WORTHINGTON’S MERTHYR AND DISTRICT DARTS LEAGUE

DIVISION ONE BAILI-GLAS A ................ 2 GRAWEN ARMS ............ 9

MISSED doubles yet again cost the home side dear in a game they deserved a lot more from.

The opening triples set the tone for the night with the visiting trio of Phil Locke 100, 140, Marcus Davies and Jason Launchbury just about holding throw in a game nobody seemed to want to win with victory over Ian Thomas, Tim Charleston and Cled Jones 100 in a game that saw every player miss, probably, six darts each at the double before the Grawen took the lead. The second triples saw the Baili draw level with Stewart Charleston, Kerry Ryan 100, 123 and Alan Mee 101 holding over Kerry Green 100, Steve Thomas and Roy Element with a great display.

The first pairs saw more heartache for the home side with Tim Charleston 100, 121, 125 and Cled Jones squandering winning darts against Kerry Green 100 and Steve Thomas as the latter held throw to put the visitors 2-1 ahead and then it was heartbreak in the next pairs with Alan Mee 100 and Kerry Ryan saw their throw broken by Adrian Thomas and Roy Element 123 allowing the away side to go 3-1 ahead.

A hold of throw from Phil Locke 2x100 and Marcus Davies over Stewart Charleston 100 and Ian Thomas saw the Grawen then go 4-1 ahead as the Baili boys became the third Baili pair to fail to win the winning double as the sides approached the match-deciding singles battles.

The first of the singles saw Phil Locke 4x100, 3x140 become the one to suffer from double trouble, missing countless darts to take the game allowing the Baili’s Stewart Charleston 100 to come from 1-0 down and take the game 2-1 keeping the home side in the match.

Marcus Davies 3x100, 136 got the visitors back on the winning trail with a successful hold (2-0) over Cled Jones 100 and then a hard fought break from Steve Thomas 5x100, 140 (2-1) over Alan Mee 100, 135 saw the visitors go 6-2 ahead.

The evergreen Kerry Green 100, 121, 140 battled past Tim Charleston 100 (2-0) increasing the away side’s lead further which was then extended to 8-2 with Jason Launchbury 100, 115, 134 coming back to haunt his former teammates with a 2-0 break over an unfortunate Kerry Ryan 121, 135. The final game of the match saw Adrian Thomas 140, 72 out on the bull beat Ian Thomas 100, 140 with a 2-0 hold and complete the win for the Grawen leaving the Baili to count the costs yet again.

MERTHYR LABOUR CLUB ............................... 8 HILLS PLYMOUTH CRICKET CLUB ............. 3

THIS was a tremendous game containing some 62 ton-plus scores, 31 for each side, with the hosts total including 5x180s and a 119 finish.

The game started with the hosts trio of Wayne Davies 2x100, 140, Ron Morgan and Chris Galleozzie 100, 137 breaking Phil Lewis 123, 140, Keith Harnedy 100 and Rhys Lee for an early Labour lead, but this was short lived as Dean Lewis 100, 140, Jason Woodford and Craig Clayton 121, 140 broke back over Kevin Forbes, Rob Evans and Kevin Mahoney for a level contest heading into the pairs legs.

Kevin Forbes 100, 140 and Wayne Davies 100 regained the upper hand for the hosts with a fine break over the visiting Dean Lewis 100 and Jason Woodford 100, 140 and then they took a 3-1 lead with David Rowlands 2x100 and Chris Galleozzie 100 holding over Keith Harnedy and Craig Clayton.

The final pairs leg saw the Crick rally with the outstanding Phil Lewis 2x100, 125 and Rhys Lee hold over Ron Morgan 100 and Gareth Dunn 100, 180 in a great game to trail 3-2 ahead of the singles encounters.

The first of the singles battles saw a hold (2-0) from Chris Galleozzie 2x100, 180 over Phil Lewis 2x100, 125 making it 4-2 to the hosts, which then became 5-2 with the brilliant Kevin Forbes 100, 140, 2x180 breaking the equally impressive Craig Clayton 2x100, 2x140 (2-1) in a cracking game. Gareth Dunn 2x100, 180 kept the defending champions’ bid to retain their title on track with a 2-0 hold over Keith Harnedy 100, and then Wayne Davies 3x100 broke (2-1) over Jason Woodford 3x100, 140 making it 7-2 to the hosts. Ron Morgan 100, 134, 140 held 2-0 over Rhys Lee 100, 103, 121 further advancing the hosts total before Dean Lewis 3x140 held over Kevin Mahoney 100 (2-0) earning the visitors a valuable third point.

YE-OLDE EXPRESS ...... 4 BAILI-GLAS B ................ 7

THE Baili B’s chances of regaining the First Division crown were dealt something of a blow on their trip to the Ye-Olde Express with the home side putting up a stubborn defence.

