In a nail-biting L-Style Division One showdown, Salopian emerged victorious with a hard-fought 20-16 win over Midlands rivals Black Country. This crucial victory allowed Salopian to maintain their sixth-place standing, while Black Country remained in eighth. The day was packed with intense, back-and-forth matches across all categories, proving to be a true test of skill and nerve for both teams.
The eighth match of the L-Style Division One brought together Salopian, holding sixth place with 134 points, and Black Country, positioned eighth with 130 points. What unfolded was a gripping series of darts encounters, with every game proving vital for league standings.
Ladies’ ‘B’ Battle: Salopian Mounts a Comeback
The ladies’ ‘B’ match kicked off with an early lead for Black Country. Sarah-Jane Parker delivered a dominant 3-0 win against Salopian’s Rachael Williams, earning her Black Country’s ‘lady of the match’ award with an impressive 20.31 average. However, this initial success was short-lived as Salopian quickly turned the tide.
- Anna Peatroy (Salopian) secured a swift 3-0 victory over Sarah Tromans.
- Emma Tapp (Salopian) followed with a 3-1 win against Leanne Wilson.
- Sue Lane (Salopian) continued the momentum, beating Libby Gowen 3-0.
- Kate Titley (Salopian) not only won her game 3-2 against Doreen Hunt but also claimed Salopian’s ‘lady of the match’ award for her 17.83 average, solidifying Salopian’s lead.
Black Country’s Jodie Rowlands managed to pull one back with a narrow 3-2 win over Hayley McGuinness in the final game, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome. Salopian ultimately won the Ladies’ ‘B’ match 4-2.
Men’s ‘B’ Showdown: Black Country’s Late Surge
Following a similar pattern to the ladies, the men’s ‘B’ competition saw Black Country take the initial advantage. Mark Rollinson secured a 4-2 win against Andy Gilbert, but Salopian quickly responded. Matt Elsey levelled the score with a 4-3 win, and Ash Hilditch put Salopian ahead 2-1 with a convincing 4-0 victory.
However, Black Country staged a powerful comeback before the halfway point:
- Ian Townsend won 4-0 against Jack Darby.
- Matthew Lloyd secured a 4-3 win over Danny Humphries.
- Wayne Hobday delivered a standout performance, winning 4-0 against Carl Wear with a superb 29.47 average, earning him Black Country’s ‘man of the match’ award.
This surge gave Black Country a 4-2 lead at the halfway mark. Salopian fought back in the second session, with Sam Morris winning 4-3 and Paul Rowley levelling the score at 4-4 with a decisive 4-1 victory and a 27.74 average, earning him Salopian’s ‘man of the match’ honour. The match remained incredibly tight, with Sam Bissell restoring Black Country’s lead (5-4) and Tony Burton immediately levelling it again (5-5).
With the scores tied and only two games remaining, Black Country dug deep. Rich Bowen and Mark Jones both secured 4-2 wins in their respective games, giving Black Country a hard-fought 7-5 victory in the Men’s ‘B’ match.
Ladies’ ‘A’ Echoes: Another 4-2 Win for Salopian
The ladies’ ‘A’ match unfolded almost identically to the ‘B’ game. Black Country started strong with Grace Angell’s 3-1 win over Karen Weston, also earning her Black Country’s match award with a 14.71 average. Yet again, Salopian responded with a dominant run:
- Tracy Dean won 3-1.
- Chloe Ames had a 3-2 success.
- Emma Hayward secured a 3-0 victory.
- Steph Clarke delivered a commanding 3-0 win against Tammy Chance with an impressive 22.77 average, securing Salopian’s ‘lady of the match’ award.
Kirsty Shaughnessy (Black Country) won the final game 3-1, but Salopian’s strong run meant they secured another 4-2 victory in the Ladies’ ‘A’ match.
Men’s ‘A’ Decider: Salopian Seals the Overall Victory
Heading into the men’s ‘A’ games, Salopian held a narrow 13-11 overall advantage, meaning a draw in this final segment would still secure them the weekend’s overall victory. The first half of the men’s ‘A’ was a true seesaw battle, with Salopian taking the lead three times, only for Black Country to immediately draw level. Key winners for Salopian included Dave Bayton (4-3), Jake B. Smith (4-3), and Andy Evans (4-3). Black Country’s contributors were Dan Home (4-2), Steve Jones (4-3), and Jamie Rollinson (4-0), leaving the score at 3-3 at the halfway point.
The second half began with Black Country’s Neil Wild breaking the pattern, delivering a flawless 4-0 win against Oscar Saxton with an outstanding 29.47 average, earning him Black Country’s ‘man of the match’. However, Salopian quickly regained control. Gary Crowther won 4-3, and Jamie Chaplin secured a 4-0 victory, pushing Salopian into a 5-4 lead.
Trev Brennan of Black Country levelled the score at 5-5 with a 4-1 win. But in the decisive final two games, Salopian sealed their fate:
- Mark Crutchley won 4-0 against Joe Colley.
- Kacey Jones delivered a perfect 4-0 win over Reece Colley, achieving a remarkable 29.91 average and claiming Salopian’s ‘man of the match’ award.
These final two commanding wins gave Salopian’s men’s ‘A’ team a 7-5 victory, solidifying their overall triumph.
Final Score: Salopian Triumphs 20-16!
In a thrilling display of darts, Salopian ultimately secured an overall 20-16 win against Black Country. This vital victory allowed Salopian to retain their sixth-place position in the L-Style Division One with 157 points, while Black Country remained in eighth place with 146 points. The rivalry continues, promising more exciting clashes in future rounds!
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
