We
arrived at new team venue The Pig & Bell only to find a coffin at the rear
of the oche!, we were assured it was left over from a Halloween evening and
our captain Neil joked it reminded him of a scene from the Steptoe & Son
film. Anyway the coffin was wheeled away and onto the
match, Scotty Whittle wins the 1st leg of his encounter with Pig & Bell captain
Brian Southworth, scoring 80 along the way as Brian fails to start. Brian's
away 2nd leg with a great 108 start and 83, Brian misses his double and Scott
records 98 to leave 40 which he gets next visit for a 2-0 win as Brian fails
to finish 4.
Shane Farelly started slowly against Mark
Hylton who with a score of 118 left 16 which he duly got on his next visit
in 2 darts for a 14 dart leg. Both players are quick to
start the next leg but Mark takes the match with scores of (60, 140, 57, and
44 in 2) for a great 11 dart game and this with Shane needing only 36.
Next to the oche are Pig & Bell's Dave Hubbard and Daz
"Blue Moon" Kitchen. The 1st leg is even, both players notching 85 a
piece and with Dave sat on 24, Daz narrowly fails with a 120 checkout, then
missed doubles from Dave, and Daz wraps up the leg on double top. Daz
into his stride now in leg two with scores of (45, 100, 60, 80) and 16 in
2 darts for a 14 dart leg and 2-0 win.
Brian
Kelly and Gary Lippit are neck and neck in their encounter, Gary produces a
140 and Brian replies with 111 and eventually takes the leg for the Pig &
Bell. Gary then storms level with (101 start, 80, 24,
and 56) just missing a 96 checkout, but wraps it up next turn for a 13 dart
leg. Gaz keeps up the pace and takes the final leg for a
2-1 win.
Ian Marshall takes a 1-0 lead against Simon Healey with a
double 14 finish, Simon scores a 140 but is left on double 1. Simon squares
the match as Ian struggles to break. 3rd leg and Simon
finds some form with (160 start, 100, 13) and 28 in 3 darts for a 12 dart leg
and the win.
The final singles match pairs Antony Holroyd against Wally
Layton who breaks with 92. Antony is away early too and both players miss
chances at doubles before Wally takes out double one. Wal then scores steady
in the next leg hitting a ton and just misses a 90 finish but takes the game
and his match on his next visit 2-0.
Onto the doubles and Pig & Bell's Kenny Carlin and
Shane Farelly are pitched in against Daz Kitchen and Captain Neil Hutchings
wearing his new glasses. It's a 2-0 win for the away pairing as Neil hit's
both winning doubles. Out of interest when he notched double top in one leg,
Neil was the only person in the room who knew it was in...maybe the rest of us
should have gone to Specsavers!.
The
final doubles game has home pair Brian Southworth and N. Patterson going down
2-0 against Mark Hylton and Wally Layton.
A very enjoyable night and a match played in good spirits with
The Lion winning 8-0, but The Pig & Bell grabbed a consolation win through
Brian's 2-0 victory over Neil in the Captains.
Red Lion Averages.
S.Whittle 11.35, M.Hylton 23.15, D.Kitchen 15.05, G.Lippit
14.31, S.Healey 20.02, W.Layton 10.37
Report By Simon Healey