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Posted:
Monday 9th February 2009
Source: Stephen Birley
Ross Acton was again in inspirational form as he despatched a
very good opponent to see the cricket club darts team draw level
at 2-2 in their game at top three side – MANOR PISTOLS. Left
hander Ross was a whisker away from a 134 finish. He nailed a
treble 20, took out the treble 14 with his next and then missed
the double 16 by the width of a moustache hair (must speak to
Chris Dean as to how wide that is!).
Ross claimed his singles 2-1, to see the side level at 2-2 after
Alan Dowrick and Eddie Andress had both fallen to narrow 2-1
defeats. Both players played superbly and Alan did have THREE
darts to win his match 2-1. Eddie again served up some
spectacular darts. Once his eyes get fixed – later this month we
gather (and hope), then watch out the opposition on the oche!
At 0-2 up stepped Steve ‘Biggles’ Birley and although not at his
fluent best he did claim a 2-0 win to start the fight back.
After Ross delivered to level the match score it brought Gary
‘Big Gaz’ to the oche. He was inspired, throwing his best darts
for a couple of weeks (not easy as he is normally very
consistent – even though the week before he had been well below
his best and still claimed a 2-0 victory). However he had the
misfortune of being paired with arguably the hosts’ top player
on the night. What ensued was a thrilling game of tit for tat,
one claimed 2-1 by the home player.
This brought Luke ‘cool hand’ Wrightson to the toe line and he
too was up against formidable opposition. Not at his best Luke
hung in the contest and narrowly got edged out to leave the side
2-4 down at the completion of the six singles.
So to the doubles. First up the ‘young guns’ of Ross and Luke
and they were up against an awesome pairing that gave them
precious few opportunities as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat.
With the match now over in terms of the 5-2 score it did remain
possible for the side to emulate the previous two weeks’ scores
of 4-5. Next up were Biggles and Big Gaz who looked on the way
to defeat against ‘Rocky’ Summers and his young partner, but
then the experienced duo began to weave some combined magic.
Biggles nailed a late treble 15 to give Big Gaz a hit at double
top and the great man nailed it first dart – leg and leg - so to
the vital 3rd leg. With the home pair staring at a tops finish
Biggles stepped up for a 68 finish. Dart one hit the double 8!
Dart two the 12 and needing tops to win it his third dart struck
the wire of the tops and needless to say the home pair took out
the tops they needed – so close, and yet so far.
Last but not least, the senior citizens pairing of ‘steady’
Eddie and ‘Mr Cool’ Alan, up against a pair that nailed a treble
twenty x three for the big one! This helped the home pair to a
2-0 win and a match victory of 7-2.
Prior to braving the ice and snow on the trip back up Padbrook
Hill to Bradninch, the hosts did compliment the cricketing darts
team on their obvious improvement since the sides last met (9-0
to the Manor Pistols) – next up a home meeting with a
Conservative Club side that were beaten on their own oche in the
first half of the season.
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