WORTHINGTON’S MERTHYR & DISTRICT DARTS LEAGUE

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

THIS was an all-action affair from beginning to end in a game containing some 74 ton-plus scores as the Guest continued their push for the top with a fine win over the visiting Heolgerrig Social Club.

The home side started well with the trio of Justin Davies 100, 140, Dale Pinch 100 and Scott Bayliss 100 breaking the throw of Ray Williams 100, Colin Morgan 2x100 and Bob Watkins for an early lead which was short lived as the away side hit back through Meirion Evans 100, Iory Haines 140 and Mike Evans 100 who broke the throw of Jamie Evans 100, Craig Morgan 140 and Phil Williams 121 for a level match heading into the pairs legs.

The opening pairs leg went the way of the home side with the deadly duo of Phil Williams 2x100 and Justin Davies 121, 140 breaking Colin Morgan and Meirion Evans 100, 139 for a 2-1 lead which then became 3-1 with Scott Bayliss 2x140 and Dale Pinch 100, 140 holding throw over Mike Evans 100 and Bob Watkins. The final pairs also went the way of the home side with Jamie Evans 2x100 and Craig Morgan 100, 140 taking the darts away from Ray Williams 100 and Iory Haines for a clean sweep of the pairs and a 4-1 lead going into the match-deciding singles match-ups.

The first of the singles battles saw the Guest extend their lead with Dale Pinch 100, 3x140, including a 16-dart leg holding throw over Mike Evans 100, 127 (2-0) before Ray Williams 3x100, 113, 2x140 put in a great show to beat Jamie Evans 2x100, 121, 88 out (2-1) and pull a second point back for the Heolgerrig side. Phil Williams 5x100, 140 nudged the hosts 6-2 ahead with a 2-0 hold over Colin Morgan 2x100 but back came the away side with Iory Haines 100, 125 stunning Scott Bayliss 2x100, 3x140 including a 17-dart leg with a 2-1 hold bagging a vital third point. Justin Davies 4x100, 119, 121, 78 out including a 15-dart leg head throw over Bob Watkins 140 (2-0) putting the Guest 7-3 ahead with Craig Morgan 3x100, 140 taking the last game of the match (2-0) with a break over Mike Evans 2x100, 121 to complete a fine 8-3 victory for the home side.

BAILI-GLAS A ................ 3 MERTHYR LABOUR CLUB ............................... 8

THIS was a highly entertaining and hard-fought contest from beginning to end with the home side giving a good account of themselves despite the scoreline.

The visitors took the early lead with Wayne Davies 100, Ron Morgan 140 and Chris Galleozzie holding throw over a gallant Terry Morgan, Tim Charleston and Mark Hulbert and then the match score read 2-0 with Kevin Forbes 100, 140, Rob Evans and Kevin Mahoney breaking the throw of Kerry Ryan, Alan Mee and Ian Thomas in a hard fought game ahead of the pairs legs.

The first of the pairs legs saw the Baili get into the game with Terry Morgan 2x100 and Tim Charleston breaking the throw of Chris Galleozzie and Ron Morgan to pull back to within a point but the visitors were quick to resp0nd with Wayne Davies and Kevin Forbes 2x140 breaking Ian Thomas 100 and Kerry Ryan for a 3-1 lead. The final pairs saw a hold from David Rowlands 100, 121 and Rob Evans over Alan Mee 100 and Mark Hulbert earning the Labour side a 4-1 lead moving into the singles games.

The first of the singles match-ups saw Chris Galleozzie 2x100, 125, 140, 116 out including a 13dart leg break Kerry Ryan 100 (2-0) increasing the match score to 5-1 which then became 6-1 with Kevin Forbes 3x100, 140 holding (2-0) over Mark Hulbert 3x100 in a hard fought game. Alan Mee 4x100, 125 held throw (2-1) over Ron Morgan 6x100, 137, 140 in a magnificent game pulling a second point back for the Baili, and then in another fantastic game Ian Thomas 100, 4x140 180 broke (21) over Wayne Davies 110, 125, 140, 180 including a 14-dart first leg to pull a vital third point back for the hosts. Veteran David Rowlands 2x100 edged past Terry Morgan 2x100 with a 2-0 break making it 7-3 to the visitors which then became 8-3 with Kevin Mahoney 140 holding 2-0 over Tim Charleston 100 in another hard fought game.

MERTHYR VALE EX CLUB B (DAGGERS) ...... 3 YE-OLDE EXPRESS ...... 8

THE Express made the long trip down to the Daggers and came away with a great result securing an 8-3 win in a hard fought game.

The Express got stuck in with the very first point with Peter Locke, Dean Thomas and Steve Nicholas 100 holding over Phil Morris 100, Lloyd Davies 140 and Warren Rees and 1-0 soon became 2-0 with Wayne Titcomb, Brian Nicholas 100 and Matthew Fealey 100 breaking the darts of John Terrett 100, Nicky Baldwin and Dai Phelps in the second and final triples.

