Goldmine cash in on great start
ON Friday evening in the Widnes & District Darts League, the Mill Brow RTB League continued.
In Division Two, Widnes Cricket Club at home to the Cricketers Arms conceded the first three games to the visitors’ John Mulholland, Brian Dwyer and Paul Mason.
The Cricket Club recovered a point via Ste Heesom & Ernie Griffiths.
The Cricketers Arms, however, were in good form as they took the next four games through John Blakely & Graham Fenney, Jimmy Rawlinson & Mark Johnson, Peter Mason and Graham Fenney to secure their team’s victory.
Rob Morris secured the final game for Widnes Cricket Club.
The Majors Arms at home to Hough Green SC lost the first two games to the visiting outfit’s Keith Glover and Barry Sefton.
The Majors came back to level the contest with two in a row through Kev Grice and their opening pair, Kev Grice & Ryan Lamey.
They then went into the lead as Luke Carey & Nicky Duff were victorious.
Parity was restored as Hough Green’s Russ Hardman & Tony Barker took the next game.
That was to be as good as it got for Hough Green as the Majors Arms rallied, taking the final three games and the match through Darren Attwood, Mark France and Nicky Duff.
The Mersey Hotel at home to the Goldmine had an awful night as the Goldmine took the first six games through Ray O’Connor, Adam Mullally, Tim Hunt, Sean Bell & Mike Glynn, James Holden & C Jackson and Peter Mullally & Adam Durbin.
The Mersey’s Paul Cotty took the next game but the Goldmine continued their roll, taking the remaining two games and the match through, Sean Bell and John Taylor. ● Reports from matches in Division One on page 50. ● any momentum following our successful 2016 season and wanted to begin 2017 planning with the senior coaching team as soon as possible,” coach Beattie said.
“Alongside myself as head coach, Simon Grice continues in his role as defensive coordinator.
“Simon has been with the Spartans since day one and I am extremely pleased he has committed to the Spartans for 2017.”
Grice said: “I am working hard finalising plans for the 2017 season, and I firmly believe our defence will be a force to be reckoned with in 2017.”
Continued coach Beattie: “I am also extremely pleased that Jason Smith, the head coach of one of our rivals Staffordshire Surge, has committed himself to the Spartans for 2017.
“He has coached the Surge to the play- offs for the last two seasons, so he will be bringing a wealth of coaching experience to the Spartans’ coaching team.”
Smith said: “I am extremely honoured to be joining the Halton Spartans coaching staff.
“The challenge has been laid down, and that is something I relish. 2017 will be an amazing season for the Spartans. I intend to make that happen.”
Added coach Beattie: “We are currently finalising plans for our positional coaching team, which will ensure our full playing squad gets the focus/specialised positional training required that will in turn not only benefit themselves and their development it will ensure it benefits the Spartans organisation.
“One of the biggest factors in a successful team is player retention year on year, and it’s very pleasing that almost 90 per cent of our 2016 playing squad have committed to the Spartans for the 2017 season.
“We have also held three very well attended open tryouts that has saw us recruit players from other clubs that have been massively impressed with the Spartans set-up, as well as a fresh batch of rookies who are new to the sport, some of which are already showing real promise.” ● The Weekly News will continue to keep all American Football fans updated on the Spartans’ progress on and off the gridiron at the Select Security Stadium. Anyone looking to get involved in the Spartans either as player, coach, off-field team member, or wants to discuss sponsorship partnership opportunities can contact General Manager Ian Derbyshire at derbyshirei44@hotmail.com