WORTHINGTON’S MERTHYR & DISTRICT DARTS LEAGUE

THE final night of league action in the Worthington’s Merthyr & District Darts League for the 2016/17 season produced a dramatic night of drama, excitement, joy, tension and tears with three teams in contention for the top spot in Division One and trophy places and relegation spots to be decided in other divisions.

As the tungsten flew towards its target, texts also filled the air with teams trying to keep up to date with their opponents’ scores while also concentrating on their own games.

Tears of joy or tears of despair which would flow with the beer post-match? Sweet or bitter sweet all would be revealed as the final Friday flings got under way. Long months of battle would now come down to one night of drama where it could all depend on one game, one leg or even one dart. Who would hold their nerve and who would wilt under the pressure as the tungsten torture got under way on the final night.

DIVISION ONE BAILI-GLAS B .............. 10 MERTHYR VALE EX CLUB B (DAGGERS) ...... 1

THE Baili B went into the game one point behind the joint leaders from the Guest Keen Bowls Club A and the defending champions from the Merthyr Labour Club but although they were playing at home they had very difficult opponents in the guise of the Daggers B and knew they had to be at their best to get a result.

The home side started well with Geraint Thomas 2x100, 147 out, Andrew Rough 100 and Mervyn Matthews breaking the throw of Phil Morris, Lloyd Davies 100, 140 and Dereck Dobbins for an early lead which they then doubled with Matthew Quinlan 180, Steve Haman 100 and Jeff Pearce 140 comfortably holding over Karl Manns, Warren Rees and Dai Phelps in the final triples contest.

Matthew Quinlan 100, 140 and Steve Haman 100 kept the Baili rolling along with a break in the first pairs over Phil Morris and Lloyd Davies 100, 140 and a following hold by Andrew Rough 100, 112 out and Mervyn Matthews against John Terrett and Warren Rees 100 saw the Baili go 4-0 ahead. A fine break in the final pairs from Geraint Thomas 100 and Jeff Pearce 124, 180 over Dai Phelps and Dereck Dobbins completed a clean sweep of the pairs legs and gave the Baili a five-zip lead going into the now vital singles match-ups.

The first of the singles games was a ton fest as the Typhoon Geraint Thomas 6x100, 140, 82 out held throw (2-1) with legs of 18 and 20 darts over Lloyd Davies 3x100, 140 (16-dart leg) making it 6-0 and then 7-0 appeared with the Mighty Quinn Matthgew Quinlan 100, 180 in legs of 16 and 22 darts breaking the throw of Warren Rees 105, 140 (2-0). The Galactico Andrew Rough 100, 121, 125, 140, 112 out kept the home side on target for a dramatic victory with a hold (2-0) in legs of 17 and 18 darts over Karl Manns with the Terminator Jeff Pearce 2x100, 3x140 in legs if 14 and 20 darts breaking Dai Phelps (2-0) 100, 140 to make it a remarkable 9-0. Mervyn “The Magician” Matthews 3x100, 137 put in a battling performance in legs of 22 and 23 darts to hold throw (2-1) over Dereck Dobbins 3x100, 140 (26dart leg) making it 10-0 to the Baili and with just one game left a remarkable title win for the hosts now looked on the cards. The darting gods and lady luck had other ideas though dealing a cruel blow to the home side with party popper John Terrett 6x100, 132, legs of 22 and 25 darts holding throw over Steve Haman 3x100, 118, 140 (22-dart leg) by a 2-1 margin leaving the Baili player and his teammates distraught with a result that would ultimately see the Baili as runners-up for a second consecutive year.

GUEST KEEN BOWLS CLUB A ........................... 9 PENYDARREN SOCIAL CLUB B ........................... 2

THE Guest B went into the final game of the season as joint leaders and with the perfect league record of played 17 won 17 and were favourites to lift this year’s title barring a major collapse.