Peter Locke 100 and Steve Nicholas kept up the pressure on their hosts with a fine hold over Karl Manns and Nicky Baldwin in the first pairs but the second then saw the Daggers strike back gaining their first point with Derek Dobbins 119, 140 and Dai Phelps holding over Dean Thomas and Brian Nicholas but back came the Express through Wayne Titcomb 123 and Matthew Fealey with a hold over Phil Morris and John Terrett 101 to lead 4-1 heading into the match-deciding singles battles.

Dai Phelps 3x100, 123 took the first of the singles for the home side with a 2-0 hold over a battling Matthew Fealey 133 but back came the away side with Peter Locke 2x100, 125, 140 securing a fine 2-0 hold over Karl Manns 100, 121. The third pairs contest saw visiting skipper Dean Thomas 4x100, 125 break Lloyd Davies 3x100, 125 (2-1) increasing the lead to 6-2 which then became 7-2 with Steve Nicholas 3x100, 139, 140, 112 out holding over Warren Rees 139, 2x140 by a 2-1 margin. Brian Nicholas 125, 137 beat Derek Dobbins (2-0) putting the Express 8-2 ahead before John Terrett 3x100, 120 including a 16-dart leg broke Wayne Titcomb 2x100 (2-0) claiming a valuable third point for the home side.

HILLS PLYMOUTH CRICKET CLUB ............. 5 BAILI-GLAS B ................ 6

THE Baili B went to the Crick looking for the points to help boost their bid to regain their league title, but while their A side were trying to aid their cause taking three points off the current champions from the Labour Club, they did themselves hardly any favours labouring to a narrow 6-5 win over their hosts despite taking an early 3-0 lead.

Geraint Thomas 3x100, 91 out, Andrew Rough and Mervyn Matthews took the opening triples with a hold over Aled Walters, Jason Castaldi and Craig Clayton and then they added a second with Matthew Quinlan 100, 140, Paul Thomas and Jeff Pearce breaking Dean Lewis 140, Jason Woodford and John Harnedy as the sides prepared for the pairs battles.

Geraint Thomas 140 and Jeff Pearce 134 extended the Baili’s lead to 3-0 with a fine hold over Keith Harnedy and Craig Clayton 125 but then the home side struck back with Dean Lewis 100 and Jason Woodford holding over Andrew Rough 139 and Mervyn Matthews and then they pulled a second point back with John Harnedy and Jason Castaldi 100 apiece edging past Matthew Quinlan 140 and Steve Haman 100 against the throw to trail by a single point heading into the vital singles games.

Geraint Thomas 2x100, 134 was blown off course in the first singles by Craig Clayton 3x100, 125 as the sides drew level but the Baili hit back with Andrew Rough 4x100, 137, 140 including a 16-dart leg holding over John Harnedy (20) to go 4-3 ahead. Keith Harnedy 100, 121, 140 scrapped past Paul Thomas 100, 2x135, 180 pulling the sides level again before Jeff Pearce 100, 2x180 regained the upper hand for the Baili with a hard fought 2-1 hold over Jason Castaldi 2x100, 2x117, 140 at 5-4. Dean Lewis 3x100, 121, 134, 180 beat Matthew Quinlan 2x100, 137, 2x140 by a 2-1 hold in a splendid game levelling at five apiece leaving it all to play for in the final game which saw Steve Haman 2x100, 140 hold throw (21) over Jason Woodford 100, 101, 126 out in a titanic struggle as the Baili finally took the match 6-5 much to their great relief.

DIVISION TWO PENYDARREN SOCIAL CLUB C (SEASIDE) ...... 10 WINCHESTER BAR ....... 1

EVEN King Canute could not have helped the Winch hold back the tide in this game as the Pen rolled on and on to a comfortable win.

Drew Bradley 2x100, Ceri Richards and John Sedgemore took the opening triples against the darts with victory over J Moore, Gavin Moore and J Pike for an early home lead and then 2-0 appeared on the scoreboard with Johnny Murphy 100, 140, Robert Pike 125 and Barrie Gilby breaking John Andrews 2x100, D Davies and Anthony Lennon ahead of the pairs games.

Kevin Hyde 2x100 and Ceri Stent broke the throw of Gavin Moore and Anthony Lennon 2x100 in a hard fought first pairs making it 3-0 to the home side and then a hold from Connor John and Robert Pike over K Pike and John Andrews saw the Pen surge 4-0 ahead. The final pairs saw another break of throw with Drew Bradley 125, 134 and John Sedgemore 100 beating Eugene Wells and Paul James making it five-zip to the home side as the teams prepared for the singles games.

Kevin Hyde 100, 171 beat Eugene Wells in the first singles (2-0) increasing the Pen’s lead even further and then it became 7-0 with Ceri Stent 100, 2x125 breaking Paul James (2-0). Gavin Moore 137 saved the visitors’ blushes in the third singles with a break over Ceri Richards 3x100 to finally get the Winch onto the scoreboard but the relief was short lived as Drew Bradley 2x100 beat J Pike 2-0 against the throw putting the hosts 8-1 ahead. Connor John 100, 137 and Johnny Murphy 100, 127 then took the last two games beating Anthony Lennon 121 and K Pike 2x100, 121, 140 (both 2-1) respectively to end a seemingly one-sided game.

