It promises to be an exciting season in the Newark & District Double Board Darts League’s ladies’ division after the two pre-season favourites both suffered opening day defeats.
Wheatsheaf Wandering Misfits got their season off to a terrific start as they overcame reigning champions Railway Youngers 9-6 while last season’s runners-up Castle & Falcon Bangers were also beaten as they were edged out 8-7 by The King’s Collaborators.
The Misfits had found themselves 4-0 down against the Youngers after losing both pairs encounters but they fought back impressively in the singles with victories from skipper Linda Brockson and Ann Hubbard plus two drawn encounters which brought them level at 6-6.
The match would be decided by the concluding team leg, worth three points, and it was Brockson who landed to winning double to complete the impressive fight back.
The King’s Collaborators got their debut winter season off to a tremendous start with a win over the Bangers. The match had been all-square at 3-3 before skipper Andi Atherley defeated Kathy Buttong to edge the Collaborators 5-3 in front.
This lead was maintained as the match between Heather Webb and Mandy Walker was drawn before the victory was secured as Sandra Baker overcame Debbie Walker to give her side an unassailable 8-4 lead.
The Bangers reduced the deficit by winning the remaining team leg but the night belonged to the debutants.
Collingham FC Mother Chuckers got their campaign off to a winning start as they edged out Falcoholics 8-7. In a tight match the Falcoholics had taken an early 2-0 lead after Diane Nuttall and Kerri Nuttall had won the opening pairs encounter.
The remaining pairs match was drawn before all four singles games also ended all-square. Despite the Falcoholics leading 7-5, the team leg would decide the outcome and it was Annie Hovey, who was competing in her first ever darts match and had earlier drawn the opening singles match with opposition skipper Diane Nuttall, who landed the crucial double as she sunk a first-dart double-one checkout to clinch the victory.
The remaining match saw Caffs Ladies get their season off to a positive start as they overcame Railway Artists 8-7.
The Castle & Falcon based side, who had led 3-1 after the pairs matches, stretched their lead to 5-1 following Kelly Barrett’s victory in the opening singles clash.
Their lead was maintained as the next game was drawn before victory was secured as Jane Hartley defeated Kate Slatter to give her side an unassailable 8-2 lead.
The Artists, despite knowing they were beaten, responded by taking all the remaining points available as debutant Julia Condliffe-Turner won the remaining singles tie and Slatter hit the winning double in the concluding team leg.
In the men’s division Castle & Falcon BBC2s maintained their unbeaten start to the season as the reigning champions recorded their fourth successive 4-1 win after a victory over in-house rivals Projectile Dysfunction which was secured by checkouts from Stuart Hay, Nigel Parr and a brace from skipper James Brown – Alex Wallis’ finish had given his side the early lead.
Rose & Crown Marauders are up to second after they eased to a 5-0 win over RHP Darts of Hazzard ‘B’ with finishes from skipper Tom Greenhalgh, Andy Brown, Steven Barnett and two from Tim Tranter.
The remaining match saw two checkouts from Paul Gallacher appear to put RHP Darts of Hazzard in control against Railway Club but their opponents responded as finishes from Stuart Glover and Matthew Glover brought the club side level.
A tight deciding leg saw the Railway have a chance to complete the fightback but the opportunity wasn’t taken and, with the Railway lying in wait for a shot at 23, up stepped Gallacher to complete his hat-trick of finishes as he holed out on 24 to edge RHP home 3-2.
