WORTHINGTON’S MERTHYR & DISTRICT DARTS LEAGUE

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

THE Olde Express is now stoked up and getting the old wheels turning and chuffing along with a tremendous away win at fortress Daggers B.

Peter Locke 132, 140, Darren Locke and Dean Thomas 134 got the Express rolling along with a hold in the opening triples over Karl Manns, Warren Rees, and Derek Dobbins 100 but the Daggers struck back in the second triples with John Terrett 140, Kevin Downing and Dai Phelps successfully holding over Wayne Titcomb, Steve Nicholas and Brian Nicholas for a level game ahead of the pairs legs.

The away side regained the lead in the first pairs with Peter Locke and Steve Nicholas 100, 99 out overcoming the challenge of Phil Morris 100 and Lloyd Davies and then the scoreline read 3-1 in the visitors’ favour with Dean Thomas 125 and Brian Nicholas breaking the throw of Kevin Downing and Karl Manns. The final pairs leg saw Dereck Dobbins 135 and Dai Phelps 100, 180 in great from to break Darren Locke 100 and Wayne Titcomb and pull the home side back to within a point heading into the match-deciding singles battles.

The first singles saw Peter “The Great” Locke 2x100, 140, 180, 76 out, including a 14-dart leg, break Lloyd Davies (2-0) putting the Express 4-2 ahead which then became 5-2 with Darren Locke 3x100, 139, 140 holding (2-0) over a battling Warren Rees 121, 180. Brian Nicholas 4x100 completed a battling break (2-1) over John Terrett 4x100 further increasing the Express’s lead and a following hold from Steve Nicholas 2x100, 135, 140 (2-0) over Dai Phelps 3x100 put the visitors 7-2 ahead. Phil Morris 2x100 scored a splendid 2-0 hold over Dean Thomas 121 putting a third point on the board for the home side with Wayne Titcomb 100 then completing the win with a 2-0 hold over a stunned Dereck Dobbins 3x100, 134.

HEOLGERRIG SOCIAL CLUB ............................... 4 GUEST KEEN BOWLS CLUB A ........................... 7

THE home side got off to an excellent start with Colin Morgan, Trad Davies and Meirion Evans breaking the throw of Phil Williams, Lyndon Price and Justin Davies 100 apiece but the lead was quickly cut short with Jamie Evans 100, Andrew Coombs and Dale Pinch getting the better of Ray Williams 100, Bob Watkins and Mike Evans in a hard fought game.

Justin Davies 3x100 and Phil Williams 2x100 were in splendid form in the first pairs cruising past Iory Haines and Trad Davies putting the visitors 2-1 ahead and then a break from Jamie Evans and Craig Morgan over Ray Williams 100 and Mike Evans 140 saw the Guest expand their lead to 3-1. Colin Morgan 180 and Meirion Evans 100 took the last pairs leg for the home side with a break over Dale Pinch 2x100, 140 and Steve Thomas to reduce the arrears to a single point going into the match-deciding singles match-ups.

The first singles game saw veteran Iory Haines 2x100, 140 beat former singles champion Jamie Evans 100, 140 by a 2-1 margin to level the match at 3-3 but parity was brief as Phil Williams 3x100, 2x140 held throw (2-1) over Colin Morgan 115, 121, 140 putting the Guest 4-3 ahead but again the home side fought back with Mike Evans 3x100 beating Steve Thomas (2-0) to level at 4-4. Dale Pinch 4x100 won a hardfought battle with Bob Watkins 3x100, 140 with a hold (2-1) gaining the lead for the visitors again and a following break from Justin Davies 3x100, 119 over Ray Williams 2x100 saw the Guest go 6-4 ahead. The final game went the way of the Guest with Craig Morgan 2x100, 123, 125 holding (2-1) over Meirion Evans 3x100 in another closely fought encounter.

