Shears wins with top average to help inflict first defeat

THE two previously undefeated Plymouth sides have lost for the first time in the Devon County Super League and slip to second and third respectively in the table.

Exeter side Winchester Warriors are the new leaders with Maritime and Ker Street following but there are only two points separating the trio.

Maritime were defeated 6-3 on their visit to Exeter despite coming back on three occasions to level.

John Mann (28.66) made it 1-1 with a 4-2 victory, having taken the first leg in 15 with a kill of 116 before securing further wins in 15, 16 and 17.

Jason Pinkerton (22.89) won the opening leg of his encounter in 12 darts, aided by a finish of 117 and Kieran Burns (25.69) made it 3-3, before the hosts won the last three games.

There was also a first defeat for Ker St Social Club when they hosted another Plymouth side, Porters.

Scott Lawrey (27.45) won the first point of the match for the Devonport side only for Porters to respond with consecutive 4-1 victories from Scott Wapshott (23.07) and Antony Hayman (26.01) whose best leg was won in 12 darts.

Ker St made it 2-2 through Lee Rodmell (22.70), aided by a finish of 100, before Lewis Dare (26.64) edged Porters in front when emerging a 4-3 winner in 17, 18, 19 and 19.

Rob May (16.83) came from 3-1 down to win 4-3 and increase Porters’ advantage to 4-2 followed by an excellent match-winning performance from Mark Shears (31.31), pictured above, who emerged a 4-0 winner in 16, 19, 14 and 15.

Pete James came from 3-0 down to win 4-3 to claim Porters’ sixth point before Gary Phillips (18.99) won the last for Ker St.

Poison Ivy (Westward Inn) returned to winning ways in division one when they defeated London Inn (Okehampton) 6-3.

There were 4-1 successes for both Tex Pearce (23.48) and Dan Puleston (21.02) and also Neil White (22.72) whose top game came in 12 darts.

Mike Pearce (25.37) and Dave Matthews (25.05) both emerged 4-0 winners, aided by checkouts of 104 and 101 respectively while man of the match Fred Goldsmith (25.37) was prominent when also winning without dropping a leg.

Bluebird remain undefeated in division two and top the table with a five-point advantage.

They were given a tough game by visitors Whipton Wasps though but edged it 5-4.

Shaun Kittle (15.19) won the first point by a 4-2 margin and despite the Exeter side taking two on the bounce, a 4-0 win from Mark Henley (22.52) brought the sides all level.

Rich Coombes (20.25) came from 2-0 down to win 4-2, but only Steve Barnes (19.65), with a 4-0 success, was a Bluebird winner from the next three as the scoreline moved to 4-4.

Rob Thorning (20.76) made sure that Bluebird preserved their unbeaten record when he secured a 4-2 victory in the final exchange of the match.

Maritime Ladies lost for the first time when they went down 4-3 to one of the title favourites, Levy Ladies.

Levy were expected to win this quite comfortably but lost the first three sets.

Jodie Hawton (17.43) emerged a 3-1 winner aided by a checkout of 3-1, before further wins from Lisa Aston (3-1) and Mel Sharpe (3-0) put Maritime just one point away from victory.

Sarah Brown halted the Levy’s decline with a 3-1 victory before Chrissie Kinnaird (3-0) and Trish Penberthy (3-2) made the scoreline 3-3.

In the final encounter of the match Anna Johnson (above) won 3-0 with the top average of 20.04 after taking the opening leg in 19.

Despite suffering their first defeat, Maritime Ladies still top the table.