Sutton Coldfield Superleague Darts

 RUGBY V SUTTON COLDFIELD  27TH NOVEMBER 2008

 MATCH REPORT

Rugby 4 Sutton Coldfield 4

Under normal circumstances a draw at Rugby would be a good result, and the result was a fair reflection of the darts thrown. However, this was easily Sutton’s worst performance of the season to date with the lowest running average and lowest number of tons in any of the 10 games played so far.

Results were:

Carl Green (25.28 ) 0 Rob Hawker (24.64) 3

A cracking start given to Sutton by Rob against Carl, a former county player. 5 tons for Rob, and out in 24, 19 & 18 darts. Carl very unlucky not to get a leg though, replying with 5 tons and a 180.

John Peakman (15.75) 1 Barry Linnecor (18.59) 3

3 tons for Baz, and the average was never going to be good after chasing doubles in a poor 2nd leg. Otherwise 19 and 25 darts, but the result was more important.

Paul Bodsworth (18.08 ) 0 Chris Millward (23.86) 3

Comfortable win for Milly in 20,21 & 22 darts including 4 tons. More like the Milly we know after a tough run of games.

Mark Furness (20.88 ) 3 Dave Wallace (20.61) 0

4 tons for Affro in his first game back since having the plaster off his ankle, and under normal circumstances would have surely took this one. Will get stronger in weeks to come as he gets back to full fitness.

Mark Fewz (23.12) 3 John Kavanagh (18.49) 0

JK not at the races in this one with first sub 20 average in a competitive match since the last trip to Rugby (last season). Must be something about the place! 4 tons but well beaten by Mark on the night who also hit 4.

Matt Edgar (25.12) 3 Mark Wild (24.16) 2

Game of the night with all legs going with the darts Matt in 20 & 23, Wildy in 18 & 22 before Matt took a close decider in 15 darts. 6 tons and a 180 for Wildy, 9 tons and 2 180’s for Matt, and what a prospect he looks.

Terry James (20.04) 2 Mark Kane (23.04) 3

An incredible 14 tons for Kaney in this one, out in 19, 22 & 24, and the average would have been much better had he finished better. He missed 11 at a double in leg 2 which he lost.

Rab Palmer (20.61) 3 Kevin Shorthouse (18.81) 1

Kevin was definitely affected by the events that took place (see below), but still hit 5 tons against his opponents 3.

So 4-4, but the real story of the match was the match draw itself. The Rugby skipper announced at the outset they only had 7 and said we could therefore select which player we wanted to go on number 8 for the ‘bye’. Our man would then just play one of their earlier players for an average at the end but win 3-0. Seemed sensible therefore to let Kev, who had played only two super league games and had rotten luck in the draws (Mark Carter & Kirk Shepherd) take the bye. It would be a first win and take the pressure off his game. We gave Kev the good news and he spends the night believing he has no competitive game to play. No more was heard after this point until game 7, when we hear their number 8 has turned up ….. at 10.45pm!! It turns out one of their players who had played earlier went to fetch him.

So Kev ends up playing last in the highest pressure game of the night (at the oppositions suggestion!) against a geezer who has had a warm up match elsewhere in a local league!

We had to feel for Kev, who should never have been placed in such a situation.

I think its fair to say we will learn from this, particularly when we next go to Rugby!!!!