As a good football manager might say "This result leaves us free to concentrate on the cups.". It has to be said that the Con Club are a good team, but they did not fully deserve to win by so much. Indeed our captain 'Bulldog' Terry Galt was happier with this result than with the previous 4-5 loss against the Prince Hal. He told our reporter "When we were 4-1 down, if someone had told me we were 4-1 up I could have believed it on the way we played.". Nevertheless this result represents a serious blow to the Dream Team's title ambitions.
So to the match itself. The first disappointment of the night was the non appearance of Jeff Tune and John Savage, two of the teams better players. Sources close to the team were very tight lipped about their absence or what, if any, disciplinary action would be taken against them. What it did mean was that Simon Moss and Steve Davies had to be recalled to the team at short notice.
'Bomber' Bob Harris opened the match, won the first leg but then lost the next two, although he had chances to win the third. Simon 'The Webmaster' Moss deputized for Jeff Tune at number two and, although he broke first dart in both legs, could not score well enough to trouble a good opponent. The Old Bill Townsend had 12 darts at a finish in his first leg but lost, nine at the finish in the second and won and three at a finish in the third and lost. Alan 'The as been' Smith restored some sanity at number four winning 2-1 albeit not too convincingly. Match score now 1-3.
'Big M' Mark Franks threw at five. He reached his double in twelve darts in the first leg throwing another twelve at it before losing. Took just fourteen darts to win the second leg, including a 135. Again reached his double in twelve in the third but only had three more before losing. Steve 'the Dart' Davies had starting trouble in both his legs taking 15 and 27 darts respectively to break in each leg whilst losing 2-0. Deano Willis had the same problem taking 24 and 12 darts to break also losing 2-0. Deano's league form is a mystery. He is throwing so well in practice, in the singles knock out and cup games but has yet to win a league game.
'Cowboy' Dave Downes threw well at number eight but still lost 2-0. With the match score at 1-7, it was left to Bulldog to show how it should have been done. That is not to say that he threw particularly well but he did manage to hit his double before his opponent in both legs. The Con Club must be favorites to win the league now having dropped only six legs in five matches. We have no league games for the next three weeks, having two cup games, one against the Con Club, and a free week due to the departure of St Annes Mixed from the league at the start of the season.
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