DOG PAIR

WAG TAILS

THE only Inn Partnership Darts League action over the festive season was the finals of the Open Pairs competition.

This used to be the Wakefield DIY before sponsorship ceased and comprises pairs drawing to play two singles matches and three double until the best of five is decided.

It was resurrected by the financial backing of Ron Hartley, landlord of the Hawthorne Hotel.

Jim Brady and Mark Henshaw took the opening quarter-finals 3-0 against Kevin Reynolds and Clive John and then Joe Woods and Kevin White repeated the score against Leo McDonnell and Paul Hitchen after a drawn opening leg and a further chance for the Penketh pair when the bull was missed in two throws.

Warren O'Neill and Tony Monks took both singles against Dave Wooldridge and Peter Jolly but saw the score levelled at 2-2 with 16 and 14 darters before O'Neill and Monks took the final leg.

Phil Barker and Nev Thompson held Archie Goodier and Bryan Hartley for the first four legs before a 16 darts final leg saw the highly rated duo go into the semis.

Tony Monks hit Kevin White with a 12 darts opening singles but Joe Woods levelled against O'Neill in 16.

The doubles were hard fought matches but it was the Alliance pair White and Woods who won through 3-2.

The other semi-final seemed odds-on to make it an Alliance final but Mark Henshaw of Dog and Partridge hit a 17-darter in the first singles to beat Archie Goodier after Archie had been first to the double in 15.

Bryan Hartley brought things back to equilibrium with a fine 11 darts win over Jim Brady but the roof was raised in the doubles when the Dog and Partridge pair took the two pairs in 14 and 17 darts.

In the final Brady gave Woods a three darts target when he went out in 18 but Joe could not manage it.

White evened matters beating Henshaw in a drawn out singles when both walked round the board.

In the first doubles the Alliance pair gave a five-darts finish target which the Dog pair hit in four and in what proved to be the final leg Brady and Henshaw finished in 21 and left a three darts finish chance for White and Woods who were on the double in 18 but they had to settle for the £100 second place money and trophies.

It was Henshaw and Brady who collected the £150 winners' money and trophies. Brady, incidentally, was deputising for Henshaw's original partner Mark Woods, who was unavailable for the final rounds.

Entries for the Thwaites O'Day competition, which is not restricted to players registered for teams in this league close at 7.30pm on Sunday.

The team action restarts tomorrow night, Friday, with the preliminary round of the Team Charity Knockout competition.

Team Knockout Charity Competition preliminary round draw, tomorrow, Friday, 8.15pm start: Coach & Horses v Hawthorne, Royal Oak Branch v Causeway, Corner House v Blackburne Arms, Red Lion v Chapel House, Howley v Riverside, Imperial v Pierpoints, Gas Social v Alford Sports, Marquis v Penketh S&S, Poacher v Seven Woods, Brickmakers v Warr Town, Alliance A v Bulls Head, Adelphi v Kings Club, Richmonds v Jolly Tanner, King & Queen v PO Wales.

Draw for charity at all matches, proceeds to headquarters (Hawthorne) not later than Sunday, January 7, before 7.30pm.

Result cards in usual way.

First round, Monday, January 29.

Players with dual registration (i.e Monday One Team Friday another) must play for one team only if they have not already nominated a team on the sheets issued at start of season.