Arctic Shrew Monkeys go five points clear

Arctic Shrew Monkeys took a huge step towards their first Sid Dennis and Sons Ltd Division One title title with an 8-4 win over the Liberal Lads.

This latest victory puts them five points clear at the top. One of the high points for the Lads was 116 finish from Terry Cox.

Welcome Anchors and Red Lion were locked at 3-3 after the singles. Lee Dore (125, 137, 140, 110 finish with partner Oli Sumner) and Rob O’Brien (121, 140) with partner Wayne Sumner (135, 140) won the first two doubles to put the game beyond the Lion, although they did win the last pairs to make the result 7-5.

Liam Clark (2x140) was on the scoresheet for the Lion.

The in-house derby at the Ex Service Club saw 501s take on the Cobras, and although the 501s recorded a 10-2 win, the score did not reflect an entertaining game.

Gary Garton (3x140, 180 21 dart singles leg, and a 20 dart pairs leg with partner Rick Seaman), Rick Seaman (123, 140), Chris Fletcher (121, 135 and a 17-darter) were the high scores for the 501s while Ray Bettison (140, 180), Darrell Webb (3x140) and a pairs leg of 21 darts for Roy Parnham and Ian Chamberlain (121, 125) shone for the Cobras.

Bottom-placed Ex Service Sports took on High Flying Seaview Oak, and took a surprise 5-1 singles lead.

Tony Parkin (123, 2x140) and Ian Fawcet took the first doubles for the Oak, but Graham Froud and Ray Whittam won the next to put the game beyond doubt with a 7-3 lead.

The Oak won the final pairs but still ended up on the wrong side of a 7-5 result, Pete Evans hitting a couple of 140s.

In the Sid Dennis And Sons Ltd Division Two, Vine took on Welcome Hillbillies and looked to be cruising as they had a 4-2 singles lead.

And things looked even better for them as they won the first singles to lead 6-2.

Hillbillies’ duo of Nig Stocks and David Bell gave them hope as they won the middle doubles. Their final pairing of M. Bryson and A. Bell won for an unlikely draw.

Liberal Us slumped to a 10-2 defeat at the hands of the Cricket Club, with Club’s P. Lucas (120, 121, 128, 2x140) and S. Bourke (123, 138) high scoring for the victors.

The game of the night took place at Finnegans where the home side, lying second in the league, and the only unbeaten team in their division, took on third-placed WMC Aces.

It was the home side who shocked the visitors, racing into a 5-1 singles lead helped by Russ Millar (6x100), Scott Millar (4x100, 135) and Phil Lonslow (2x100, 2x140).

The rout was complete as Finnegans showed their authority by winning all three doubles for an 11-1 win.

This Friday will be the cup quarter-finals: Ex Service 501s v Arctic Shrew Monkeys, Cricket Club v Liberal Lads, Ex Service Sports v Ex Service Cobras, Seaview Oak v Chatsworth Hotel.