Collins takes plaudits with victory over champ Glenn

DAVE Collins earned the plaudits on the opening night of the new Plymouth City Super League campaign when, in helping Plympton Cons A to a 9-2 victory over Bluebird A, he top scored with 18 throws of a ton or more and defeated last season’s individual winner and Players Championship victor, Glenn Halford.

Collins (pictured below), who was the individual champion himself in 2018-19, started in a rich vein of form by partnering Tony Teal and Dan Malinowski in a 32-dart trebles success (31.28) before going on to a 3-1 defeat of Halford in 13, 17 and 15.

Kelvin Rowe hit two 15-darters for Cons before being edged out 3-2 by Bluebird’s Glenn Austin.

One of the pre-season favourites, Brewery Tap, defeated Cherry Tree 11-0, one of two teams to take maximum points, the other being Octagon Social Club when hosting Maritime B.

Neil White and Dave Petherick (33.37) clinched their doubles game in 33 darts for Octagon while Frankie Stout caught the eye for the visitors and top scored with 11 throws of a ton or more.

Plympton Cons B won by the narrowest of margins away at Bluebird Bandits, the same winning scoreline that was also achieved by Victory Inn A on their visit to Steam Packet.

Packet’s Phil Taylor was the form player though when, in winning his singles 3-2, he took out a 15-darter and top scored with 15 ton plus throws which included outshots of 118 and 114.

Victory Inn B made it a winning double for the Honicknowle hostelry when they defeated The Fawn 8-3.

Fifteen-year-old Cleo Trelease came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in her singles and also played her part in a winning trebles and doubles combination.

Kings Arms B opened their account with an 8-3 success away at Ker St Social Club A and there was also a winning start to the campaign for Hyde Park Social Club who returned from The Clifton with a 7-4 victory.

Kings Tamerton Community Centre were making their league debut, but it was not a successful one as they were defeated 7-4 at home to The Staddy.

Marc Cresswell emerged a 3-1 winner for The Staddy which included a 13-darter after he scored three consecutive 140s.

A 15-darter from Jon Easterbrook in a 3-0 singles success was the highlight of Maritime A’s 10-1 defeat of St Levan Inn.

Ker St B came from 5-2 down to edge out Kings Arms A 6-5 and Tony Lamerton (pictured right) began the revival with a 3-2 victory that also saw him set a decent mark for the season’s top checkout when finishing from 160.

Other notable finishes were achieved by: Fred Goldsmith (120), Neil White (120), John Mann (114), Jon Easterbrook (112), Dave Johns (110), Ryan Harris (108). Dave Collins (104).