Scott Stanley threw the first darts of the season for his team, opening up with a gentle 40, with his opponent Mac Phipps opening with a 100 and hitting 140 as he took the 1st leg in 27 darts. First games nerves showed as Scott levelled in the 2nd leg (31 darts), with Mac having had 9 darts to take it? Improved darts by Scott saw him take the 3rd and 4th legs, both in 24 darts, including 2 x 100 in each, for a 3-1 winning start.
Mac; 4 x 100+ scores, his average, 16.86.
Scott; 5 x 100+ scores, his average, 18.16.
Kim Hardware made use of the darts, against Ian Jones, as the second game went the distance with every leg going with the darts. No tons in the 1st leg for Kim, but good scoring saw him take it in 24 darts, with ‘Jona’ hitting 140, left waiting on 40. Another 140 and 100 by ‘Jona’ levelled the scores with a 22 dart leg, befor Kim took the 3rd leg in 31 darts after poor finishing by both players. Ian won the 4th leg in 24 darts, checking out on 84 in 3, the final leg was a cracker, with both players hitting 140 and 2 x 100, and Kim checking out on 54 in 3 after just 18 darts, with ‘Jona’ left waiting on tops after 15 darts.
Kim; 7 x 100+ scores, his average, 20.70.
‘Jona’; 3 x 140 & 5 x 100, his average 22.16.
The 3rd game of the night saw Steve Gillam beat Phil Harper 3-0 to put the visitors 2-1 ahead. Both players were well below their best, the highlight being Steve’s 3 x 100+ scores in the second leg (27 darts).
Phil; 3 x 100+ scores, his average, 15.33.
Steve; 4 x 100+ scores, his average, 16.34.
Neil Clarke started where he finished last season, beating Leigh Collins 3-0, he won the 1st two legs, both in 19 darts, finishing on double top in each. He followed this up by taking the 3rd leg in 22 darts, hitting a 140.
Neil; 3 x 100+ scores, his average, 25.05 (MoM).
Leigh; 1 x 100. his average, 18.9.
With the scores level debutant Daniel Mason took on Chris Stanley, the 1st leg was a little tense with it eventually going to Chris in 29 darts. Both players then opened with a 100 in the 2nd leg, with Dan going on to hit a maximum, to leave 66, with his next throw he hit 63 to leave 3, but he failed to take this out with 6 darts and Chris took the leg in 24 darts for a 2-0 lead. Chris found some form in the 3rd leg, taking it in just 18 darts, checking out with an excellent 111 finish, to take the game 3-0.
Daniel; 2 x 100 and 1 x 180, his average, 18.97.
Chris; 3 x 100+ scores, his average, 21.17 (MoM)

Hello, good evening and welcome. Yes, it’s that time once more to put your reading glasses on, put down that original copy of the Holy Bible, and slip into the virtual coma, the one that only a pint can pull you out of.
I hope that you all have had a good few weeks off, and are now keen and eager to “get on with it.”
For the first game of the season for us was a home match against the Woolpack of Weston. This once quiet team, that wouldn’t say BOO! to a goose, has taken on a little extra help (not that they needed it), some wondering hikers, as it were. These are in the form of; Martin and Mick Wheawall, Lee Edgington and Alan Carrington. Three of which are in the line up in this match.
Our own team has not, I’m pleased to say, not changed at all.
So, on with the game. You must be as excited as I am!!!

The 1st game was between Paul Wright and Lee Edgington.
Paul won this 3-1, but it has to be said for Lee’s first game in the Super league, he played very well. The 3 legs he lost could have been finish with two darts if he was given the chance. It was just unfortunate that he faced such an old soldier like Mr. Wright.
The 2nd game was myself against the unmistakable Keith Stubbs.
Once again this went four legs and once again it was the home player who came out on top. TC didn’t hit as many tons as Paul did in the previous match, but he did managed two maximums. As before in the last game, the away player was unfortunate, this time I feel it was the player to blame, he didn’t play as well as he has in the past. I know this will sound corny but, Keith is a very good player, and when he hits, he can be a pretty lethal opponent.
The 3rd game was between Mark Harvey and Neil Timmis.
This has all you expect out of two players of this calibre, five legs hardly any tons and a pretty low average. No, I’m only joking guys. You know I love you two.
It was infact a good game to chalk, and being it was I who chalked it, no-one can argue with that. It had plenty of toing and froing, and close to the wire doubles and some untimely bounce outs. But at the end it was Neil who came out on top, 3-2.
The 4th game was between Simon Astle and Martin Wheawall.
This was a good draw and match up. Two players who, at the top of their game could win against the best the league can provide. Martin started the stronger player, so much so that Simon had to hit a maximum to keep up, but unfortunately he still lost the first leg. The second was better from both players, and after 16 darts Martin once again came out on top, even though Simon was sitting on 76. Simon stormed the 3rd leg, leaving Martin on 202. But this was, as we were to witness, all in vain. Simon hit another maximum to leave himself 75, but the wonderful finishing of Martin, seeing off 78 in two darts, end the match to the benefit of the Woolpack.
The 5th and final game was between Tim Whiston and Alan Carrington.
Tim’s first three darts hit the maximum score, Alan follows with a ton. Tim didn’t stop there, a further two red scores enabled him to take the first leg in 15 darts. Alan did hit another ton, but it only entitled him to a 3 dart finish to look at. Alan went on to win the next two legs in 18 and 20 darts, hitting only 3 red scores between them, but it obviously was enough. The fourth leg was the longest of this match. Only one red score off each player made it a little scruffy, but fortunately for the home team it was Tim who came out on top. The deciding leg you couldn’t have foretold in any way. Both players were off a little, Tim more so than Alan. A 134 midway for the away player seemed to be the turning point; two more scores left Alan sitting on 50. Meanwhile, Tim managed to lumber down to a 151 finish, but as the long piano fingers of Alan let the missile go it was clear he wanted to finish in style, and that he did. The point of the dart had only been in the bull a millisecond when the room was alive with the scream of delight from Alan closely followed by his team mates. Just to point out how close this match was, Tim’s average was just 0.5 better than Alan’s. Well done.
Final score;
EMERALD 2 – 3 WOOLPACK.

So, a good game and a very good draw, pretty even. Although we lost, it has definitely set a high level to contend with.
Let’s hope that both teams can keep it up for the rest of the season, I heard the Woolpack say they definitely wanted to play as well as this for next week. Lord knows why.
So on to the averages;

Emerald; P.Wright, 23.20. T.Carter, 22.17. M.Harvey, 17.80. S.Astle, 25.60. T.Whiston, 25.14.
Woolpack; L.Edgington, 22.71. K.Stubbs, 19.99. N.Timmis, 18.33. M.Wheawall, 25.38. A.Carrington, 24.66.
M.O.M. P.Wright, M.Wheawall.
180; T.Carter x 2, S.Astle x 2, T.Whiston x 1.

And finally, you maybe wondering what has happened to the one and only Tiger Harrison.
Well, he has managed to pull his shoulder out, or he has pulled something anyway. It all means he would have had to use his left arm to throw with and it is so embarrassing when he wins with his opposite arm, I felt it was only just to leave him for this week.