Stadium’s ‘A’ team draw the sting of their ‘B’ side to claim silverware
ON Friday evening the Widnes Cricket Club hosted their own cup finals, with the Corpy Club ‘A’ and the Halton Stadium ‘B’ opening the night with the first of the four quarter-finals.
The Stadium displayed their might early on taking the first three game in this five-a-side competition to seal victory through Joe Price, Barry Stanners and Alan Clark. Andy Ruane hit a 19-darter to give the Corpy some cheer, but it was soon wiped out by a 12 dart display from John Bowles.
Widnes BC ‘B’ and the Millfield ‘B’ were next up with Tommy Robertson opening the Bowlers’ account.
But the Millfield soon slammed the door shut as Keith Horabin levelled followed by a 13-darter from Alan Sutton to take the lead which gave them result as the Bowler had to concede the next game.
The Milly went on to make the scoreline comprehensive as Billy Fox threw a 14-darter.
The Birchfield and the Widnes CC played out the third last-eight contest with the hosts getting off to a great start with a 17-dart display from Kevin Baxter.
Billy Cain added to the total before a steadfast game from Andy Atkin sealed the match for the Widnes CC.
With two to go, the Birchfield finally got up and running as a 16 dart game from Keith Allen and a superb 12-darter from Carl Bryan provided some consolation.
The last of the quarter-finals was between the Simms Cross Institute ‘B’ and the Halton Stadium ‘A’.
The Stute started well through Andy Abbott, but again, a strong display from the Stadium outfit ensued as Eddie Dootson, Joe Kelly in 19 darts, Kevin Garcia in 19 and Alan Magee in 17 blew away any hopes the Stute had of winning.
In the semi-finals the draw saw the Widnes CC take on the Halton Stadium ‘A’.
The Cricket Club quickly found themselves on the back foot as a 19-dart game from ● Colin Rigby followed by a 17-darter from Alan Magee.
Billy Cain stepped up for the Cricket Club to pull a game back, but it was to no avail as Kevin Garcia with a 19 dart game booked the first slot in the final.
With one to play, Joe Kelly added to the Stadium’s total to make it an emphatic 4-1 result.
The second semi-final was the Millfield ‘B’ against the Halton Stadium ‘B’, with the Stadium drawing first blood through John Bowles.
The lead, however, did not last as Billy Fox quickly levelled. A 16-dart game from the Stadium’s John Kilkenny was cancelled out by Adam Mellor.
With all resting on the final game, Alan Sutton looked to have put the Milly through as he left Joe Price one dart to hit the bullseye. But hit it he did to draw the final game. On the restart, Joe Price took the match to make it an all-Halton Stadium final.
In the final, the two stadium outfits came head-to-head with the ‘A’ outfit taking it by the scruff of the neck.
The ‘A’ side’s Joe Kelly started the ‘B’ string’s downfall as he threw an excellent 13-darter.
Colin Rigby celebrated his birthday by adding the second, before Kevin Garcia with a 13-darter made the rest of the contest immaterial and gave the win and the honours to the Halton Stadium ‘A’.