Geraint Thomas 100, Andrew Rough 140 and Mervyn Matthews 125 got the visitors off to a winning start with a hold over Steve Nicholas, Wayne Titcomb 180 and Brian Nicholas and a break from Matthew Quinlan 137, 140, Jeff Pearce 140 and Hywel Llewellyn over Darren Locke, Dean Thomas and Owain Davies saw the away side go two clear.

Geraint Thomas 2x100 and Jeff Pearce 100 took the first of the pairs legs with a successful hold over Dean Thomas 140 and Owain Davies 139 and this was followed by a break from Mervyn Matthews 100, 140 and Hywel Llewellyn over Darren Locke 100 and Steve Nicholas 121 which saw the Baili go 4-0 ahead.

A dominant hold from Matthew Quinlan 100 and Andrew Rough 121, 139 over Wayne Titcomb and Brian Nicholas in the final pairs saw the visitors secure a 5-0 lead going into the singles match-ups.

Andrew Rough 137, 140 continued the Baili onslaught with a 2-0 break over Wayne Titcomb 136 in the first singles for a 6-0 lead but then the home side started something of a rescue mission with Dean Thomas 2x100, 112, 140 breaking Geraint Thomas 100, 140 (2-0) and a fine hold from Darren Locke 100, 2x140 (2-0) over Mervyn Matthews 123, 125 saw the Express grab a second point. Jeff Pearce 5x100, 2x125 held (2-1) over Brian Nicholas 4x100 in a great game putting the visitors 7-2 ahead before victories from Steve Nicholas 2x100 and Owain Davies 100, 2x140 over Hywel Llewellyn 2x100 and Matthew Quinlan 100, 140 respectively saw the hosts grab another two vital points.

HEOLGERRIG SOCIAL CLUB ............................... 6 PENYDARREN SOCIAL CLUB B ........................... 5

THIS was a hard fought game from start to finish going right to the wire before giving a result in a game that could have gone either way.

Nathan Morgan 140, 78 out, Kendrick Howe 100 and Graham Elias held the opening triples over Ray Williams, Iory Haines 100 and Trad Davies but the lead was short lived as Meirion Evans 100, Colin Morgan and Bob Watkins hit back beating Steve Smith, Lyndon Price and Dai Richards for a level game ahead of the pairs legs.

A marathon first pairs saw the Pen duo of Dai Richards 89 out and Graham Elias take 45 darts to secure the leg with a hold over Bob Watkins 139 and Alan Moore giving the visitors a 2-1 lead before Ray Williams 117 out and Meirion Evans beat Nathan Morgan and Kendrick Howe for a level match at two apiece. Steve Smith 3x100 and Lyndon Price then edged the away side again into the lead putting them 3-2 ahead with a hold over Iory Haines 140 and Trad Davies going into the singles battles.

Lyndon Price 100, 117, 140, 18 and 20 darts took the first singles against the throw with a 2-1 break over Colin Morgan 18 darts, 2x100, 125, 135 out giving the visitors a 4-2 lead which then became 5-2 with Steve Smith 138 holding over Alan Moore 110 by a 2-0 margin.

The home side then produced an amazing comeback to steal victory from the jaws of defeat starting with veteran Iory Haines 3x100 beating Nathan Morgan 2x100 (2-0) with throw to pull back to 5-3 down and then it was 5-4 with B Watkins 100, 140 breaking Kendrick Howe 140 (2-1).

Ray Williams 100, 140, 180 including a 18-dart leg held throw (2-0) over Graham Elias to level the contest at five apiece setting up a last-game decider which saw Meirion Evans 4x100, 125 come back from 1-0 down to break Dai Richards 121, 122 and secure an amazing 6-5 victory in a stunning comeback.

DIVISION TWO MERTHYR CONSERVATIVE CLUB 7 ROSE & CROWN ............ 4

THIS was an excellent result for the home side in a great battle with the visiting Rose.

The home side started well with the top trio of M Hughes, Chris Price 119 and Jonathon Davies breaking the throw of Paul O’Dell, Kevin Morgan and Rhys Donovan but the Rose hit back immediately with John Wood, Phil John 180 and Steve Evans breaking Colin Lloyd, John Hulbert and Ron Phillips for a level game going into the pairs legs.

M Hughes 100, 140 took the first of the pairs legs against the darts with victory over Stuart Hughes 100 and Steve Evans and then the first hold of the match saw Greg Howells 140 and Colin Lloyd 119 beat Paul O’Dell and Kevin Morgan earning the hosts a 3-1 lead.

John Wood and Phil John 100, 136 then took the final pairs with victory over Chris Price 2x100 and Chris Stansfield to trail by one point going into the singles matches.

Chris Price 2x140 edged the Con Club into a 4-2 lead with a hold over Stuart Hughes 100 but back came the Rose to stay in the game with Paul O’Dell 2x100, 125 holding over M Hughes 100, 140. Jonathon Davies 100 held throw over the vastly experienced Kevin Morgan 4x100 giving the home side a 5-3 lead before John Wood 2x100, 137 beat Chris Stansfield 105 pulling the Rose back to within a point.

