Home v Devon - Saturday 28th / Sunday 29th March 2015
For our second BICC county match in March Dorset entertained Devon at our home venue for the first time in the last three meetings. The weekend started with a minute's silence as a mark of respect to a BDO official and former EDO selector Dave Vincent who had sadly passed away earlier in the week. Dave was a great ambassador for the BDO and will be sadly missed by the darting fraternity.
Dorset knew we faced a tough match against top of the league Devon, but it's all about how you play on the day and at Dorset if nothing else the belief that we could win was there and if our players played at their best we might be able to snatch a victory, so how did we do?
Going into the Ladies B match our ladies team were top of the league having played 6 won 4 drawn 1 and lost 1. Devon B ladies had won 3 drawn 1 lost 2 so on paper at least we were in with a great chance. Up 1st Claire Whatley who won 3-1 and was our lady of the match with a 15.09 average. Then Devon's next 5 players all out played us with 2x19+ and 2x18+ averages to take a 5-1 lead, far from a great start.
Bring on our Mens B now again this was going to be tough Devon were top of the Men's B league Dorset were 2nd. Up 1st Steve O'Marah who went 2-0 up (then got that can't hit a winning double) and lost 2-3. Next Robby Morris back in the team after a lay off through illness and been sat on the reserve bench waiting for a chance to get back into the squad not his day as he lost 0-3. Wins for Mark Grimes and a great game by Lee Edwardson who was taken to a deciding leg which he won and was our man of the match with a 25.53 average. Next Graham Knight up against an in form Dave Witt who didn't miss much and hit a 32.67 average beating Graham 3-0. Next up for Dorset, Lee Turle not having one of his better games losing 1-3. The seventh game of the Men's B match saw 13 year old Daniel Perry making his debut for the senior side. He played Mark Turner who wasn't put off playing a youngster and beat Daniel 3-1, then wins for Matty Woodhouse, Alan Ayres and a great game by Terry Gowans, Terry played exceptionally well hitting 3 doubles from 4 darts thrown with a 25.05 average giving Dorset's B team a loss of 5-7.
So not the best of starts going into Sunday we trailed 6-12. Review of Saturday it is true to say Devon out played us and certainly out cheered us tremendous support from Devon every one loves winners, and they have a good following of supporters.
On to the Sunday and the A match, thinking back to the Gwent game they came back from a 5-13 deficit could Dorset do the same?
Some great games from both teams Julie Frampton and Trina Perry both playing well but losing, wins for Sarah Chick (our woman of the match) winning 3-1 with a 19.25 average and Suzy Trickett winning 3-1 put us 2-2. Peri throwing some of her best darts this season but losing with a 20+ average and Julie Boggust losing 1-3 gave Devon a 4-2 lead. Devon's girls 3 of them hit 20+ winning averages Lisa Hughes 21.38 Sarah Winsor 22.10 (their lady of the match) and Merryl Dennis 20.68 always hard to beat.
Onto Men's A, Kevin Smith winning again got us off to a good start, Ryan Gowans losing with a 28.83 average to Michael Pearce 30.34, Tim Clothier losing 3-4 missing doubles to win, that put Devon onto the magic 18 at least a draw (would they struggle to get over the winning line?). Next Thomas (the Robot) Chant back to his winning ways, then our Scotty 'Dog' Mitchell, Champion of the World and England Captain. Scott is running 2nd in the Division 1 county's running averages to Glen Durrant, Scotty was playing Simon Stevenson no slouch himself running 7th in the County averages. Would Scotty win? Would he get man of the match? Would he beat Dave Witt's 32.67? As the song goes two out of three ain't bad Scotty won convincingly 4-0 was our man of the match and hit a 30.83 average (just another day at the office). Next Steve (slowhand) Penney who won 4-2 with a 25.38 and gave Dorset 3 winning games in a row. Nigel Lamb scored well 26.62 average but lost to Paul Milford who gave Devon the win (19) 4-2 with a 28.09 average. Wins for Sean McMurray (debut in the A) and Matt (mooster) Read winning 4-0 with an impressive 30.36 average. Steven Earley and John Bothamley both lost but a good game from Robbie Martin on last and getting a 4-1 win with a 25.22 gave the Men's A our only win from the four teams 7-5 so overall Dorset 15 Devon 21 not the result we hoped for but no disgrace the Men's A fought well and deserved the win.
RESULT
Dorset 15 - 21 Devon
Women's B Lost 1-5 // Mens B Lost 5-7
Women's A Lost 2-4 // Mens A Won 7-5
