Darts

A mixed day both personally and as a team at the Champions Cup Regional Playoffs on Sunday. A bye in the 1st Round, but we were in the tough half of the draw. Cheshire were probably slight favourites going into with, with Staffordshire and ourselves also looking strong. So guess which 3 teams were in the bottom half! Nottinghamshire, Merseyside and Derbyshire comprised the top half, with us facing the winner of the Cheshire v Staffordshire game in the 2nd semi final. Staffordshire came through easily by the looks of it. Representing Staffs was the The Saggarmakers Bottom Knockers, the pub that Phil Taylor used to run and is still signed on for, along with Adrian Lewis and Andy Hamilton. We managed to beat them 5-4, with it all going down to the final leg of Kevan Jenkins game, which he won. I lost 3-0 to a complete numpty. I scored ok, but missed 4 darts at a double in every leg. He stood to the side of the oche, which meant he could put his foot 3 inches over. I told him what he was doing, which he replied "Whatever" and did it again next time. I told him again, so the marker came and drew a chalk line that he had to stand behind. He then decided to do a dance everytime he hit a ton or anything decent. Prick!! I think he must have upset a few people earlier, as I seemed to have the support of half the Derbyshire side! In the Final we played Merseyside. While they did have Lee Palfreyman and a few other very decent players in their side, I did think we should be favourites for that one. However we ended up losing 6-3. A few missed doubles in key games and it would have gone the other way. I played much better and beat Phil Brooks 3-0 with a 90.18 average. A 154 finish in the 1st leg helped! In the end it was disapointing, as that was a major opportunity to be only the 2nd side in history (apparently!) to have got through from Lincolnshire to the Grand Final. Maybe next year!

To get there though we will have to win the Super League for the 3rd year in a row. The 1st game is on Sunday, with a trip to Seaview in Skegness. The Electric Club in Sleaford were our main rivals last season, but Skegness New Park have a stronger side this year and could give us a very close run.