Sutton Coldfield Superleague Darts

NUNEATON V SUTTON SPORTS  3RD MARCH 2011

MATCH REPORT

Nuneaton FDL 3 Sutton Sports 5

We seem to be something of a bogey side for Nuneaton. Despite the fact they finished above us last season, we remain unbeaten against them in Super League since they joined in 2007-08. The games are always close but we now have a record of played 8, won 7, drawn 1.

It looked to be going Nuneaton’s way this time as they led 3-1, but a great rearguard recovery saw us take it 5-3.

It is worth mentioning that the conditions were very cold, with a strong draught on the stage and some players were clearly affected more than others by that. Almost every player commented on it, and we understand a change of venue is likely for Nuneaton very shortly.



John Sanders (22.92) 2 John Kavanagh (23.00) 3

John Sanders started the better with a ton and 3 scores of 80+ in his first 12 darts, but a 140 from JK kept him in touch. The home player missed 2 at a double and JK stepped in to nick it in 24 darts. John Sanders levelled in the 2nd leg with 3 ton plus scores and out in 18 darts for 1-1. The third leg went to John Sanders against throw, as JK missed double 16 for a 149 finish. John took out 46 in 2 for a 20-dart leg and a 2-1 lead. It looked like the chance had gone for JK when he missed double 16 in the fourth leg for a 106 finish, but John Sanders missed 6 at tops and JK eventually levelled in 26 darts at 2-2. The final leg was a better leg, with both players hitting two ton plus scores apiece, but it was JK down first and out with a 52 finish for 3-2 in 17 darts. John 7 tons, JK 7 tons. 1-0 Sutton.


Adam Smith-Neale (20.74) 3 Adam Gallett (20.40) 2

A good leg down to a double with Adam Gallett having a shot at double 12 for 17 darts, with the home player already on tops. Comedy finishing then took over with both players on double 1. In the end, after numerous misses from both, Adam Smith-Neale took it in 37 darts. A great recovery from Adam Gallett in leg two saw him hit 3 ton plus scores and out in 17 darts for 1-1 despite a maximum from Adam Smith-Neale. Adam Gallett started the third leg with a 121, but his opponent got back into it with 137 & 125, and after Adam missed a dart for tops, Adam Smith-Neale took his chance and went 2-1 up in 22 darts. The home player looked to be coasting in the fourth leg with a 180 & 140 helping him leave 80 after 12 darts. Adam Gallett hung in with scores of 100 & 140 himself and when Adam Smith-Neale missed 6 darts from tops, Adam Gallett levelled in 23 darts. Adam Smith-Neale got the better start in the fifth with a 135 and 3 x 90+ scores, and this time made no mistake out in 20 darts for a 3-2 win with Adam Gallett back on 137. Adam Smith-Neale 7 tons and 2 x 180, Adam Gallett 8 tons. 1-1 on the night.


Gary Jackson (22.88) 3 Dane Vickers (21.88) 1

Back-to-back tons for Gary left him 36 against the darts in the first leg, and he took it for a 20-dart game and a 1-0 lead. Gary then put scores of 100 & 140 together in the second, and advantage of throw saw him home from there in 23 darts for a 2-0 lead. Two more tons at the start of the third leg for Gary threatened to kill the game off, but steady scoring from Dane throughout the leg left him 50 which he took in 2 for a 23-dart leg, and it was back to 2-1. Two tons and a 135 from Dane in the fourth leg looked to give Dane the edge against throw, but he missed 5 at a double, which allowed Gary in to take out tops for a 22-dart game and a 3-1 win. Nuneaton 2-1 up.


Adam Hancock (24.64) 3 Ian McFarlane (24.58) 3

Adam seems to like playing against Sutton, and is a regular MOM against us. He did it again with a clinical performance against Ian who had been on a good run himself winning 6 of his previous 7 games. In the first leg Ian hit 2 x 100 and 135, but Adam with a 140 and advantage of throw found the double first in 21 darts. Adam hit scores in the second leg of 100, 121 & 99 to get the edge over Ian who scored steadily without finding the big score. Ian upped his game in the third leg with 2 x 100 and a 120, but missed tops for a 120 finish in what would have been 15 darts. A further 3 missed at doubles let in Adam to finish in 21 for the Nuneaton MOM and a 3-0 win, which was harsh on Ian with averages almost identical. Adam 4 tons, Ian 6 tons. Nuneaton 3-1 up.


