Hotshot The Thorn shows how it’s done
Players take on pro Robert as they raise cash for a good cause
Arrow aces from Paisley and District Darts League gave a warm welcome to world number 23 Robert ‘ The Thorn’ Thornton for a thrilling fundraiser.
Players from various teams took on the high-flying pro at Midton Bowling Club, in Howwood, to raise money for the Royal Alexandra Hospital’s breast cancer unit.
The event was organised by Kenny McCormack, of the Railway Inn team, and a grand total of almost £300 was raked in.
After the excitement of Robert’s visit, it was back to league duty as the teams played out their fourth game of the season.
Hagg Bar A continue to set the early pace in the first division after they took both points in their home game against newcomers Pockets Red with a resounding 8-1 victory.
The win keeps the Johnstone team top of the table by a leg difference of six.
Pickwicks also continued their winning ways as they overcame Railway Inn in Howwood with a decisive 7-2 victory.
St Peter’s join the pair at the top and make up a trio of undefeated teams, as they won their home game 6-3 against Hagg Bar C — one of four teams yet to win a match this season.
The results put Pickwicks and St Peter’s dead level in second place, which cranks up the pressure on the teams before they face each other in the next round of league games in two weeks’ time.
Flying Horse A slip into fourth place in the rankings as they suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of Gleniffer Hotel. The game went all the way to the final leg of the last doubles match before being decided 5-4 in favour of Gleniffer.
Court Bar stay in fifth place in the league, but are now on the same points as Flying Horse and only two legs behind after their 9-0 demolition of Arthurlie Inns.
In the last game in the division, Keystone A picked up their first points of the season as they won their home game against Burgh Bar 6-3.
The leader of the second division also continued their winning ways, with Tartan Rose beating Keystone B at home with a scoreline of 6-3.
Cafuffals also recorded a 6-3 home win against Kelburne Cricket Club.
This keeps the two teams clear of the chasing pack by a couple of points. Leading the chase are Pockets Black, who had a 7-2 home victory over Court Bar B, and The Hazel Arms who now sit level with the Pockets team after their 8-1 home rout of Hazel Pirates B.
Joining these teams on six points are The Kelburn, who move up into fifth place after a hard fought 5-4 home win over Inkerman Bowling Club. The result means that the teams swap places and Inkerman go to sixth.
In the last of the games for this week, Hazel Pirates also came away with a home 5- 4 win over Flying Horse B with the result moving the Pirates up into seventh place and completing a good night for all of the home teams in division two.
There were 22 maximums scored in the matches this week, with Hagg Bar A player Andy Boulton bagging two.
The fastest game of the 22 games — complete in 18 darts or less — came in the match between Flying Horse A and Gleniffer Hotel, where the Flying Horse’s John Peacock hit a 13-dart leg.
The best finish of the week, and also a season high, came from Hagg Bar A player Richie Baillie with a checkout of 154. Baillie also got his name on all three highlights lists this week, along with St Peter’s captain Andrew Callary.
This Sunday, it’s the semi-finals of this year’s League Cup in The Hazel Arms, where Railway Inn take on Pickwicks and Hagg Bar A face Court Bar B for the right to a finals spot, taking place on the same night.