Octagon A hit a lot of trebles, but not enough doubles

LOCAL derbies usually bring out the best of both sides, irrespective of the sport, and the Monday Premier League fixture between Octagon A and Octagon B was no different.

Before this encounter, the A side were 35 points higher in the table than their stablemates, but that counted for nothing as Octagon B turned around a 3-0 deficit to win the match 6-5.

Octagon A hit all the trebles, putting 50 ton plus scores on the board, but it’s doubles that win matches and Octagon B hit more of them.

Bill Rennie (100x14) top scored but lost 3-2 and Lee Hellings hit 100x13, three of which were 180s all thrown in his singles but once again the doubles eluded him and Steve Daley (pictured) defeated him 3-2.

Victory Inn A made a big statement in their quest for the league title when they defeated Cherry Tree 11-0 and now command a six-point advantage at the top of the table.

Keelan Kay (27.33) emerged a 3-0 winner in 17, 20 and 18 and was well supported by Gary Phillips who, aided by a leg in 15, emerged a 3-0 singles winner.

Second placed Steam Packet B halted Porters A’s recent good run when defeating them 7-4 in a high scoring match that saw 116 ton plus scores recorded, which included six maximums.

Matt Ansell hit a brace for the visitors, as did Quentin Taylor for Packet, while Neil White (100x13) was again prominent for the hosts and emerged a 3-1 winner in 17, 21, 21.

Maritime held a 4-1 lead on their visit to The Tradesman but could only further that score with individual wins for Dan Sheikh, which included a 15-dart leg and a 3-0 victory from Paul Palmer before winning by the narrowest of margins.

Mark Henley (100x11) caught the eye in Bluebird A’s 6-5 win against Victory B and there was also a good individual performance from Glenn Halford (100x15) when inspiring Prince Maurice A to a 7-4 defeat of Indian Inn A.

Indian Inn B recovered from an 11-0 whitewash the previous week and returned to winning ways when edging out Steam Packet A 6-5.

The match-winning point was salvaged by Teresa Brookshaw (100x12) despite the visitors taking an early 2-0 lead.

Ford Hotel defeated Hyde Park Social Club 8-3 while Plympton Cons and Firkin Scholar both won 7-4 against Porters B and City Social respectively.

Brewery Tap won a close encounter by the odd game of 11 away at Bluebird B and once again it was all about their talisman Antony Hayman.

In a 3-0 singles victory, Hayman scored three maximums, hit a finish of 118 and the also week’s highest checkout of 144.

Other notable finishes were achieved by: Fred Goldsmith (124), Andy Waters (120), Al Rowe (118), Alan Martin (115), Simon Washington 109.