Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Davis has the decisive say in cup cliffhanger
Darts round-up
Chris Davis was the hero for Angling Club B as they pipped Rising Sun to reach round two of the Herne Bay & District Winter Darts League’s Ken Cattell Team Cup Knock-out. The game was deadlocked at 5-5 when Davis narrowly defeated Sun skipper Alan Howlett 2-1 to take his team through. The Anglers had led 3-2 going into the singles games, but the Sun levelled through Graeme Poynter. Anglers skipper and man-of-the-match Craig Reeves then put his side ahead again only for Sun to turn things around with wins for Charles Gillibrand and Nigel Grace. Anglers debutant Laurence Parker once again tied the match up before Davis emerged as the matchwinner. Angling Club A ran out 9-2 winners over the Heron who trailed 4-1 going into the singles game. Trevor Morris promptly reduced the deficit to 4-2, but that was as good as it got for the Heron as the Anglers pulled clear with wins for George Grosvenor, skipper Gary Keeley, man-of-the-match Luke Adby, debutant Kevin Moran and Les Bates. Adby and team-mate Matt Nye both hit maximum 180s. Catholic Club complete the line up for the next round after a 7-4 home win over league newcomers, Whitstable Labour Club. Catholic skipper Martin Murphy led by example, putting in a man-of-the-match which included winning the opening singles. Labour counterpart Max Claughton responded with a singles win of his own, but any comeback hopes were shortlived as the Catholic secured the win through Adam Farmer. The Labour Club did pull the score back to 6-4 with wins from Harrison Rougine and Steven Russ, only to see the Catholic Club win the last singles game through Derek Male. Labour Club’s Claughton hit a maximum 180.
Castle Inn A claimed the bragging rights when they played their own B team in the first round of cup matches in the Faversham Darts League. The A team led 2-1 after the doubles, but a singles win for Keith Ralph levelled the match, before Steve Wright put the A team back in front. Helped by a 180 Kyle Boakes then brought the B team level again only for victories by Matt Bolton and Brett Eason to ease the A team clear before Tony Clemance took the last game for the B team leaving the score at 5-4. The Football Club led Bull A 2-1 out of the doubles and then won all the singles to romp home 8-1. Callum Leader had a 105 checkout. Resurgent Brents won 9-0 at the Queens Head at Boughton dropping just one leg while Market B were in dominant mood away to Bull B where they opened up a 7-0 lead before Jim Wynn’s singles victory salvaged some pride for the hosts. Market captain Nobby Gore produced a 128 checkout while Craig Preston had a maximum 180. The Three Tuns won 5-1 at Railway Hotel with singles wins for Dink Harman, captain Benn Swinfield and Rory Gatward, who also had a 180. The Rugby Club and holders Market A respectively.