Comeback Kings Surge Top!

 Tyne & Wear darts staged a remarkable comeback against Clwyd at Cheers at the weekend to go top of the overall promotion table in British Inter-County Championship Division 3.

The North-East outfit looking for their second successive promotion were left spooked by their Welsh counterparts overnight on Halloween at the end of the first days play trailing 12-6.

Clwyd powered ahead taking the first 3 of the Ladies B matches, only for the Tyne & Wear Ladies B side to comeback for the 3-3 draw. Lady of the Match for the second successive match Pat Davidson started the comeback taking the match honours with a 17.98 average in a close 3-2 win, other winners in the Ladies B included Ann Watson in her home debut after joining from Cumbria who won 3-2 with an average of 16.92, and finally the ever present and dependable Edie Casey who won her match 3-1 with a 16.93 average.

The Men’s B Side crashed 9-3 losing their first five matches before Man of the Match Gary Dunn stepped in with a 23.92 average in his 3-2 victory, Dunn’s fellow super league team mates from The Red Hackle were the only other two victors for the B side, Steve Hogg who won with an average of 20.57 in his 3-2 win and “the big un” Paul Edmunds on his Tyne & Wear debut won 3-0 with a 22.10 average in an excellent start to his Tyne & Wear career.

Tyne & Wear came back the next day urged on by vociferous home support fully charged and ready to battle for the win, trying for an amazing turn-around including some of the funniest darting walk on’s in recent times Tyne & Wear managed just that taking the overall match 19-17.

Once again Tyne & Wear’s championship winning Ladies A led the way taking a 4-2 win, led by former England International “Super” Sue Edwards claiming the Lady of the match award in the opening match with an average of 23.48 in her 3-0 win. Pat Davidson celebrated promotion to the A side following her second Lady of the Match award of the season the previous day with a hard fought 3-2 win and an average of 11.88, Maureen Purvis showed why she is consistently one of the best Ladies Darts players in the county with a 3-1 win and an average of 15.76. Welsh International Ann Marie Potts provided Tyne & Wear with their 4th straight match in the Ladies A 3-2 win and an average of 19.98.

The Men’s A side showed why these 12 are the best players in the county with a stunning turnaround of 9-3, “Mr Wonderful” backed by his walk on girls roared home with a 28.89 Man of the Match winning average in his 3-2 win. Previously the Men’s A powered ahead taking the first 6 matches, with wins for “the original tractor boy” Andy Crane 3-1 with an average of 24.56, the returning Neil Rose who won 3-2 averaging 22.34, Paul McGowan 3-0 with an average of 23.12, Dave Bullerwell won his match next averaging 21.73 in his 3-2 win, Steve Newton made it five on the spin for the A side in an excellent 3-1 win and brilliant average of 26.22 with Paul Williams also cruising home 3-1 and averaging 23.95. Clwyd pulled two back before 9 dart man Thomas Chaters pulled out a 3-2 win and an average of 23.07 with Chris Lisle once again proving his prowess as one of the top young talents in the North-East Dart scene averaging 26.84 in his impressive 3-0 victory.

Next up for Tyne & Wear’s promotion quest is North- Wales side Gwynedd who will be travelling to Cheers Bar in Sunderland on December 5/6.

 Report By Andy King (P.R.O )