewis 100 for an early lead, but this was short lived as Jason Woodford 102 out, John Harnedy and Dean Lewis 125, 180 broke back against Kerry Green 100, 140, Adrian Thomas and Lyn Jones 100, 140 giving a level match heading into the pairs legs.

Craig Clayton 100 and John Harnedy 2x100 produced the first hold of the match for the Crick over Kerry Green and Steve Thomas 100 to edge the visitors ahead for the first time but their lead was also short lived as Jason Launchbury 2x100, 113, and Lyn Jones 140 beat Dean Lewis 2x100 and Rhys Lee to square the battle at two apiece.

The final pairs saw the old campaigners Phil Locke 2x100 and Marcus Davies break the throw of Jason Woodford 2x100 and Jason Castaldi 100 to earn the Grawen a 3-2 advantage moving into the singles.

A splendid first singles saw the hosts extend their lead to 4-2 with Phil Locke 4x100, 68 out holding throw (2-1) over Craig Clayton 2x100, 137, 140 and then a break (2-0) from Marcus Davies 132, 140, 100 out over John Harnedy saw the lead extend to 5-2.

Steve Thomas 125, 140 secured a nail-biting 2-1 hold over Keith Harnedy 5x100 for a 6-2 home lead but credit the Crick they refused to surrender and kept battling away with Rhys Lee 2x100, 60 out, 79 out beating Kerry Green 100, 121 60 out with a 2-1 hold and then a 2-1 break from Jason Woodford 2x100, 140, 74 out over Adrian Thomas 4x100 saw the visitors gain another two points. Dean Lewis 2x100, 125, 140, 65 out then grabbed the away side a deserved fifth point with a 2-1 hold over Roy Element 100, 121, 135, 64 out in the last game of the contest.

DIVISION TWO WINCHESTER BAR ....... 3 MARTYRS CLUB ........... 8

A LONG, hard slog of a game saw the Martyrs make a successful trip to the Winch and they started with David Howe 140, Peter Worrell and Ray Phillips holding over J Williams, Anthony Lennon and G Moore for an early lead and this they doubled with Alun Pearce 100, Steve Evans and Josh Brogden 100 breaking John Andrews 100, J Moore and Andrew Morgan in the last triples leg.

The first of the pairs legs went the way of the Martyrs for a 3-0 lead with Josh Brogden 140 and Roy Phillips holding over J Williams and Tyrone Broad before the home side got into the game with Andrew Morgan and John Andrews holding over Colin Howe 100 and Peter Worrell to reduce the deficit, and then they cut it to a single point with Anthony Lennon and Gavin Moore breaking David Howe and Ray Phillips in the last of the pairs games.

Colin Howe put the Martyrs 4-2 ahead with a break over John Andrews in the first singles. And then a steady showing from Roy Phillips saw him hold over Anthony Lennon extending the visitors’ lead to 5-2.

Andrew Morgan 121, 140 held throw over Josh Brogden 100, 121, 140 in a tough battle putting a third point on the board for the Winch but the relief was short lived with Peter Worrell beating Tyrone Broad to put the away side 6-2 ahead.

Further wins then from Steve Evans and Alun Pearce over J Williams and Gavin Moore respectively then saw the visitors complete a fine 8-3 victory.

PENYDARREN SOCIAL CLUB C (SEASIDE) ........ 6 ROSE & CROWN ............ 5

THIS was a keenly fought contest from beginning to end which got under way with Kevin Hyde, Ceri Richards and John Sedgemore breaking the darts of John Wood, Phil John and Stuart Hughes but the Rose were quick to reply with Kevin Morgan, Kristian Dowd and Rhys Donovan 125 taking the darts off Barrie Gilby 2x105, Johnny Murphy 100 and Gavin Galleozzie to level ahead of the pairs legs.

Kevin Hyde 125 and Ceri Stent took the first pairs against the darts with victory over Rhys Donovan and Stuart Hughes for a 2-1 lead but a fine showing from Kristian Dowd 140 and Kevin Morgan against Drew Bradley 100, 125 and Connor John saw the sides tie level again at 2-2 with John Wood 2x121 and John Wood holding over Barrie Gilby and John Sedgemore 100 for a 3-2 Rose lead going into the singles games.

Kevin Hyde 125, 3x140 including an 18-dart leg beat Stuart Hughes (2-0) with a hold in the opening singles to level at 3-3 but the away sides response was swift with John Wood 2x100, 140 beating Ceri Stent 2x100, 135 with a 2-1 break. Ceri Richards 101 held 2-0 over Rhys Donovan to level with Drew Bradley 2x100, 125, 140 then breaking (2-1) Kristian Dowd 123 for a 5-3 lead, and this then became 6-3 with Connor John 3x100, 120 out holding 2-0 over veteran Kevin Morgan.

Phil John 100, 140 then took the fifth point for the Rose in the final game with a hold over Johnny Murphy 2x100 to conclude a quite absorbing match.

