Patriots lose unbeaten record but still title favourites

MARITIME Marauders came from behind and inflicted on Porters Patriots their first defeat of the campaign in week 31 of the Porters Function Room 501 Top 20 League after a run of 30 victories.

The top fixture produced 110 throws of a ton or more, including eight maximums as Marauders, despite trailing 5-3, took the last three singles to edge out the title favourites.

Phil Hoyle (26.33) won 3-0 in 17, 24, 16 and Mike Pearce (26.37) followed with another straight legs victory in 19, 22, 16 while there were 3-1 successes for Shaun Dring in 20, 18, 14 and Tex Pearce (pictured) who also recorded the week’s highest checkout of 153.

John Mann (30.67), a 3-0 winner in 18, 18, 11 and Antony Hayman (28.36) 18, 13, 22, were the only individual winners for Porters Patriots.

In the same week, Danny Bull (29.47) showed good form when emerging a 3-0 winner in 18, 18, 15, inspiring Fawn B to an 8-3 victory away at Kings Arms.

Porters Patriots returned to winning ways in week 32 and put 55 tons on the scoreboard when beating Indian Inn B 10-1.

Second placed Marauders won 9-2 against their stablemates Maritime Governors and had Dave Matthews registering two maximums.

Jason Pinkerton though for the Governors, went one better and hit three 180s in a 13-ton haul.

Kings Arms secured all but one of the 11 points that were on offer away at Cherry Tree while there were 8-3 successes for both The Office and Maritime Musketeers against Fawn A and Victory B respectively.

The Melbourne also won 8-3 away at Compton Social Club, but not before the hosts had Steve Caiels showing his finishing prowess with outshots of 104 and the week’s highest mark of 143.

Dave Hall (100x13) and Dave Jones (100x13) spearheaded a Fawn B victory against Falstaff by a 7-4 margin while Maritime Nutters edged out Indian Inn A 6-5.

Brewery Tap made a good recovery on their visit to Victory Inn A and came from 5-2 down to win 6-5 which included excellent singles wins for Maria O’Brien who hit two maximums in a 13-ton haul and Cat Callard who edged out Gary Phillips 3-2.

Neil White caught the eye for the hosts and was their leading marksman with 13 scores of a ton or more.

Octagon Social Club were another team to win the hard way when, despite trailing Porters Pretenders 5-1, they rallied to win 6-5.

Mark Shears (100x13) was the only winner for the visitors and his 3-0 success included a leg in 11 darts.

Notable outshots over the two weeks were achieved by: Ewan Johnson (132), John Mann (126), Paul Tozer (120), Phil Hoyle (116), Antony Hayman (111), Dave Pethick (110, 100), Jordan Searle (110), Gerald Bulley (109), Simon Washington (107), Dave Hall (105), Ian Heggie (105), Dave Matthews (105), Paul Palmer (100).