EVERSON’S SPORTS & TROPHIES (YSTRAD MYNACH) SPONSORED MERTHYR SUMMER DARTS LEAGUE 2017

THE final frenzied week of league action for the 2017 season saw some great games as the teams battled to secure their places in the Champions Of Champions Cup.

No quarter was asked and no quarter given as the teams got down to business in one last bid to secure their place in the top two spots of each section.

SECTION ONE ANGEL INN .................... 3 GRAWEN ARMS ............ 6

THE rampant and unbeaten Grawen finished their league campaign on a high with yet another big win, this time a 6-3 away success at the Angel Inn.

Phillip Locke and Lyn Jones 100 apiece took the opening leg with a hold over Mark Jones and Brent Morgan putting the visitors into a 1-0 lead which they then quickly doubled with Jason Launchbury and Steve Thomas 100 breaking the throw of Steve George 121 and Ron Davies in an exciting battle. Graham Hancock and Chris John then got the hosts into the game with an excellent break over Ryan Element and Roy Element to halve the deficit going into the match-deciding singles legs.

The first singles saw the sides draw level with Walter Williams making a rare appearance for the away side but still showing the class as he broke Chris John to put the Grawen 3-1 ahead.

The veteran Ron Davies 140 then produced a major shock with a break over Phil Locke putting a second point on the board for the home side before Jason Launchbury produced another break with a battling win over Mark Jones. Old Stager Allan Phillips kept the break of throw theme running with victory over Ryan Element earing the hosts their third victory of the match with a fifth consecutive singles break seeing the Grawen go 5-3 ahead with Steve Thomas beating a stubborn Glenn Callen. The final leg of the match saw the first singles hold with the vastly experienced Roy Element beating Brent Morgan to complete a fine away win.

VNU ................................ 3 RED LION B ................... 6

THE Lion mauled their hosts at the VNU in the last game of the league battles with an exciting 6-3 win that gives them confidence for the knockout cup competition that now lies ahead.

Clive Powell and Gareth Jenkins started well for the hosts breaking the throw of Jack Bush and Aaron Howard for an early lead but it was short lived as Paul-Scott Thomas and R Howard broke back beating Errold Jones and Rhiannon Jenkins for a level game.

Allen Moore and Marcus Clyne then secured the first hold of the game beating Mark Hadley and Tracey Goode earning the Lion a slender 2-1 lead heading into the singles games.

The ever reliable Errold Jones levelled the match with a hold in the first singles over Richard Howard but back came the visitors with Paul Scott-Thomas edging past Gareth Jenkins 100 and Jason Chamberlain then breaking Rhiannon Jenkins as they took a 4-2 lead.

A Morgan kept the visitors wheels rolling with a fine hold over Tracy Goode with Allen Moore then making the score at 6-2 with a good break over K Thomas with S Jones claiming the final point of the match for the VNU with an excellent break over Marcus Clyne.

SECTION TWO PENYDARREN SOCIAL CLUB C (SEASIDE) ........ 5 MERTHYR EX CLUB ..... 4

THIS was a good battle from beginning to end in a match that could have gone either way between two evenly matched sides.

Kevin Hyde and Johnny Murphy 100, 85 out put the hosts ahead with an early break over Jason Davies and Paul Bayliss but the Ex were very quick to reply with Shane Williams and Matthew Sullivan getting the better of Ceri Richards and Gavin Galleozzie in a hard fought game. The final pairs leg saw yet another break of throw with Ceri Stent and Drew Bradley 100 beating Wayne Jones and Steve Mahoney to earn the hosts a slender lead going into the singles games.

The first singles went the way of the home side with Kevin Hyde 137 holding over Jason Davies 112 away for a 3-1 lead which then became 4-1 with Ceri Richards breaking Paul Bayliss. Matthew Sullivan 112 away broke Ceri Stent pulling a second point back for the visitors, which then became three with Steve Mahoney 76 away breaking Drew Bradley. John Sedgemore made it 5-3 to the Pen with a fine hold over Shane Williams 140 with L Davies taking the last point of the match for the Ex with a good win over Johnny Murphy 100.

