Lickey End A & B Darts Teams were both in action again this week. The A Team played away at Queens Head and the B Team hosted Blackwell Club at home.
For Lickey A it was successful night, grinding out a 4-5 win for a much-needed morale boost in a season littered with close matches that just haven’t gone their way.
Up first on the oche, Geoff Nokes made a great start for Lickey with a 0-2 win despite recovering from a chest infection. In Game 2, Paul Prince took out leg 1 but some scrappy play allowed Queens Head back in to take it 2-1. In Game 3, Ed McManus restored the lead with a 1-2 win in his game. Games 4 & 5 were 2-0 wins for Queens Head vs Paul (Rosie) Read and Jason Evans which drew them level. In Game 6, Gaz Troth had a bye for Lickey as Queens Head only fielded 5 players.
It was 3-3 into the doubles now and the signs looked ominous again as Rosie and Gaz lost 2-0 in Game 7. Game 8 was a must-win for Lickey. Jim Mildner and Geoff stepped up though with a 140 and 136 respectively to take a close-game 1-2. So, it was all down to the final game. Paul and Ed got away quickly and saw out leg 1, Paul finishing with a nice 52. This put pressure on Queens Head who got scrappy. Lickey kept their heads. Ed left Paul Double 10 to for the match and he took it out first dart. 👌
Lickey B started well in their match with Alvin Holland taking the first game 2-1. In Game 2, Theo, returning from pantomime duties and probably a bit ring rusty lost 0-2. Dylan Rowe restored the lead in game 3 winning 2-0 but Blackwell hit back hard taking the next two games 0-2 against Colin McKinley and Roy Davies. Blackwell got a bye in Game 6 as Lickey only fielded 5 players.
At 2-4, Blackwell were in command going into the doubles. In Game 7, Roy and Theo lost a close game 1-2 handing Blackwell the match win. In Game 8, Dylan and Colin nicked it 2-1 and a loss for Dylan and Alvin in the last game saw a final score 3-6 to Blackwell.