MERTHYR EX-SERVICE MEN’S CLUB ................ 10 ABERFAN SOCIAL CLUB X ........................... 1

IT WAS “Ex” marks the spot in this one as the Merthyr Ex terminated the Aberfan X to further boost their promotion prospects and finally get to Division One.

The home side took the opening triples with Wayne Jones, Wayne O’Neill and Richard Knight against the throw and an understrength Aberfan side who fielded Dai James and S Rees. And then a hold from Jason Baynham, Andrew Davies 100, 125 and Shane Williams 140 over Greg Butler 100, Glen Kitchen and Mike O’Neill 115 saw the hosts go two clear ahead of the pairs legs.

Jason Davies and Matthew Sullivan took the first pairs against the throw over Mike O’Neill further enhancing the hosts’ lead which then became 4-0 with Jason Baynham 100 and Steve Mahoney holding over a gallant Dai James 100 and S Rees. Shane Williams 125 and Andrew Davies then earned the home side a commanding 5-0 lead ahead of the singles with a break over Greg Butler and Glen Kitchen as things began to look really bleak for the away side.

Wayne O’Neill had a “walkover” in the first of the singles as the away side were understrength so the scoreline advanced to 6-0 and then 7-0 appeared with Jason Baynham 2x140 securing a hard-fought 2-1 break over Greg Butler 121 in the second singles game. Shane Williams 3x100 had a fine hold (2-1) over S Rees making it 8-0 before Glen Kitchen 3x100, 121, 125 turned up the heat on Jason Davies 3x100, 125 to snatch a 2-1 hold and finally get the X a spot on the scoreboard. Andrew Davies battled hard for a 2-1 hold over Dai James making it 9-1 before Wayne Jones 2x100 completed the rout with a 2-1 break over Mike O’Neill 140.

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

THE Daggers A made the short (ish) trip to the Angel Hotel and came away with the better of the result in a fine 7-4 win.

Chris John 100, John Pugh 100 and Steve Phillips were the first to suffer for the home side as Steve Probert 100, B Lloyd and Mike Terrett held throw to put the Daggers ahead but the lead was short-lived as Ron Davies 100, Rhys Phillips and Mark Jones hit back beating G Robertson, R Lloyd and M Griffiths for a level game going into the pairs legs.

The pairs legs started well for the hosts with Mark Davies and Glen Callan taking the darts off Steve Probert and M Griffiths and a hold in the next leg from John Pugh and Steve Phillips 100 over Mike Terrett and M Griffiths saw the hosts go 3-1 ahead. The final pairs went the way of the away side with Steve Llewellyn 100 and A Jones holding over Brent Morgan 100 and Rhys Phillips to trail by just one point heading into the singles legs.

Steve Probert 100 levelled the match with a break over Chris John 140 in the first of the singles matches and then a hold from Mike Terrett 121 over Mark Davies in the second singles saw the visitors go 4-3 ahead. Steve Llewellyn got the better of Mark Jones 100 against the throw in the next game making it 5-3 and 6-3 then appeared with A Jones 100 holding over Ron Davies 118, 125. G Robertson 100 broke the throw of Glenn Callan putting the Daggers 7-3 ahead with Brent Morgan then claiming a fourth point for the hosts with a last-leg break over M Griffiths.

MORLAIS TAVERN ....... 7 PENYDARREN SOCIAL CLUB A ........................... 4

GEORGE Scott, Gareth Coombs and D Wells 130 took the opening triples with a break over G Jones 100, Wayne Lee and P McCarthy and then a fine hold from S Davies, N Griffiths and Chris Brogden over Phil Bond, S Clark and Nigel Owen 100 saw the Tavern go 2-0 ahead.

Wayne Lee 140 and P McCarthy got the first point on the board for the Pen with a hold in the first pairs over George Scott and Gareth Coombs 2x100, 140 as the home duo missed a few doubles but the visitors’ relief was brief as N Griffiths and Chris Brogden beat Richard Beynon 100 and Nigel Owen putting the hosts 3-1 ahead and this became 4-1 with S Davies and D Wells breaking Jonathon Evans and S Clark in the final pairs ahead of the singles.

Wayne Lee 100, 121, 137 had a very impressive break over N Griffiths 100 in the first singles to pull a second point back for the away side and then they gained a third with Jonathon Evans 2x100 claiming a solid hold over Chris Brogden 140. George Scott 121 nudged the hosts 5-3 ahead with a hold over Richard Beynon and then a good display from Nigel Owen 100, 140 saw him hold over D Wells, with the final two legs going to the home side with wins for Gareth Coombs and S Davies 123, 125 over Phil Bond and Gerald Jones respectively.