The Bowls got quickly rolling with Phil Williams 180, Justin Davies and Craig Morgan 100 breaking the throw of Neil Smith, Graham Elias and Dai Richards 100, and 2-0 then appeared on the scoreboard with Scott Bayliss 100, 92 out, Dale Pinch and Jamie Evans 100 holding over Steve Smith, Lyndon Price 125 and Nathan Morgan 140 as the hosts got off to a good start in pursuit of the Division One crown.

Phil Williams 2x100, 120 and Craig Morgan 79 out took the first of the pairs legs against the darts with victory over Neil Smith and Graham Elias for a 3-0 lead but then the Bowls went off track with Nathan Morgan 138 and Dai Richards breaking Justin Davies and Jamie Evans 100 apiece to make a mark for the Pen and then they grabbed a second point with a hold from Steve Smith 134 and Lyndon Price 140 over Scott Bayliss and Dale Pinch as the sides prepared for the singles games.

Scott Bayliss 100, 135, 2x140 steadied the nerves for the hosts with a fine 2-0 hold over Steve Smith 101, and then a hard fought second singles saw Phil Williams 4x100, 140, 100 out battle from 1-0 to break the legendary Lyndon Price 2x100, 2x140 and take another vital point for the glorious Guest. Jamie Evans 118 out battled to a hard fought nervy 2-1 hold over Nathan Morgan 100, 125 and then another tense nervous edgy affair saw Craig Morgan 100, 140, 180 battle back from 1-0 down to beat Dai Richards 100 and put the home side 7-2 ahead and just on course for the league crown. Justin Davies 2x100, 2x140 held throw (2-0) over Graham Elias adding another point to the hosts total and then with results elsewhere just about going their way Dale Pinch 100, 140 broke the throw of Neil Smith 135 by a 2-0 margin to take the match for the Guest 9-2, maintain their remarkable unbeaten league record and deservedly claim the division crown for the 2016/17 season.

MERTHYR LABOUR CLUB ............................... 7 GRAWEN ARMS ............ 4

THE defending champions from the Merthyr Labour Club went into the game knowing the destiny of this year’s title was still very much within their grasp, but in all fairness they had the hardest task of the three contenders but had vast experience of tough battles in the local league and at national level in the CIU Championships.

The hosts got their bid for final fling glory under way with Anthony Carstairs 100, Kevin Forbes 100, 140 and Gareth Dunn breaking the throw of Phil Locke, Marcus Davies 100, 105 and Jason Launchbury for an early advantage which they quickly doubled with Wayne Davies, Chris Galleozzie 100, 121 and Ron Morgan holding throw over Kerry Green, Lyn Jones and Roy Element ahead of the pairs legs.

The first of the pairs games saw evergreen Kerry Green 100, 2x180 and Jason Launchbury dominate with throw to beat Wayne Davies 100 and Kevin Forbes and get the visitors into the game and then they drew level with Lyn Jones 180 and Adrian Thomas 119 breaking Anthony Carstairs and Chris Galleozzie 100 apiece in the next game. The final pairs leg saw the Grawen take the lead with Phil Locke 140 and Marcus Davies holding over Gareth Dunn 115 and Ron Morgan 100 as the pressure began to mount on the home side in defence of their tilting title.

Phil Locke 3x100, 2x140 broke the throw (2-1) of Wayne Davies 140 in the first of the singles edging the Grawen into a 4-2 lead and effectively end their hosts defence of the title before Kevin Forbes 100, 2x140 scraped past Marcus Davies 100, 120, 121, 2x140 with a 2-0 break putting a third point on the scoreboard for the home side. A remarkable third singles saw Anthony Carstairs 100, 3x140 hold throw (2-0) over the excellent Kerry Green 100, 140, 2x180 squaring the game at four apiece with Chris Galleozzie 125, 135 then securing a fine break (20) over Jason Launchbury 2x100 nudging the home side 5-4 ahead. Gareth Dunn 2x100, 140 held firm (2-0) over the living legend Adrian Thomas for a 6-4 lead with Ron Morgan 100, 105, 140, 180 then completing the victory with a 2-0 break over Roy Element which, unfortunately, was not enough to retain their title as they finished in third place this time around.