Steve Pinch (24.04) 2 Mark Birch (25.79) 3

We expect a good game between this pair and got one. 2 X 140’s from Pinchy in the first were cancelled out by 100 & 123 from Mark. Both players missed a shot at the bull before Birchy took it in 20 darts. A great second leg saw Steve put in back-to back scores of 140, 100 & 137, whilst Mark did likewise with 100, 140 & 100. This time Steve had throw and took the leg in 17 darts for 1-1. Steve started the better in leg 3, and despite a 122 from Birchy to leave 56, Steve clocked the 74 required for a 20-dart leg and a 2-1 lead against throw. Both players started the fourth leg with tons, and it was dart for dart throughout, until Steve missed his double and Mark levelled at 2-2 clocking 44 for 23 darts. Birchy, as he does so often then raised the bar in the fifth with a cracking 15-dart leg (85, 123, 140, 141, 12f) giving Steve little chance, to win it 3-2. Steve 7 tons, Mark 10 tons. Nuneaton now 3-2 up.


Shaun Turton (24.24) 0 Matt Gallett (27.83) 3

A cracking start from Matt, going one up in 18 darts with 2 x 100 and a 140, leaving Shaun sat on 100. The second leg was close as Shaun started with a 140, but Matt got back into it with a 121. Steady subsequent scoring saw Matt down first but he missed tops. Shaun missed his double for a 101 finish and Matt made no mistake next time for 2-0 in 23 darts. Shaun responded superbly with 3 x 100’s in the third leg, but was powerless to stop Matt going out in an exceptional 13 darts (83, 135, 180, 83, 20f) for a 3-0 win and the Sutton MOM. Shaun 5 tons, Matt 6 tons and a 180. The match score now tied at 3-3.


John Whittaker (20.04) 0 Chris Millward (25.47) 3

A tons apiece in the first leg, but with neither finding other big scores it was Chris who got down first and out in 25 darts for a 1-0 lead. John scored dteadily in the second, but Milly hit a 140 and 2 x 100 to get first crack at a double and took it in 19 darts for 2-0. The third was an excellent leg from Milly, out in 15 darts (100, 140, 100, 97, 64f) and giving John little chance, as he took the game 3-0 for Sutton. John 2 tons, Chris 7 tons. Sutton 4-3 up.


John Montgomery (21.51) 1 Chris Turnbull (24.60) 3

Chris started well with 125 & 140 in the first and was unlucky not to clock 100. He didn’t miss again though and took the leg in 19 darts for 1-0. Steadier scoring from John in the second got him down first with 5 x 80+ scores and he took it in 22 darts to level the game at 1-1. Each player hit 2 x 100’s in the third but Chris got down first and finished in 22 darts to go 2-1 up, with each leg to date in this game having gone against throw. The fourth was a brilliant leg from Chris, however, out in 15 darts (140, 174, 57, 85, 45f) for a 3-1 win and to take the points for Sutton. John 3 tons, Chris 7 tons & a 174.

Final score Nuneaton 3 Sutton Sports 5

The ton count went Nuneaton 43+2, Sutton 56+2.

Running averages were Nuneaton 22.63, Sutton 24.19 (which is actually a Sutton record, despite it not really feeling like that at the time).

A great win for us against a top bunch of lads we have got to know very well over the last 4 seasons. Incredibly for us that’s just one defeat in 7 now (with four wins and two draws), and that defeat being against Champions Leamington. Not bad form for a side who have been at the wrong end of the table for most of the season.

We may even have a fair chance of getting that 5th spot if we can conjure up a couple of decent results in our final two fixtures, which are home to Bishopsgate, and away to Bartley Green.