Powell holds his nerve to secure the spoils for Mill Brow in a thriller
ON Friday evening in the Widnes & District Darts League, the Mill Brow SC RTB League continued.
In Division One, the Goldmine fell behind early to visitors Mill Brow as the first two games were won by Eric Peel and Carl Hackney.
Alan Mullally put the Goldmine on the scoreboard without conceding a leg of darts, but the Brow hit back through Kevin Helps & Dave Powell as they too posted a two-leg victory. Sean Bell & Terry Roach for the Goldmine and Jack Dunn & Carl Hackney for the Brow added to their team’s tally which left the Brow requiring just one of the last three singles games. Brian Spruce looked as though he was going to take the match, but Sean Bell came from a leg down to keep the Goldmine in with a chance of victory, which was enhanced further when Terry Roach went up in two straight legs to level the match at 4-4. With all resting on the final game Dave Powell with two quickfire legs gave the Brow the win by the narrowest of margins.
The Halton Stadium, at home to Widnes Cricket Club, romped to victory as they took all nine games. Alan Magee took the opener taking the second leg in 10 darts to register the first point. Kenny Murphy and Joe Price both won without dropping a leg of darts to secure the opening round of singles.
In the pairs, Joe Kelly & Eddie Dootson, with a winning 15 dart second leg, kept up the momentum, before John Bowles & Alan Magee, with an opening 10 dart display followed by an 18 darter, ensured the two match points were the Stadium’s.
The final game of pairs saw the Cricket Club take their first leg of darts but a 14-dart display by Tony Jackson & Barry Stanners levelled the contest and then went on to take the deciding third leg.
Back in the singles, Eddie Dootson with a 17-dart display in his second leg added to the Cricket lads’ woes. Joe Kelly with a 16-darter had to dig deep to win the deciding third leg of darts as Ernie Griffiths responded with a 16 dart leg of his own. The final game went to Colin Rigby as he edged out his opponent with a deciding third leg of darts.
The Wellington, at home to Simms Cross, were pushed all the way in a closely-fought match. The Simmies drew first blood as Peter Jerram took the opening game in two straight legs, but fortunes were soon reversed as both John Lewis and Lol Fonterigo with deciding third legs nudged the Wellington ahead.
Dave Batty & Peter Jerram levelled the match without dropping a leg in the opening pairs games, and it was still level at the end of the section as Ste Whitfield & James Holden for the Wellington and Glen Owen & Andy Abbott for the Stute held on to win with a deciding third leg.
Back in the singles, John Barber with a 2-0 win edged the Wellington towards the winning line as did Andy Abbott for the Stute minutes later to leave all resting on the final game, which was quickly resolved with a 14-darter in the second leg by Karl Whitfield for the Wellington.
The Widnes Bowling Club at home to the Millfield showed true grit and determination to keep up a title challenge.
Despite going three games down as Ian Wall, Danny Wood and Ray Dutton registered three in a row for the Millfield, the pairs saw the Bowler bounce back in fine style through Tommy Robertson & Alex McGill, Scott Bryne & Andy Beddows and Scott Grady & Joe Batty, all without dropping a leg of darts to level the match.
Alan Sutton looked to be getting the Milly up and running again, but Scott Grady resonded from a leg down to level with a 16 dart display, which was bettered with a 14 darter to give the Bowler the lead for the first time with two to play.
Mike Howard kept the Millfield’s hopes alive as he came from a leg down to square the match.
However, it was to no avail as Joe Batty romped over the winning line in two straight legs.