MERTHYR LABOUR CLUB ............................... 5 BAILI-GLAS B ................ 6

GERAINT Thomas 121, Jeff Pearce 100, 105 and Steve Haman 100 held the opening triples over Ron Morgan, Chris Galleozzie 100 and Jason Baynham for an early Baili lead but back came the Labour Club in the second game with Kevin Forbes 100, David Rowlands 140 and Gareth Dunn 140 getting the better of Matthew Quinlan 100, Andrew Rough 100 and Mervyn Matthews for a level game ahead of the pairs.

Matthew Quinlan 140 and Andrew Rough held throw in the first pairs over a battling Kevin Forbes 100 and Gareth Dunn 100, 180 but back came the home side with Chris Galleozzie 100 and Jason Baynham edging past Steve Haman and Mervyn Matthews. The Baili then took a 3-2 lead heading into the singles with Geraint Thomas 2x100, 70 out and Jeff Pearce 118 beating David Rowlands and Kevin Mahoney 100 apiece with a hold as the sides readied themselves for the singles encounters.

Gareth Dunn 3x100, 121 beat Geraint Thomas 100, 135 with a 2-0 hold levelling the contest at 3-3 with Andrew Rough 3x100, 122, 140 then holding (21) over Chris Galleozzie 2x100, 140, 180 edging the Baili 4-3 ahead. Matthew Quinlan 100, 139, 2x140, 180 fought back from a leg down to beat (2-1) Kevin Forbes 2x100, 180, 80 out, including a 15-dart first leg, to put the visitors 5-3 ahead. Ron Morgan 4x100 beat Jeff Pearce 2x140 with a splendid 2-0 break and a hold, 2-1 from Jason Baynham 3x100, 125, 135 over Mervyn Matthews 2x100, 180 saw the sides level at five apiece. The last game was a nip ’n’ tuck affair with Steve Haman holding his nerve and throw to beat home skipper David Rowlands 3x100, 121, 122, 140 by a 2-1 margin and take the match 6-5 for a delighted and relived Baili side.

DIVISION TWO BAILI-GLAS A ................ 9 ABERFAN SOCIAL CLUB X ........................... 2

THE X started well with Greg Butler, Glen Kitchen 100 and Gethin King holding throw over Viv Morgan 120, Ian Thomas and Terry Morgan but the scores were soon level with Brian Roberts 140, Mark Hulbert and Tim Charleston beating Mike O’Neill, Charlie Davies and Dai James.

Brian Roberts 174 and Terry Morgan 100 produced the first break of the match with victory over Mike O’Neill and Charlie Davies in the first pairs putting the home side 2-1 ahead which then became 3-1 with Viv Morgan and Andrew Morgan 100 holding over Greg Butler 2x100 and Glen Kitchen in a hard fought game. The final pairs leg saw a second break with Ian Thomas and Hywel Llewellyn beating Gethin King and Dai James for a 4-1 home lead going into the singles match-ups.

Viv Morgan 100, 140, 85 out took the first singles with a 2-0 hold over Glen Kitchen 123, 2x140 pushing the hosts further ahead and then they held a 6-1 lead with the Hywel Llewellyn 100, 125, 140 making a stunning A side debut with a 2-0 break over Greg Butler 4x100 in a great game. Ian Thomas 4x100, 101, 72 out was in great form with a 2-1 hold over Gethin King 140 as the home side extended their lead with Tim Charleston 100, 125 breaking Dai James 100 (2-0) for a 8-1 lead. Charlie Davies 2x100 earned the visitors a second point with a 2-0 break over Mark Hulbert 100 but the last word went to the home side with Brian Roberts 100, 60 out breaking Mike O’Neill (2-0) to complete a fine 9-2 home win.

LORD RAGLAN ............. 3 ROSE & CROWN ............ 8

THE Lord continue to battle hard in the second division but still find it a big challenge as they try to adapt to life in the higher leagues.

Karl Hunt, Mike Matthews and Kiron Meek got the hosts off to a great start with an early break over Liam Russell, Robert Phelps and Paul O’Dell but their joy was short lived with Kristian Dowd, Kevin Morgan and John Wood 100 breaking back over Mike McLoughlin, Lance Thomas and Brian Meek 100 for a level game.