HILLS PLYMOUTH CRICKET CLUB ............. 6 BAILI-GLAS A ................ 5

THE already relegated Baili A finished their campaign with yet another defeat but the battling nature of their performance and never-give-up attitude will surely stand then in good stead for next time around when they hope to bounce back.

Ian Thomas, Kerry Ryan and Stewart Charleston impressed in the opening triples beating Jason Castaldi, Aled Walters and Craig Clayton with a hold of throw but the scores were soon level with Dean Lewis 100, John Harnedy 100 and Jason Woodford 2x100 running riot over Terry Morgan, Andrew Morgan and Tim Charleston in the final triples.

Aled Walters 125 and Jason Castaldi produced the first break of throw of the match with a narrow win over Terry Morgan and Kerry Ryan in the first pairs and a hold from John Harnedy 100 out and Craig Clayton 2x100 over Andrew Morgan 100 and Tim Charleston saw the Cric go 3-1 ahead. The visitors remained in touch in the game with Ian Thomas 140 and Stewart Charleston holding throw over Dean Lewis and Keith Harnedy to trail 3-2 going into the match deciding singles games.

John Harnedy 140 held throw over Andrew Morgan 2x100 by a 2-0 margin to edge the home side 4-2 ahead but the deficit was then down to a single point again as Stewart Charleston 2x100, 115, 140 held throw (2-1) over Jason Castaldi 100, 2x140, 180 with Jason taking the second leg in just 13 darts. Keith Harnedy 3x100 battled hard with Terry Morgan 2x100 with the Baili man taking the game against the throw to level at 4-4 before Craig Clayton 2x100, 140, 105 out beat an out of sorts Kerry Ryan 2x100 with a 2-0 break. The break of throw theme continued in the tenth game with Ian Thomas 3x100 beating John Harnedy 2x100, 123 (2-1) for a level match at five apiece with Dean Lewis 2x100, 125 taking the last game for the hosts (2-0) over Tim Charleston 135.

YE-OLDE EXPRESS ...... 5 HEOLGERRIG SOCIAL CLUB ............................... 6

NOPE, your eyes do not deceive you, it is 6-5 to Heolgerrig.

At the start of the season the Express were one of the fancied teams for the title but a season of indifferent results, as displayed in their final game, saw their title challenge fall apart finishing a little off the pace.

Ray Williams, Mike Evans 100 and Trad Davies 105 held throw in the opening triples over Brian Nicholas, Steve Nicholas 100 and Owain Davies 100, 117 for the early lead which the visitors then doubled with Colin Morgan 180, Meirion Evans 100 and Iory Haines breaking the throw of Peter Locke, Darren Locke 100 and Wayne Titcomb 123 just ahead of the pairs to stun the home support.

Ray Williams 100 and Kevin Roberts heaped more misery on their hosts with a hold over Wayne Titcomb and Steve Nicholas 100 apiece in the first pairs and then a major disappointment for the home side saw Peter Locke 125, 140 and Darren Locke 100 have their throw broken by Meirion Evans 2x100, 125 and Trad Davies as the away side took a shock 4-0 lead. Dean Thomas 180 and Owain Davies then sparked the hosts into life with a break in the final pairs over Iory Haines and Bob Watkins 140 to give them something to play for going into the singles battles.

