Sutton Coldfield Superleague Darts

BISHOPSGATE V SUTTON SPORTS  13TH OCTOBER 2011

MATCH REPORT

Bishopsgate 4 Sutton Sports 4

This was our re-arranged week one game.

Our record against Bishopsgate (or Cherry Tree as they were previously) has been surprisingly good in recent years when you look at how high they tend to finish in the table. In the last 4 seasons we have won 4, drawn 2 and lost 2, which does suggest we have been something of a bogey side for them.

This season we went there with real optimism after a few good performances, but after trailing 3-0 and then 4-2, we would have to count ourselves fortunate to leave with a point, though it was a great fightback to earn the draw against a good Bishopsgate side.

Wayne Venables (25.10) 3 Dane Vickers (23.38) 2

Dane looked to have taken a slight advantage in the first leg scoring 100 & 140, whilst Wayne replied with a 100, but after Dane failed to take out the leg having had 9 darts to close out 100, Wayne took out 60 for a 1-0 lead in 24 darts. Dane replied in great fashion though, levelling in 14 darts against throw (140, 100, 140, 85, 36f), with Wayne left on 84 after a 140 and two more 80+ scores. Wayne scored the better in leg 3 with a 100 & 123 but missed his doubles, and Dane took the opportunity when it came in 27 darts to lead 2-1. Dane started the 4^th leg with 2 x 100, then added a further 140 to leave 76 after 15 darts. Wayne was matching him though with scores of 100, 137 and 95 himself, and with advantage of throw clocked 50 for 2-2 in 18 darts. Apart from a 121 in the 5^th Dane was struggling to find the trebles, whilst Wayne scored 100 & 140 to leave him 141 after 12 darts, and Wayne duly took out an excellent 141 finish for a 3-2 win in 15 darts. Wayne 9 tons, Dane 9 tons. Bishopsgate 1-0 up.

Steve Berrill (25.61) 3 Matt Gallett (24.38) 1

Matt started well with scores of 140, 125 & 99 in the first leg, but Steve was holding his own with 118, 100 and 99 in reply. Both players missed two darts at a double before Matt took the first leg in 17 darts. It was a steady, if unspectacular, leg from both players in the second, with only one ton from Steve. In the end it came down to finishing. Matt had 3 at 22 to take a 2-0 lead, but missed and Steve levelled at 1-1 in 23 darts. A great 3^rd leg from both players could have gone either way, with both under 100 after just 12 darts. Matt with scores of 123, 140, & 91 missed the bull for 15 darts, which allowed Steve, who had recorded scores of 135, 100 & 123 in the leg to take it in 17 darts to lead 2-1. Matt, whilst steady in the 4^th was not finding the required trebles, which allowed Steve with a 140 and 2 x 85 to get down first and out in 19 darts for a 3-1 win, claiming the Bishopsgate MOM at the same time. Steve 7 tons, Matt 4 tons. Bishopsgate 2-0 up.

Mark Westgarth (24.87) 3 John Kavanagh (21.44) 1

JK started well in the first leg recording 100, 100 & 125, but Mark with back-to-back scores of 135, 140, & 162 still got down first and finished in 16 darts with JK sat on 60.  A ton apiece in an even second leg seemed to favour Mark with advantage of throw, but when Mark missed out from 114, JK took out 112 to level at 1-1 in 24 darts. Scores of 100, 100 and 81 allowed JK to leave a finish in the 3^rd leg, but again Mark had got down first with scores of 100, 140 & 140 and took the leg in 17 darts for a 2-1 lead. Mark never really looked like letting it slip in the 4^th leg with two tons and no scores under 60, and he went on to make it 3-1 in 21 darts. Mark 9 tons, JK 7 tons. Bishopsgate now 3-0 up.

Josh Jones (20.45) 0 Ian McFarlane (21.78) 3

Ian took the first against throw with scores of 140, 100 & 94, as he finished in 19 darts. Josh had left tops with a 134 his best score. Ian with throw hit a maximum in the 2^nd, but Josh fought back with 119, and two more scores over 80. Both players left 48, but Ian had throw and took it to go 2 up in 20 darts. Ian looked to be closing in on a 3-0 after scores of 125, 96 & 98 allowed him to leave 72 after 15 darts.  Josh was never out of it though having scored 100, 84, and 99 and when Ian failed to finish Josh just missed out on a 106 finish. Both players continued to miss doubles before Ian eventually found double 1 for a 30-dart leg to secure a 3-0 win. The averages would have been so much better though but for the finishing in that 3^rd leg. Josh 3 tons, Ian 4 tons and a 180. Bishopsgate 3-1 up.

