Darts: Warren rides Hobby horse to victory

Oct 11 2007 by Our Correspondent, Merthyr Express

Victoria Windows Merthyr Summer Darts League

Champions of Champions Cup Final

Wyndham Cowboys 3 Grawen Arms 5

THIS was a thriller from start to finish.

The Wyndham Cowboys looked set to take the first leg with Neil Kendall and Ian Shellard in good form, but Steve Nicholas and Peter Locke, with a 170 check-out, had other ideas. Dai Warren and Lance Davies made it 2-0, before Dean Quantick and J Davies pulled a leg back.

Grawen extended their lead through Peter Locke taking the leg, but back came the Cowboys through Ian Shellard. Marcus Davies made it 4-2 to the Grawen but Quantick took leg seven. The end came in dramatic fashion as Dai Warren beat John Hobby to win the cup for a jubilant Grawen team.

JW Millward Butchers Supplementary Cup

First semi-final:

Heolgerrig B 1 Penydarren Social Club A 5

Pen moved effortlessly into the final with a comfortable 5-1 victory, with D Thomas throwing the winning dart.

Second semi-final:

Aberfan Social Club A 2 Baili Glas Inn 5

The Baili took the opening leg through Kevin Roberts and Alan Mee, but back came Aberfan to level through Warren Rees and Wayne Jones, before Russ Matthews and John Murphy made it 2-1 to the Baili.

The singles legs saw Baili extend their lead to 4-1 through Kevin Roberts and Stewart Charleston, but Aberfan kept in the game with Warren Rees taking leg six. The seventh leg saw the Baili book their place in the final with Andrew Morgan winning a thriller against Wayne Jones.

The final:

Penydarren Social Club A 4 Baili Glas Inn 5

The Pen took the opening leg through Brian Nicholas and Mark Seggerson, but leg two went to the Baili through Charleston and Nigel Mee. The Baili took the lead through Russ Matthews and John Murphy.

The first singles leg went to the Pen’s Lee Nicholas and Phil Bond then made it 3-2. When D Morgan made it 4-2, the writing looked on the wall for the Baili. But wins for Andrew Morgan and Nigel Mee set up a deciding ninth leg.

In an epic battle, Baili legend Alan Mee against Ceri Stent regained his composure to nail the winning double and claim the cup for a relieved Baili.

l This Friday, October 12 will see the Grand Finals and presentation of the Merthyr Summer League take place at Dowlais Labour Club. Roll call is 7.15pm with the action starting at 7.30pm. Players taking part are:

A and A Cunningham Butchers Singles Competition – Neil Kendall (Wyndham Cowboys), Terry Davies (Horse and Groom), Ron Morgan and Wayne Davies (Merthyr Labour Club).

MIS Skip Hire Pairs Competition – Terry Davies/Rhodri Phelps and Jimmy Daley/Gareth Davies (Horse and Groom), Ron Morgan/Rob Evans (Merthyr Labour Club) and Alan Mee/Kevin Roberts (Baili Glas Inn).

Dowlais and Penydarren Winter Darts League – Auto World Team Cup

Morlais Tavern A 3 Guest Keen Club B 0

THE scoreline does not do the visitors justice. All of the legs could have been won by either side, but it was the home team who held their nerve to progress into the next round.

Cardigan Arms 0 Morlais Tavern B 3

This was another game that could have been won by either side. A Banfield and L Murphy played well for the hosts, but it was the visitors who join their stable-mates in the next round.

Cefn Rugby Club 3 Gurnos Club 2

This was a thrilling cup match which was won in the last leg. The home side took the first leg, only for the visitors to level in the next. The visitors then won the next to lead 2-1.

T Barnett, M Davies and P Morgan won the fourth leg for the hosts to force the tie into a last-leg decider. Either side could have won this leg, but it was the rugby men who progressed into the next round.

Guest Keen Club A 2 Pantyscallog B 3

The visitors won the first leg. In the second, G Foley, who hit two 140s, T Benbow and A Games outscored their opponents to level the scores.

The visitors edged the third leg to go back in front. The home side again levelled the score as they won the fourth, forcing the game into a last-leg decider. It was the Scat boys who hit the double first to book their place in the next round.

l Bedlinog’s Barrie Bates crashed out of the World Grand Prix at the first-round stage.

Struggling with a foot injury, he lost 2-1 in sets to Alan Tabern.