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‘The rest’ are up for the challenge as they beat league’s champions
The victorious Best of the Rest players, with their trophy and prize money.
A NEWLY-created annual darts tournament took place at The Sun Inn, Belton, in the shape of The Welland Valley Darts League Champions Challenge.
At the recent Welland Valley finals night, The Queen’s Head, Sutton Bassett, were crowned league champions.
Having enjoyed many wins during the season, the champions were offered a challenge to play an extra match, with the opposition being ‘The Best of the Rest’, a team made up of one nominated player from the remaining eight teams in the league. The challenge was accepted.
Unfortunately, two teams from the league were unable to send a player on the night. However, to supplement the team of six, the Red Cow and the New Greyhound, Billesdon, offered a reserve player, which was duly accepted.
The teams were:
League winners - Queen’s Head, Simon Almey, Sean Kelly, Ron Ashton, Ian Freeman, captain Dave Hill, Steve Lawrence, Andy Walker and Dave Lawrence.
The Best of the Rest - Malcolm Moss (New Greyhound, Billesdon), Tony Brown (The Sun Inn, Belton), Bob Tomlinson (New Greyhound, Billesdon), captain Ashley Walker (Shoulder of Mutton, Great Bowden), Dave Bromley (The Bell, East Langton), Bradley Smith (The Railway, Kibworth), John Harris and Barry Williamson (Red Cow, Harborough).
The event turned out to be very evenly matched with a nailbiting end that could have gone either way.
Simon Almey and Sean Kelly led first to the oche for Sutton Bassett against Malcolm Moss and Tony Brown but, with a win against the throw, the first point went to The Rest.
The next two legs went to the champions, giving them a 2-1 lead.
On second, Bob Tomlinson and Ashley Walker (captain of the challengers) won the first and third legs against Ron Ashton and Ian Freeman. Tomlinson finished both of their winning legs with an identical, much-talked-about, 15 shot out, (big 13, double 1).
With the score all even at 3-3, captain Dave Hill and Steve Lawrence led the league winners into the third game against Dave Bromley and Bradley Smith.
With chances at every turn, Rest capitalised and won the first two legs but the champions pulled back the last leg to hold the match at 5-4 to the challengers.
The last pair of challengers to go on were John Harris and Barry Williamson, facing Andy Walker and Dave Lawrence.
After one leg each the opportunities came along for both sides but it was Harris who clinched the match, the trophy and £100 cash prize money for the challengers with a last dart double 10. The final score was 7-5.
The man of the match accolade went to Bob Tomlinson – also known as Fifteen Bob!
Thanks were expressed to the league champions for accepting the challenge and for taking part in such a friendly and sporting manner and also for the nominated challengers who took their time out to represent their team in a special event, which saw players that had been opponents during the season suddenly supporting and playing side by side.
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Weather for Market Harborough
Friday 24 May 2013
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