Octagonals win to claim first premier division success

NEWLY promoted Octagonals (Octagon Social Club) secured their first premier division victory in the Devon County Super League when they edged out Bell Inn (Cullompton) 5-4.

Peter Holland (20.08) won Octagonals the opening point by a 4-3 margin before they fell 2-1 behind, but Lee Agar (20.62) brought the sides level after he also had to go the full distance.

Alfie Ford (24.74) put the home side in front for the first time when he won in four straight legs, taking the last three in 15, 18 and 18 before Neil White (26.63) made it 4-2.

The visitors took two of the last three but Fred Goldsmith (26.58) secured the decisive fifth point by a 4-1 margin, aided by a leg in 15.

Royal Anchors (Bideford) proved too strong for Ker St and defeated them 6-3.

Andy Waters (20.04) and Marc Cresswell (22.98) both won 4-2 for the Devonport side while Kelvin Rowe (21.73) won by the odd leg in five.

Maritime overcame Winchester Warriors (Exeter) 6-3 with man of the match Harry Bull earning the plaudits with a 4-0 win and a 26.78 average.

Scott Hutchinson (26.66) and Danny Bull (22.30) won 4-2 and 4-1 respectively while Mark Turner (25.86), Kieron Burns (24.95) and Lee Hellings (24.21) were all successful after being taken the full distance.

Maritime Social Club B made it two from two after edging out London Inn (Okehampton) 5-4.

They had to do it the hard way though as the hosts took an early 3-1 lead with only Shaun Dring (24.44) winning 4-0 for Maritime.

But that was the last point that London Inn were to win. Phil Hoyle (23.03) won 4-0 and Kyle Wilmot (20.19) won 4-3, before there were 4-1 victories for both Richard Wheatley (21.82) and match winner Dan Sheikh (20.90).

Porters won for the first time when they defeated The Wanderers (Victory Inn) 6-3 in an entertaining fixture.

Richard Coombs (19.84) opened the scoring for The Wanderers before Pete James (20.24) levelled in straight legs but Alan Masters (20.33) came from 3-2 down to win 4-3 and put the hosts back in front.

Paul Palmer (21.32) won 4-0 to bring the two sides level before Porters took the lead for the first time when Sam Frampton (23.34) won 4-0, which included an 18-darter which he finished with a kill of 118.

Steve Barnes (pictured) finished two 21-darters with outshots of 154 and 157 before going on to a 4-1 victory but Porters then took full control.

Antony Hayman (29.91) was a 4-0 winner in 17, 18, 18 and 14, followed by 4-1 successes for Mark Shears (22.55) and Scott Cook (23.15) who both hit 15-darters.

Last season’s ladies’ champions Levy Ladies opened a new account with a 5-2 victory away at Cully Belles (Cullompton).

Lady of the match Trish Penberthy (17.48) won 3-0, as did Anna Johnson and Chrissie Kinnaird while there were 3-1 victories for both Hayley Brant and Wendy Johnson.