Steve Rogers (17.64) 2 Mark Wild (17.29) 3

Not a game either player will be telling their grandkids about, this one. A 140 for Steve in the first but he was left trailing as Wildy started very steadily 140, 85, 95, 95 to leave 86 after just 12 darts. Suddenly the wheels came well and truly off though, as having left tops, Wildy missed 15 at a double, and Steve came down to take it in 28 darts for a 1-0 lead. Steve started the second leg 85, 180 but then failed to register another score in the leg over 41. Wildy, despite still not getting back to his early form scored the steadier and levelled at 1-1 in 29 darts. Steve then made it 2-1 taking the 3^rd leg in 22 darts after Wildy missed 3 at a double himself. The 4^th leg seemed to be going to Steve. Scores of 100, 101 and two more 80+ scores saw him down to 56 after 18 darts. Wildy was always chasing but scores of 125 & 118 late in the leg put him on a double. Both players then missed numerous chances to finish the leg before Wildy found double 1 for 34 darts. The final leg saw Steve take the initiative with back-to back scores of 140 & 96. It saw Steve down first but again chances went begging as he missed 7 at a double. Wildy had remained in touch with 95 and 2 more 80+ scores and this time he took his chance in 26 darts to claim a 3-2 win, albeit with his lowest average in 128 recorded Superleague games for Sutton. Steve 6 tons and a 180, Mark 3 tons.  Bishopsgate 3-2 up.

Tom Martin (25.07) 3 Mark Birch (24.84) 2

A ton for Birchy in the first leg came too late, after a good start from Tom saw him out in 17 darts, including a 136, for 1-0. Birchy bounced back winning the second leg comfortably clocking 70 for 18 darts with earlier scores of 100 & 180. Birchy then edged ahead 2-1 with 100, 97 and two more 80+ scores seeing him down first against throw and out in 20 darts. Tom fought back brilliantly in the 4^th leg with 3 x 100 in a 16 dart game to level at 2-2, despite Birchy banging in his second maximum of the game. It was dart for dart in the 5^th as Tom went 96, 125 and Birchy replied with 100, 125. Tom left 63 after 18 darts and Birchy left 65. Tom was first to the board and took it out for a 21-dart leg and a 3-2 win. Tom 7 tons, Mark 7 tons and 2 x 180. Bishopsgate now 4-2 up on the night.

Paul Livingstone (22.34) 2 Jimmy Collins (22.60) 3

A ton apiece in the first, and although Jim got down first he missed 8 at a double to allow Paul to capitalise and go 1-0 up in 28 darts. It certainly woke Jim up as he bounced back with a leveller in 16 darts including 140 and 2 x 100. Paul was always on top in the 3^rd and took it against throw in 24 darts but Jim then levelled again with a tidy 18-dart leg including scores of 140, 95 & 85. All 4 legs had gone against throw but the 5^th bucked the trend. Despite scores of 100 & 180 from Paul, Jim stayed with him with 100, 95, 93 & 84 and took it in 20 darts for a 3-2 win to keep Sutton in the game. Paul 6 tons and a 180, Jim 6 tons. 4-3 Bishopsgate.

Ricky Frisby (24.31) 0 Luis Barberan (27.83) 3

What a time for Luis to claim his first MOM as he saved the draw for Sutton. Ricky doing little wrong in this game, and a great start from Luis, out in 13 darts (140, 100, 100, 97, 24f). Ricky hit 170 to leave 32 in the second but was denied a shot at it as Luis went 2-0 up in 18 darts (60, 100, 60, 100, 100, 81f). Luis continued as he started with 2 x 140 in the third, and despite taking the leg in 23 darts for an excellent 3-0 win and the Sutton MOM he will be disappointed that a few missed doubles in that 3^rd leg cost him a 30+ average.

Ricky 3 tons and a 180, Luis 8 tons.

Final score Bishopsgate 4 Sutton Sports 4

It was a strange game with a lot of very good players on both sides guilty of far too many missed doubles, but all in all a good point earned for Sutton.

It was great to see Luis chalk up his first Super league MOM. You get the impression there will be many more.

Running averages were  Bishopsgate 23.17, Sutton 22.94. Tons were Bishopsgate 50+3, Sutton 48+3.

Next up for us another trip to the Bish where we meet Coventry Bishopsgate.