Week 1
The first round of Super League matches for SALOPIAN DARTS second season have just been completed that saw a new dimension added with the introduction of a Ladies Super League.
Seven teams, all of whom are based in Shrewsbury make up the league & it was the INN ON THE GREEN who set pace with a 4 v 1 away at the TELEGRAPH. Kate Leach (12.37) securing the win for the IOTG whilst Molly Atter (12.82) was the solitary winner for the Telegraph. The other two matches saw respective 3 v 2 home wins for the BAGLEY & CHARLES DARWIN at the expense of HEATHGATES & BIRD IN HAND. Tracey Dean (17.24) securing victory for the Bagley club in the deciding leg of the last game against Heathgates Helen Walmsley (17.53) in a quality game of darts whilst the Charles Darwin, who recorded a team average of 14.86 per dart raced into a 3 v 0 lead that featured a nights best 21.78 average from Evonne Taylor which included an 18 dart leg before the Bird In Hand secured the final two games that included a 3-0 win for Katie Bellerby (13.79). The seventh team, COMPASSES had a bye but nevertheless 30 ladies stepped up to the oche for a historic first super league evening of darts.
The Men’s Super league has seen an increase from 15 to 17 teams with increased representation from the South of the County with CRESSAGE CLUB & the APPLE TREE (Onibury) joining the ranks & the latter gained a credible point at home to SALOPIAN STAR (Market Drayton) with Jason Griffiths (24.70) firing a maximum & pitching a 110 check out against Joe Higgins (24.70 inc 18 dart leg) in the stand out match. Cressage found the going much harder as they hosted last season’s champions CHARLES DARWIN A who signaled there intent taking the first four games. Matt Elsey & Ash Hilditch both recording the nights highest average of 27.08, both without conceding legs whilst Paul Rowley (25.68) fired 3 maximums although he was taken all the way to a deciding leg Matty Jones (22.22) who had the consolation of the nights highest finish 158. Shaun Pryce (23.94 inc 180) was the only winner for Cressage.
Oswestry’s GRIFFIN made the perfect start with six of the best away at the CHARLES DARWIN B. Kacey Jones (26.37) & Jamie Kynaston(24.81) who has 118 & 100 finishes leading way whilst Darwin’s Karen Weston (18.56) replied with a 105 finish whilst COMPASSES & DAWLEY enjoyed respective 5 v 1 wins against the MONKMOOR & IOTG A. Andy Mullinder (21.55) included a 17 dart leg whilst Daniel Astbury (26.89) & Mark Jones (22.97) impressed for Dawley.
There was double disappointment for the INN ON THE GREEN(Wetnor) where both sides suffered 4 v 2 defeats. The A side losing away at the BAGLEY CLUB where all winners pitched 20 + averages. Matt Williams (23.43) & Paul Ashworth (23.03) giving the hosts a 2 v 0 lead that wouldn’t relinquish despite a 24.26 average for Ed Price who had a 100 checkout & 2 maximums. Meanwhile the BULLS HEAD long trip to Wetnor proved fruitful as early wins for Nigel Neale (23.77) & Keith Jones (21.14) put the Whitchurch side in the driving seat & victory was confirmed with wins for Rowan Price (20.50 inc 114 checkout) & Terry Nash (26.03 inc 116 checkout) whilst Che Kerin 120 finish completed a hattrick of ton plus checkouts for the visitors. James Carter (23.77) impressed for the hosts firing two maximums & 12 dart leg that included a 138 finish.
Round one matches concluded with the IOTG B (Shrew) edging out DICKIN (Wem). Steve Felton put the visitors ahead Gary Crowther levelled up before Toto Noriel (20.44) restored the lead for the visitors who ran out 4 v 2 winners, but perhaps the more encouraging statistic is this game saw a further three players make there super league debuts to further bolster the Salopian Super League. HOP & FRIAR had the bye for a first week that saw 21 maximums, 18 ton plus checkouts & a one dart league average of 19.80