Away v Nottinghamshire - Saturday 31st October / Sunday 1st November 2015
Week ending 31st October 1st November saw Dorset traveling to yet another away game this time 200 miles to Nottingham. Nottinghamshire's home venue Rolls Royce Leisure Club Hucknall, as the name suggests a quality venue with good food, drink and amenities. We were missing two of our star players Daniel Perry and the world champ Scott Mitchell both abroad playing for England and helping them get the gold medals in Men's senior and Bronze in Men's junior.
Nottinghamshire "The home of the Green Army" that in itself was spooky as Dorset are also known by that name, which green army would be victorious?
Saturday and up 1st Katie Mitchell who played Sara Faulkner, Sara played well hitting a 22.43 average and was Nottinghamshire's lady of the match, then wins for Donna Mabbatt and Cath Campbell (our lady of the match with a 20.59 average) put us 2-1 up. Next Abi Northover (playing only her 2nd game in the Dorset squad) who lost, match all even, a good winning performance from the ladies captain Sally Old put us back in front leaving Julie Boggust to play last and lost.
Dorset I believe have a strong men's B team but losses for Bryan Pearson and Terry Gowans put us 0-2 down, John Clark up next took his game to a deciding leg which he won, then losses for Alan Ayres, Matty Woodhouse and Richard Hutley (making his debut for Dorset) put us 1-5 down. Richard playing well came up against an inform Aden Kirk (ranked no 138 in the PDC) hitting a 30.67 average.
Next up for Dorset Matt Yarrow who played brilliantly owning the stage winning 3-0 with a 31.31 average and was our man of the match and giving the Dorset fans something to cheer about. Graham Inniss who fought back from 0-2 down to get a deserved last leg shoot out which unfortunately he lost. Next Robbie Morris who also came from behind to get a final leg decider which he won, match standing at Nottinghamshire 6 Dorset 3, and needing the last 3 games for a draw. James Lane making his debut for us, James played well hitting a 24.33 average but lost 0-3, next Dan Walker who hit a 26 average but Kyle Anderson (ranked 42 in the PDC) was too good hitting a 30.67 average the same average as his PDC colleague who were joint men of the match for Nottinghamshire. Up last Richard Gomm the game going to a deciding leg which Richard won giving us some hope for Sunday. Today's score Nottinghamshire men's B 8 Dorset's 4, our men's B not used to losing. So going into Sunday 7-11 down.
The women's A got us off to a good start with wins for Suzy Trickett and Peri Yarrow, Julie Frampton lost, but wins for Sarah Chick and Claire Rogers who played a great game winning 3-1 with a 19.45 average and was our Lady of the Match this put us 4-1 up with Trina Perry to play. Trina played Sarah Brent who played well and didn't miss much and was the lady's player of the weekend hitting a 22.77 average. So women's A won 4-2 pulling 2 games back.
Some really great matches in the A. Nigel Lamb and Lee Turle both losing with 27+ averages, but then a win from Steve Penney gave us our 1st point with his match going to a final 7th leg. Ryan Gowans in a close fast game which he lost 2-4, Potty up next his match very close and could have gone either way, at one point Mark broke a stem and it took a while to replace it and get the flight in, and the roar when Potty hit the winning double was good to see Potty playing his second game in the A for a while (he so wanted and needed the win). Next Robbie Martin, Robbie far from his best and by his standards had a poor game.
Mark Grimes a man very much on form at the moment (long may it last) hit a 30.56 average in his 4-1 win and was our Man of the Match. Next up Kevin Smith who last week won the Dorset Superleague singles hit a 25.48 average but lost 1-4. Lee Edwardson a young man playing well however he couldn't beat Aden Kirk's 31.22 average. The Big Show Dale Masterman didn't play his normal game but was playing Kyle Anderson who didn't miss much hitting the highest average of the weekend 32.32 (he's class), it was never going to be easy.
Losses for Matt Read and Thomas Chant gave Dorset's Men's A their biggest defeat for a while losing 3-9 and the end result NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 22 DORSET 14 not good, but onwards and upwards to our next game home to Surrey week ending November 28th - 29th.
Overview of the weekend. Dorset's team spirit was not broken and a great weekend was had by most, good friends good company and the will to win still there. On the plus side Matty Yarrow picked up the £100 for the highest average of the weekend with his 31.31 and his second man of the match in a row. Look out Surrey we need a good win and are on our home turf, come and join us we play out of the Branksome Con Club in Upper Parkstone, Poole.
RESULT
Nottinghamshire 22 - 14 Dorset
Women's B Drew 3-3 // Mens B Lost 4-8
Women's A Won 4-2 // Mens A Lost 3-9
John CLARK