It was business for usual for Peter “The Great” Locke 100 with a 2-0 hold over King Kevin Roberts 121, 140 in the first of the singles as the hosts halved the deficit and then it was down to a point with Steve Nicholas 5x100, 180 breaking Mike Evans 3x100, 134 by a 2-1 margin. Darren Locke 3x100 secured a 2-1 hold over Colin Morgan 100 to level the match but Heolgerrig went ahead again with veteran Iory Haines 3x100, 114 beating Wayne Titcomb 3x100 by a 2-0 score. Dean Thomas 100, 107, 180 saw off the challenge of Bob Watkins with a 2-0 hold making it five apiece and in a final game thriller, veteran Ray Williams 100, 2x125, 135 secured a hard fought 2-1 hold over Owain Davies 2x100, 121, 125, 2x140 to snatch victory for the away side.

DIVISION TWO MERTHYR EX CLUB ..... 8 ABERFAN SOCIAL CLUB A ........................... 3

FINALLY it’s Division One here we come for the Merthyr Ex Club who secure runners-up spot and promotion to the top table with a fine 8-3 win over the visiting Aberfan A.

Jason Davies 140, Andrew Davies and Steve Mahoney got the promotion party under way with a break in the opening triples over Peter Emmanuel, Kevin Downing 100 and Wyndham Green and then it was 2-0 with Jason Baynham 100, 140, Wayne O’Neill and Shane Williams 125 holding over Josh O’Keeffe, Wayne Morris and Vic Jones in the second and final triples.

Vic Jones 100 and Phil Morris got the visitors into the game with a hold in the first pairs over Shane Williams 180 and Richard Knight but back came the Ex with Jason Baynham and Wayne O’Neill 100 holding over Kevin Downing and Peter Emmanuel 100, 140 to take a 3-1 lead before Jason Davies 132 and Matthew Sullivan 100, 123 made it 4-1 with a break over Wyndham Green and Josh O’Keeffe in the final pairs.

Shane Williams 3x100, 119, 140 took the first singles with a 2-1 hold over Vic Jones 128 making it 5-1 with Wayne Morris 100, 120 then pulling a point back for Aberfan with a fine 2-0 hold over Steve Mahoney. Jason Davies 100 snatched a scruffy 2-1 hold over Peter Emmanuel 100, 2x125 to put the Ex 6-2 ahead with Jason Baynham 3x100 then making it 7-2 with a 2-0 win over Kevin Downing 100, 140. Andrew Davies 3x100 made it 8-2 with a hard fought 2-1 hold over Wyndham Green 125, 140 before Josh O’Keeffe 100 claimed a third point for the visitors with a 2-0 hold over Matthew Sullivan 2x100, 140.

PENTREBACH LABOUR CLUB ............................... 7 COLLIERS ARMS .......... 4

THIS local derby produced a highly entertaining game played in good spirit.

Eddie Jones 140, M Price and A Thomas took the opening triples against the darts over Keith Lewis, F Murphy 100 and Damion Lewis and then a fine hold from L Thomas 100, 140, Gary Champion and Graham Price over Martin Treen, F Grey and Rhys Llewellyn 100 saw the hosts go 2-0 ahead.

Martin Treen and Rhys Llewellyn got some chalk dust on the board for the Colliers with victory over Eddie Jones 101 and M Price in the first pairs but the Labour Club were quick to respond with Les Thomas and A Thomas holding over Keith Lewis and F Murphy and a break from Gary Champion 125 and Graham Price against Trevor Lewis and Damion Lewis saw the hosts take a commanding 4-1 lead heading into the singles.

F Murphy took the opening singles against the darts with victory over Eddie Jones 100, 105 and then a great win from the promising Rhys Llewellyn 100 over M Price saw the visitors pull back to within a point. Martin Treen 100 then took the darts off Gary Champion 125 to level the contest at four apiece, but that unfortunately for the Colliers proved to be their last success as the home side went on to take the last three games. A Thomas 100, 125 broke the throw of Damion Lewis making it 5-4 to the hosts with Les Thomas then holding over Keith Lewis for a 6-4 lead. The final game saw home skipper Graham Price 2x100 beat Trevor Lewis 140 with a break to complete a fine win for the home side.