ABERFAN SOCIAL CLUB X ........................... 6 PENTREBACH LABOUR CLUB ............................... 5

THE home side made an impressive start to the match, taking the opening triples against the darts with Glen Kitchen, Greg Butler 134, 140 and Phillip Green beating Les Thomas 125, A Thomas and Eddie Jones and 1-0 soon became 2-0 with Byron Jones 100, Mike O’Neill and Dai James 100 holding against Tony Galliers, Gary Champion 100 and Graham Price with the sides looking at the pairs legs.

The first of the pairs battles saw Glen Kitchen 125 and Greg Butler 100 keep the ball rolling for the X with a break over Tony Galliers and Gary Champion but then the away side got into the game with veterans Les Thomas 2x100 and L Jones breaking Mike O’Neill and Phillip Green for their first point.

The third and final pairs match also went the way of the visitors with M Price and Eddie Jones holding over Dai James 123, 140 and Byron Jones to trail by one point going into the singles.

Glen Kitchen 100, 125, 140 produced a 2-1 hold over Tony Galliers 2x140 in the first singles pushing the hosts 4-2 ahead but the Labour side kept in touch with L Jones holding over Greg Butler 100 (2-0) to get back to within a point. Dai James 116 battled past Eddie Jones 2x140 by a 2-1 margin making it 5-3 to the home side with Phillip Green 100, 125, 138 then making it 6-3 with a break over Les Thomas. Graham Price 3x100, 138 broke Mike O’Neill 121 (20) pulling a fourth point back for the visitors who then recorded a fifth with A Thomas 2x100 holding (2-0) over an out of sorts Byron Jones.

MERTHYR CONSERVATIVE CLUB 5 ABERFAN SOCIAL CLUB A ........................... 6

IT was a good night for the Aberfan Social Club with the A side also registering a 6-5 win on their trip to the Merthyr Con Club.

Things started well for the home side with M Hughes 180, Jonathon Davies 100 and Chris Price breaking Peter Emanuel, Josh O’Keefe and Wayne Morris 100 but back came the Social with Kevin Downing, Charlie Davies 100 and Alan Phillips getting the better of Geoff Jackson, John Hulbert and Colin Lloyd 119 in a hard fought game to level at one apiece ahead of the pairs.

The first pairs saw a hold of throw with Peter Emanuel 100 and Wayne Morris holding over M Hughes and Jonathon Davies 100 apiece to take the lead for the first time and then they made it 3-1 with Vic Jones and G Jones breaking Eddie Cunnington and Greg Howells.

The final pairs went to the Aberfan side with Kevin Downing and Alan Phillips 100 holding over Chris Price and Chris Stansfield for a 4-1 lead heading into the singles encounters.

Chris Price 100, 121 battled past Vic Jones 2x100 with a hold (2-0) to put a second point on the board for the Con before Kevin Downing 100, 101 beat Jonathon Davies 2-0 to edge the visitors 5-2 ahead.

M Hughes 125, 140 overcame the challenge of Charlie Davies keeping the hosts afloat but then Peter Emanuel sunk the Con’s hopes of victory with a 2-0 hold over Chris Stansfield 3x100, 137 for a 6-3 lead. Eddie Cunnington 125 held throw (2-0) over Josh O’Keefe 133 for a fourth home point and then the high scoring Greg Howells 4x100, 132, 2x140, broke G Jones (2-1) to gain the hosts a vital fifth point.

WORTHINGTON’S MERTHYR & DISTRICT DARTS LEAGUE DIVISION THREE PENYDARREN SOCIAL CLUB A ........................... 9 IMPERIAL HOTEL ........ 2

THIS was a night to forget for the Imp as they made a nightmare trip to the Pen.

AG Jones, Wayne Lee 121 and P McCarthy took the first triples for the hosts against the throw with victory over Anthony Prosser, Wayne James 100 and Paul Prosser but the Imp were quick to get onto level terms with Trevor Williams 100, John Donovan and Alan Hancox getting the better of Michael Bond 100, S Clark and Nigel Owen in the final triples.

Michael Bond and S Clark took the opening pairs for the home side with victory over Anthony Prosser and John Donovan and then in the first hold of throw of the match Richard Beynon 100 and Nigel Owen 105 beat Wayne James and Alan Hancox to put the home side 3-1 ahead.

Jonathon Evans 100 and Phil Bond took the last pairs for the hosts with victory over Paul Prosser and Trevor Williams 100 apiece against the darts giving them a fairly comfortable 4-1 lead heading into the singles.

Jonathon Evans 2x100 advanced the lead to 5-1 with a hold over Trevor Williams 100 with Wayne Lee 140 then making it 6-1 with a break over John Donovan.

Veteran Wayne James 100 pulled a second point back for the beleaguered Imp with a break over Richard Beynon but the relief was brief as Nigel Owen took up the running for the home side to beat a battling Alan Hancox 115 for a 7-2 home lead.

Phil Bond 100 held throw Paul Prosser adding to the Pen’s total with G Jones then completing the victory with a break over Anthony Prosser 100 in the last leg.

This Friday, March 31, sees the first batch of the Singles Competition played at the Penydarren Social Club.

Roll-call is 7.30pm for a start of 7.45pm. Any players not present at roll-call will be eliminated from the competition.