CYFARTHFA ARMS ...... 1 LORD RAGLAN ............. 8

THE leaping Lord impressed in their final league game with great 8-1 away win at the Cyfarthfa Arms.

Lance Thomas 102 away, 100 and Mike McLoughlin set the Lord on their way with victory over M Abbruzzese and John Toye and 1-0 soon became 2-0 with Lance O’Keefe and Mike Matthews securing a fine break over H Jones and D Bracegirdle.

The final pairs also went the way of the Lord with Brian Meek 140 away and Kevin Snowden holding successfully against Dominic Illari and Jarred Russell.

The first of the singles games saw P Foxhall finally get a point on the board for the home side with a hold over Lance O’Keefe but this unfortunately for them proved to be their only success as the Lord then went on to dominate the game starting with Mike McLoughlin holding over Dominic Illari and Lance Thomas breaking M Abbruzzese for a 5-1 lead. Brian Meek continued the onslaught with victory over Jarred Russell and a Mike Matthews break over H Jones 100 saw the visitors go 7-1 ahead. Kevin Snowden then completed the rout with a last leg hold over D Bracegirdle making it 8-1.

SECTION THREE GUEST KEEN BOWLS CLUB B ........................... 2 GUEST KEEN BOWLS CLUB A ........................... 7

THIS local derby saw the “away side” run out comfortable winners and maintain their unbeaten run.

Phil Williams and Steve Esterbanez got the Bowls A rolling with a solid hold over Tony Pollard and Adam Pollard and 2-0 then appeared on the scoreboard with Justin Davies 112 away, 140 and Terry Pearce breaking Mark Benbow and David Spencer.

The B side hit back in the final pairs with Wayne Robinson 100 away and Carl Jones scoring a fantastic break over Jamie Evans 112 away and Lyndon Price to cut the deficit to a point moving into the singles games.

Phil Williams 2x100 was in good form in the first singles, breaking Mark Benbow 100 in the first singles for a 3-1 lead and the excellent Jamie Evans 125, 126 then breaking the equally impressive David Spencer 100 away, 100 in a great game for a 4-1 lead. Tony Pollard put a temporary hold on the onslaught with a good hold over Lyndon Price 100 but the A team were quickly back on the attack taking the last three legs with victories for Jamie Evans 100, Andrew Coombes and Dale Pinch 100 over Adam Pollard, Steve Wilkes and Wayne Robinson respectively.

PENTREBACH LABOUR CLUB ............................... 4 YE-OLDE EXPRESS ...... 5

THIS was a ding-dong battle from beginning to end and could have gone either way with sides going for the points.

Eddie Jones and M Price put the home side into an early lead with a shock break over Steve Haman and Brian Nicholas but it was soon all square with Peter Locke 134 and Steve Nicholas 115 out breaking Rhys Lee 140 and Glen Kitchen in a hard fought game. Craig Clayton and the impressive Tony Galliers 100, 140 then maintained the break of throw theme with a win over Owain Davies and Dean Thomas giving the hosts a 2-1 lead going into the singles.

Peter Locke 100, 140 levelled the match with a first singles break over Craig Clayton and then a fine hold from Owain Davies 2x100 over Eddie Jones saw the Express go ahead for the first time at 3-2. Tony Galliers 112 away beat Steve Nicholas to make it three apiece and as the tension rose Wayne Titcomb held over Glen Kitchen putting the away side ahead again at 4-3. Rhys Lee 100 held over the unfortunate Dean Thomas 109 away, 100 making it 4-4 and in a tense last leg tussle Brian Nicholas held his nerve and throw to beat M Price 129 and take the match for the away side by the narrowest of margins.