Birchfield’s cup of joy
ON Friday night in the Widnes & District Darts League, the Mill Brow SC Cup Finals were played at the Mill Brow SC.
In the first round, Millfield ‘B’ came from a leg down to win as Chris Taylor and Chris Hall rescued the situation.
The Mill Brow ‘A’ took out fellow teammates Mill Brow ‘C’ with wins from Carl Hackney and Eric Peel.
Goldmine ‘A’ romped to a 3-0 victory with Terry Roach the pick of the players with an 11-dart display.
Simms Cross ‘ B’ took the first two games through Glynn Owen and Andy Abbot to win their first round match against Widnes Bowling Club ‘A’ while Corpy ‘A’ struck with wins from Dave Cowans and Mark O’Connor despite Kev Garcia hitting a 15-darter for Halton Stadium ‘A’.
Widnes Bowling Club ‘B’ took their opening match against Simms Cross Institute ‘A’ without dropping a game through Scott Grady, Alex McGill and Joe Batty.
The Wellington ‘A’ taking on teammates Wellington ‘B’ came from a game down to progress to the next round through Anthony Hall and Karl Whitfield while the final game saw Halton Stadium ‘B’ dominate Corpy Club ‘B’ taking all three games to book their place in the second round.
In round two, the Birchfield ‘A’ took the first two games to beat the Mill Brow ‘A’ through Dave Herley and Trevor Chadwick, whilst the Millfield ‘B’, despite going ahead through Chris Taylor, had a fight on their hands as Cricketers Arms ‘B’ player Owen Batty levelled.
However, Chris Hall ensured a Millfield ‘B’ victory.
Widnes Bowling Club ‘B’ wrapped up the match quickly with wins from Scott Grady and Alex McGill it was scant consolation for the Corpy ‘A’ as Mark O’Conner took the final game.
Mill Brow ‘B’ opened strongly with wins from Jack Dunn and Dave Powell against the Wellington ‘A’ to ensure their progress to the last-eight whilst Karl ● Whitfield restored a bit of pride.
The Goldmine ‘A’ looking strong quickly made the quarter-finals through Terry Roach and Phil Corless, whilst Peter Mason gave the Cricketers Arms ‘A’ the final game.
Widnes Cricket Club ‘A’, having waited patiently for their first game, struck first through Kevin Baxter.
Dave Jones, however, levelled for the Birchfield ‘B’. But Billy Webb stepped up to put the Cricket lads through in the final game.
Tim Hunt with a 12-dart display got the Goldmine ‘B’ off to a flyer, and with teammate Barry Noonan backing him up, the Millfield ‘B’ were ousted despite Ian Wall taking the final contest.
The final encounter of the second round saw Glynn Owen with an 18-dart display put the Simms Cross Institute ‘B’ ahead.
However, the Stadium ‘B’ side’s Eddie Dootson soon levelled and teammate John Kilkenny wrapped it up for them.
In the quarter-finals, Halton Stadium ‘B’ took the early advantage against Widnes CC ‘A’ as Joe Kelly won with a 17-dart game. However, Billy Webb with a superb 13 darter levelled. But it was the Stadium who took the final game through John Kilkenny.
The Goldmine ‘B’, with a 14-darter from Tim Hunt, took the early advantage, but opponents Birchfield ‘A’ levelled via Trevor Chadwick and went on to win the match through Ian Sharples.
The Widnes Bowling Club also led from the front as Scott Grady took the opener. However, the Millfield ‘B’ team’s duo Chris Taylor and Chris Hall ensured their outfit’s place in the semi-finals.
The Goldmine ‘A’ via Terry Roach took the opener before yet another quarterfinal was won with the opposition taking the final two games, this time through the Mill Brow ‘B’ string’s Dave Powell in 13 darts and Paul Linger.
In the semi-finals, the Birchfield ‘A’ quickly booked their place in the final taking all three games against Mill Brow SC ‘B’ through Trevor Chadwick, Dave Herley and Ian Sharples.
The Halton Stadium ‘B’ with a 17-darter from Joe Kelly took the lead against the Millfield ‘B’. Chris Taylor struck back to level the match, but it was in vain as John Kilkenny gave the Stadium the spoils booking their place in the showdown for the silverware.
The final between the Halton Stadium ‘B’ and the Birchfield ‘A’, saw Trevor Chadwick peg back his opponent to give the Birchfield a game advantage.
However, Eddie Dootson for the Stadium was not going to be caught as he flew round in 14 darts.
With the destiny of the cup all resting on the final game of darts, both players were neck and neck all the way down to the inner bull and it was not long before Ian Sharples took the final game to give Second Division side Birchfield ‘A’ a well-earned victory and the Mill Brow SC Cup.