Greg Howells 2x100 held throw over Rhys Donovan nudging the hosts 6-4 ahead with Eddie Cunnington 2x100 breaking Phil John 100 in the last game (2-0) to complete a fine home win.

WINCHESTER ARMS .... 4 ABERFAN SOCIAL CLUB X ........................... 7

THIS was an excellent match with the X starting very well with the trio of Glen Kitchen, Byron Jones and Phil Green holding over Johnny Andrews, Eugene Wells 121 and Gavin Moore 100 for an early lead which then became 2-0 with Mike O’Neill 100, S Rees and Dai James breaking Andrew Morgan, Josh Moore and Des Kendry ahead of the pairs legs.

The first of the pairs legs saw the Winch get into the game with John Andrews and Gavin Moore breaking the darts of Phil Green and Mike O’Neill but the relief was short lived with Byron Jones and Glen Kitchen 180 beating Andrew Morgan and Eugene Wells for a 3-1 away lead. Dai James and S Rees then increased the away side’s lead with a hold in the final pairs over Tyrone Broad and Des Kendry ahead of the singles encounters.

John Andrews 2x100 held throw over Glen Kitchen 180 in the first singles putting a second point on the board for the home side who then boasted a third with Gavin Moore breaking the throw of S Rees.

Phil Green returned Aberfan to the attack with a break over Andrew Morgan for a 5-3 lead before yet another break saw Eugene Wells beat Mike O’Neill to see the hosts trail 4-5.

Dai James beat Tyrone Broad in the next game giving the X another point before a last-game hold from Byron Jones 100, 139 saw him beat Des Kendry to complete a fine away win.

PENTREBACH LABOUR CLUB ............................... 5 MERTHYR EX CLUB ..... 6

A THRILLER here saw the Ex Club victorious by the odd game which started with Jason Baynham, Shane Williams 2x100 and Wayne O’Neill holding throw over Les Thomas 140, Eddie Jones and Aled Thomas for an early lead for the visitors which they quickly doubled with Jason Davies, Andrew Davies and Wayne Jones taking the darts off Tony Galliers, Gary Champion and Graham Price ahead of the pairs.

Long-time doubles dualists Tony Galliers 2x100 and Gary Champion got the first point on the board for Pentrebach with a break in the first pairs over Jason Davies and Andrew Davies but the ex were quick to reply with Shane Williams and Richard Knight breaking Aled Thomas 100 and Les Thomas 140 to go 3-1 ahead with Jason Baynham and Matthew Sullivan taking the final pairs over Eddie Jones and Graham Price for a 4-1 lead ahead of the singles.

Wayne Jones 2x140 took the first singles for the Ex with victory over Eddie Jones 2x140 before Aled Thomas 140, 180 beat Andrew Davies 100 (2-1) putting a second point on the board for the home side.

Jason Baynham beat Gary Champion putting the Ex 6-2 ahead and seemingly set for a high win but the home side had other ideas with Tony Galliers 2x100, 140 breaking the throw of Steve Mahoney to pull a point back for the home side who then gained a fourth with Graham Price 100, 2x140, 134 out holding over Shane Williams 100 by a 2-1 margin.

Les Thomas took the final point of the night for the hosts with a fine break over Wayne O’Neill 2x140.

DIVISION THREE IMPERIAL HOTEL ........ 5 MORLAIS TAVERN ....... 6

A GREAT game here going all the way in a nip ’n’ tuck affair. S Davies 135, Gareth Coombs 100 and George Scott took the opening triples for the away side beating Anthony Prosser, Paul Prosser and Adrian Williams but the lead was brief with Wayne James, Trevor Williams and Alan Hancox hitting back beating Nicky Griffiths, Chris Brogden and D Wells for a level game heading into the pairs games.

Gareth Coombs and George Scott 100 put the Tavern ahead for the second time with victory in the first pairs over Wayne James 100 and Trevor Williams and then the visitors lead 3-1 with S Davies 100, 126 and D Wells securing the first break of the game with victory over veterans John Donovan and Alan Hancox.

A second break then saw the Imp pull a second point back with Anthony Prosser and Paul Prosser beating Nicky Griffiths and Chris Brogden 100 in a hard fought battle in the last pairs encounter.

Wayne James 122 levelled the match at three apiece with a hold over D Wells but back came the Tavern with George Scott 140 getting the better of Trevor Williams and then a fine break from Nicky Griffiths 100 over Adrian Williams saw the visitors go 5-3 ahead just a point away from victory.

John Donovan 140 broke Chris Brogden to keep the hosts’ dreams alive at a point behind with Paul Prosser 100 then levelling the match with a hold over S Davies. The final leg was a hard fought game with Gareth Coombs 140 holding over Anthony Prosser 100 giving the visitors a very narrow win.