Admiral Drake B capitalise on Portsmouth Darts League rule changes to extend lead at the top by beating Fountain B

Top-flight leaders Admiral Drake B took advantage of new redraw rules to inflict a 6-3 victory on Fountain B with just six players in the Portsmouth Winter League.
Adam Lipscombe hit a 16-dart leg for Admiral Drake B. Picture: Mick YoungAdam Lipscombe hit a 16-dart leg for Admiral Drake B. Picture: Mick Young
Adam Lipscombe hit a 16-dart leg for Admiral Drake B. Picture: Mick Young

Keith Mayne took the opener for Fountain only for Drake to move 3-1 up through Adam Lipscombe – 16-darter – Danny Smith – 18-dart leg and 180 – and Mike Symes – 13 and 17-darters.

Martin Carlyle pulled a set back for Fountain before Justin Bradshaw put Drake within a set of winning the match.

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Dennis Smith won the first of Drake’s redraws to bag the points for his side, with Joe Sweetman claiming a consolation.

Bradshaw added Drake’s sixth, hitting his second 180 of the game.

Meon came from behind to beat Barley Mow 5-4 in Division 5.

Cliff Martin scored 160 as he gave Meon the initial lead before Colin Burton and Rae Lawson put the opposition 2-1 ahead.

Meon regained the lead with legs from Mark McKeon and Michael Wharton before Mow’s Mark

Spain restored parity at 3-3.

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Daniel Smith and Colin Hatherley won the next two legs to give Meon victory.

Fountain A moved to the top of Division B as they dispatched Newcome Arms B 6-3.

Charlie Hymers opened proceedings for Newcome before Fountain rattled off four on the trot

through Terry Ward, Kyle McManus, Tom Neary and Chris Little.

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Dan Jafkins kept Newcome in the match before Steve Todd took the seventh set to give Fountain an unassailable advantage.

Lee Todd added a sixth leaving Tony Small to claim a late consolation for Newcome.

British Queen kept the pressure on the Division 3 frontrunners as they triumphed 5-4 over Oyster House A.

Queen took a 2-1 lead courtesy of Anton Wiseman and Dave Mortimer, who took sets either side of

an Oyster win from Steve Fell.

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Nick Hatherley scored 180 as he extended Queen’s lead but Leon Shires immediately pegged them back to 3-2.

Michael Long put Queen on the brink of victory but as Oyster were three players short, Fell

and Shires returned with both winning their second set of the night to make it 4-4 and force a decider.

But Bob Hatherly won it to hand Queen the match.

Harvest Home pulled away from the relegation zone in Division 4 as they dispatched Baffins 5-4.

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Harvest raced into a 5-1 lead with David Churcher, Ben Mowett, Phil King, Paul Henty and Steve Bern on the mark.

Baffins made the scoreline more respectable, though, as Andy Holbrow, Ian Bates (including a 180) and Mick Chandler won the remaining ties.

Steve Greenwood (Jolly Taxpayer A) threw a 15-dart leg while Lee O’Donovan (Jolly Taxpayer C) notched a 16-darter.

There were 18-dart efforts from Gary Smith (Jolly Taxpayer C), Del Thompson, Sam Palmer (both Shearer Arms), Lloyd Walker (Phoenix North End C), Darren Barnes and Kevin Gilchrist (both Lord Chichester B), with Walker, Thompson and Barnes checking out on 120, 117 and 112 respectively.

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John O’Shea (Old House at Home) hit a 148 finish and Jon Davison (Lady Hamilton) and Neil Hallett (Jolly Taxpayer C) both fired in maximums.

Portsmouth Individual League

Buster Turner emerged triumphant from the second week of the series, winning the final 5-3 against week-one winner Dan Eade.

Turner beat Gary Cooper 4-2 in the semi-finals having dispatched Charlie Jackson 4-3 in the previous

round.

Eade won his quarter-final 4-3 against Matt Charman and went on to win 4-2 against Lloyd Walker in the last four.

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Kieron Smith won the plate contest with Paul Gibbs finishing as runner-up and Martin Rees and Tyler Bellamy reaching the semi-finals.

Turner notched a 13-dart leg which Charlie Hymers hit a 160 finish and Terry Archer scored four maximums.

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