County’s mixed fortunes in season opener
JUNIOR DARTS
TYNE and Wear youth welcomed Cleveland to Gateshead’s Teams Club for the opening fixture of the Northern Youth Darts Organisation’s 2019/20 season.
In the under-18 section, Cleveland stormed into a 4-1 lead, Drew Mole recording the only point for the home side.
Finlay Earnshaw put on a man-of-the-match display to make the score 5-2 to Cleveland.
Wins for Marley Brooke and Natasha Kennedy gave Tyne and Wear’s girls a 2-1 victory, the match score now 6-4 to the visitors.
Cleveland’s Cameron Nicholson won a tight game against Arran Keogh to take the visitors to within a point of victory.
Wins for Tyne and Wear’s Jack Male and Corey Dawson ensured a tight finish, the score 7-6.
Tyne and Wear captain Mason Harmerthen lost another close game to give the visitors a deserved match victory.
A superb 27+ performance from Tyne and Wear’s John WIghtman gave the under-21s a 3-2 victory, an entertaining match finishing 8-7.
■■ TWO of the Tyne and Wear squad were involved in the England Matchplay Finals at Selsay.
Natasha Kennedy had a tough draw and was beaten by England international Shannon Reeves.
Durham’s Lauren Stokoe made the final, where she defeated in a close match 3-2 by another international Beau Greaves.
Jack Male came through a tough draw to make the final, having to overcome Brad Philips, Luke Littler and Connor Arberry.
He then came up against Charlie Manby, fighting back from 3-0 down to level at 3-3 only for Manby to take the deciding leg.