Liam Russell 100 and Kristian Dowd 2x100 had the first hold of the match with victory over Lance Thomas and Mike McLoughlin but back came the Lord with Kiron Meek and Brian Meek 2x140 holding over Phil John and Trevor Williams for a level game. The final pairs went the way of the Rose with Kevin Morgan and Steve Evans 100 holding over Mike Matthews and Karl Hunt giving the visitors a 3-2 lead going into the singles battles.

Liam Russell 100, 105 edged the away side further ahead with a win over Karl Hunt against the throw and then a hold from Paul O’Dell 3x100 over Mike McLoughlin 100, 121 (2-0) made it 5-2. Kristian Dowd 2x100 beat Kiron Meek 100, 104 putting another point in the Rose garden before a splendid game saw Brian Meek 140, 180 beat Robert Phelps 2x100, 140, 180 with a 2-1 break to pull a third point back for the home side. Veteran John Wood 2x100, 125 beat Lance Thomas 100 with a break putting the Rose 7-3 ahead with Phil John 121 then completing the win with a 2-0 hold over Mike Matthews 100.

GUEST KEEN BOWLS CLUB B ........................... 4 MERTHYR CONSERVATIVE CLUB 7

JONATHON Davies 100, Ron Phillips 100 and C Thomas put the Con into an early lead with a hold over Mark Benbow, Mark Virgin 100 and Robert Powell and then a break from Colin Lloyd 2x100, John Hulbert and Geoff Jackson 140 over Tony Pollard, Wayne Robinson and Dai Spencer saw the away side go 2-0 ahead.

Jonathon Davies and M Hughes 100 held throw in the first pairs over Dai Spencer and Robert Powell making it 3-0 before Tony Pollard and Wayne Robinson 100 beat Chris Stansfield and Eddie Cunnington pulling a point back for the hosts. Mark Benbow and Mark Virgin 100 then cut the deficit to a single point going into the singles with a break over C Thomas 3x100 and Chris Price in the final pairs leg.

C Thomas 100, 2x140 broke Mark Benbow 2x100 (2-0) putting the Con 4-2 ahead which then became 5-2 with Jonathon Davies 100, 120 holding 2-0 over Mark Virgin 100, 140. Robert Powell 100 pulled a point back for the Guest beating M Hughes 120, 121, 123, with a 2-0 hold but back came the Con with Chris Price 3x100, 116, 140 beating Tony Pollard 2x100, 121 with a 2-0 hold. Dai Spencer 100 put a third point on the board for the hosts beating Chris Stansfield 139, 140 before Eddie Cunnington sealed the win with a 2-0 hold over Wayne Robinson 120.

WHITE HORSE .............. 4 PENTREBACH LABOUR CLUB ............................... 7

EDDIE Jones, M Price and Gareth Jones put the visitors ahead with a hold over John Thomas 100, Phil Martin and Roy Evans and soon 2-0 appeared on the marking board with Gwyn Jones, Gary Champion and Josh O’Keefe breaking the throw of Steve Hamer, Trevor Jones and Gary Price.

Gary Champion 106 and Josh O’Keefe extended the lead with a hold over Wayne Morgan 100 and Sean Price and the points kept on piling up for the away side with Gwyn Jones and Graham Price breaking Steve Hamer and Chris Price 100 apiece and Eddie Jones and M Price 140 holding over John Thomas 100 and Roy Evans for a five-zip lead heading into the singles.

Rocking Roy Evans 3x100 beat M Price 135 with a 2-0 hold to get the Horse up and running but the visitors were quick to return to the attack with Gwyn Jones holding 2-1 over Gary Price. John Thomas 3x100, 140 held throw 2-0 over Eddie Jones 100 grabbing a second point for the Horse with Wayne Morgan 2x100, 125 then adding a third with a fine break over Josh O’Keefe, Sean Price 100 beat old head Gary Champion 140 with a hold for a fourth home point before Graham Price 123 beat Steve Hamer 100, 121 to complete the away side’s fine win.

