Halton Stadium bring their ‘A’ game to start and finish in great style
ON Monday evening in the Widnes & District Darts League, the Halton Stadium Five-A-Side Cup was played to a conclusion.
In the pre-lims, the first contest was Halton Stadium ‘A’ against Millfield ‘A’.
Alan Magee opened up the Stadium’s account first, only to see Billy Fox quickly level for the Millfield. The Milly then went ahead as Chris Taylor gave a solid performance, but the clash was all-square soon after as John Bowles only just edged his opponent out with a 17 dart display.
The final match had to be conceded by the Millfield giving the Stadium the final point, due to them not being able to field a fifth player.
Wellington ‘A’ played Widnes RUFC ‘A’ next, and showed no mercy as they romped through the start of the card.
Ste Whitfield began the Wids’ demise with a 19 dart game and was quickly backed up by Mark Tyrer and Anthony Hall to wrap up their win.
Karl Whitfield added to the winning tally, before P Fenlon gave the Wids something to cheer at the last.
The Goldmine, up against Simms Cross Institute, fell behind as Tony Green and Andy Abbott put the Stute two up with three to play and well in command.
However, with the help of a 180 Peter Mullally steadied things up as the Goldmine went on to win the contest through Phil Corless and Barry Noonan.
The Mersey Hotel took on Mill Brow SC ‘B’, and despite going a game down, as Brian Spruce put the Brow ahead, they were not to be outdone as Paul Cotty, Rob Cotty and Ray Cowley with three in a row booked the Mersey’s place in the quarter-finals.
It was scant consolation as Kevin Helps gave the Brow the final game.
The final pre-lim saw the Halton Stadium ‘B’ take on Majors Arms, whose Luke Carey and Darren Attwood took the first two games.
Colin Rigby recovered a point for the Stadium, but another win from the Majors’ Nicky Duff gave them the match with one game still to play. Alan Clark took the final game for the Stadium.
In the quarter-finals, the Mersey Hotel faced the Majors Arms and proceeded to take the first two games through Paul Cotty and Danny Shipley.
The Majors struck back via Darren Attwood, but that was ● as good as it got for them as the Mersey brought home the final two games and the match through Rob Cotty and Danny Davidson.
The Millfield ‘B’ then locked horns with Wellington ‘A’.
The Wellington’s Mark Tyrer took the first game. This was quickly levelled by the Millfield’s Dave Sutton.
The Wellington then claimed three in a row via Anthony Hall, Karl Whitfield and Ste Whitfield to take the match.
Widnes Bowling Club ‘A’ took on Halton Stadium ‘A’ and lost out badly as the Stadium won all five games as Kenny Murphy, Eddie Dootson (whose opponent Tex Bowles hit a 180), Kev Garcia, John Bowles and Alan Magee were all triumphant on the oche.
The Goldmine against the Mill Brow ‘A’ tore into their opponents taking all five games through Sean Bell, Peter Mullally, Phil Corless, John Taylor and Barry Noonan.
In the first semi-final, Halton Stadium ‘A’ faced Goldmine and conceded the first game to Phil Corless.
The Stadium soon rallied, taking the remaining four games and the match through Eddie Dootson (12 darts and 116 finish), Kenny Murphy, Alan Magee and John Bowles.
In the second semi-final, the Wellington ‘A’ took on the Mersey Hotel and secured the first two games through Ste Whitfield (102 finish) and Karl Whitfield. The Mersey took the next game through Rob Cotty, but the Wellington ‘A’ were on a roll as wins from Anthony Hall and Lol Fonterigo gave the Wellington the match.
In the final, the clash between the Halton Stadium ‘A’ and the Wellington ‘A’ got off to a flying start for the Stadium as Kevin Garcia, John Bowles (105 checkout) and Alan Magee took the first three games securing the silverware.
With the match already in the bag for the Stadium, the final two games were taken by the Wellington’s Karl Whitfield and Anthony Hall but they were merely consolations.