DIVISION THREE MERTHYR VALE EX CLUB A (DAGGERS A) .. 8 COLLIERS CWTCH ....... 3

THE Daggers were sharp here getting straight to the point with Nicky Baldwin, Robert Lloyd and Kerry Lloyd breaking the darts of H Lawrence 100, Owain Locke and Owain Williams for an early lead and this they then doubled with Mike Terrett 100, Steve Llewellyn and D Thomas 100 holding over Martyn Jones, R Davies and P Beck for a 2-0 lead going into the pairs.

P Beck and G Williams 126 got the Cwtch into the game with a hold in the first pairs over Nicky Baldwin and S Sullivan and then a fine effort from M Lawrence and Owain Locke saw them break Mike Griffiths 100 and D Thomas to level the match at two apiece as the sides approached the final pairs leg. Steve Llewellyn and Mike Terrett 100, 121 broke the throw of R Davies and Martyn Jones to earn the hosts a 3-2 lead heading into the vital singles matches.

Mike Terrett held his darts over M Lawrence nudging the Daggers 4-2 ahead which then became 5-2 with Nicky Baldwin breaking P Beck. Steve Llewellyn 100 held throw over Owain Locke putting the home side 6-2 ahead with R Davies then pulling a point back for the away side with a fine hold over Mike Griffiths. The last two points went the way of the home side with wins for S Sullivan and Robert Lloyd over Martyn Jones and G Williams 100 respectively.

RED LION ....................... 4 PARK VIEW ................... 7

ANDREW Williams, Jason Scanlon and Bryn Williams 110 got the Park up and running with a successful hold over Ian Davies 125, Jake Howard and David Richards and a break from Ian Laing, Ian Goode 100 and Richard Bennett over Paul ScottThomas 100, Aaron Howard and Richard Howard saw the away side go 2-0 ahead.

Aaron Howard and Jamie Chamberlain got the home side into the game taking the first pairs against the darts beating Ricky Cross 100, 125 and Josh Moore with a fine break but back came the away side with Ian Goode 100 and Ian Laing beating Jake Howard and Richard Howard to make it 3-1 in the Park’s favour. Allen Moore and Richard Chamberlain 100 then put a second point on the board for the home side with a break over Jason Scanlon 100 and Bryn Williams to leave them trailing by just one point going into the singles.

Allen Moore beat Ian Goode with a hold to square the contest at three apiece with Ian Laing 100 then holding over Jamie Chamberlain 105 to put the away side back ahead. Andrew Williams broke Richard Calahane putting the visitors 5-3 ahead which then became 6-3 with Keiron Pike 2x100 holding throw over Dai Richards 2x100 in a great game. Ian Davies held over Richard Bennett for a fourth home point before Ricky Cross held over Paul Scott-Thomas 100 to complete the Park’s splendid win.

IMPERIAL HOTEL ........ 6 VNU ................................ 5

ANTHONY Prosser 121, Paul Prosser and Adrian Williams took the first point for the Imp with a break of throw over Mark Hadley, Gareth Jenkins and Kendrick Howe 100 but the lead was brief as Clive Powell, Rhiannon Jenkins and Steve Darlow broke back over Wayne James, Chris Llewellyn and Alan Hancox to level going into the pairs.

Wayne James 125 and Chris Llewellyn 100 took the first pairs for the home side with a break over Tracey Goode and S Jones for a 2-1 home lead which then became 3-1 with Anthony Prosser and younger brother Paul holding over Gareth Jenkins 105, 120 and Mark Hadley. Clive Powell and Rhiannon Jenkins then pulled a point back for the VNU with a hold over Adrian Williams and Alan Hancox to trail by a point going into the singles.

Tracey Goode broke the throw of Anthony Prosser to make it 3-3 with Steve Darlow 100 then holding over Adrian Williams to put the away side 4-3 ahead. Wayne James edged past S Jones 100 to square at 4-4 before Terry Dowman beat Kendrick Howe 100 putting the hosts 5-4 ahead, Chris Llewellyn 100 beat Clive Powell making it 6-4 to the hosts with Gareth Jenkins then taking the last leg for the VNU with a good hold over Paul Prosser. Week Four reports – page 8