Suffolk gave their best performance of the season, but were left a touch disappointed at an overall 18-18 draw away at Nottinghamshire in their BICC Division Two match, having led 18-14 with just four games to go. Beverley Turner (Bury – 15.97 ave) started proceedings in the Women’s B match, but ended her debut with a 3-0 defeat, after a fine performance by opponent Emma Tomlinson. Louise Collins (Smock – 16.24 ave) went down 3-0 to Kaylea Riley, before Suffolk got on the board as Wendy Harden (Lowestoft – 13.81 ave) took the Lady of the Match with a 3-1 win over Kelly Stevens. Barbara Chenery (Stowmarket – 12.44 ave) lost 3-0 to Julie Pitchford, as did Jan Turner (Lowestoft – 15.28 ave) to Tracey Johnson – before Margaret Bamford completed a 5-1 win for the powerful Nottinghamshire Women’s B side with a 3-1 win over Leesa Woollard (Stowmarket – 14.63 ave). There was no disgrace in the margin of defeat for the Suffolk women, as it was an exceptional team performance from Notts, with all the home winning players having an average of over 18. Suffolk’s Men’s B team have been having a tough time of it this season, but it all finally came good on the Saturday as they clawed back the overall score to 9-9 with a fine 8-4 win. The experienced Kim Buckingham (Lake Lothing – 24.25 ave) started well for Suffolk winning 3-1 against Mark Pearson, before Wayne Hammond (Smock – 22.91 ave) beat Mark Cowley 3-1 to make it 2-0. The re-called Marc Patrick (Smock – 20.59 ave) enjoyed a 3-0 win over Wes Deane, completing a 136 checkout in the third leg – before Daren Wood (Smock) gave one of the performances of the weekend, hitting a 180 in his 3-0 win against Stuart Hay, and sealing the Man of the Match award with a 28.90 average. It was 5-0 to Suffolk when Kevin Harris (Clapgate Lane – 23.16 ave) won 3-0 against Richard Cooper – but the Notts revival began when Jason Stalker (Sudbury – 23.67 ave) went down 3-0 to Micky Pitchford. John Attwater (Sudbury – 24.32 ave) was beaten 3-2 by Ricky Gray as Notts pulled another back, but Jamie Collins (Woodbridge - 24.24 ave) made it 6-2 to Suffolk with a 3-0 win over Rob Riley. The home side reduced the deficit as first Phil Reeve (Smock – 19.30 ave) went down 3-0 to John Esam, then Jonny King (Felixstowe – 22.74) lost a last leg decider to Karl Askew. But Suffolk hit back to clinch the Men’s B match 8-4, and level the overnight overall scores as Jason Elvin (Walsham – 25.16 ave) beat Richard Burrows 3-1, before Lee Newson (Leiston – 20.98 ave & 180) came back from 2-0 down to beat Heath Wilson. Sunday began with the Women’s A match, and a great start for Suffolk as Mandy Reeves (Stowmarket -14.98 ave) took out a 130 finish to complete a 3-1 win over Kirsty Handford. Laura Cooper (Lowestoft – 19.78 ave) gave her usual good performance but found herself up against a tough opponent in Sara Faulkner and went down 3-0 – before Jean Prewitt (Lowestoft -19.25 ave) also played well but lost 3-1 to Helen Harvey. Nicky Doidge (Bury – 17.46 ave) was always going to be up against it in her game with Lakeside World Championship qualifier Sarah Brent and went down 3-0, as Notts moved 3-1 ahead – but Suffolk hit back to take the last two games to secure a draw in the Women’s B match. Jo Locke (Smock – 21.47 ave) played beautifully to take the Lady of the Match award, hitting a 180 in her 3-0 win over Nicola McNamara - and Sami Watson (Bury – 15.38 ave) showed great character to win 3-2 in a very tight match with Emma Tomlinson. So all-square overall going into the Men’s A match, and Suffolk took an early advantage when Martin Totman (Sudbury – 24.67 ave & 180) beat Melvyn Hopkins 4-3. Dan Tatum (Clapgate Lane – 25.36 ave & 180) went down 4-0 to Andy McCracken as Notts levelled, but Walsham’s Andrew Gilding, who had shown his commitment to the Suffolk cause by driving directly to Hucknall from Minehead where he had been playing in the PDC Players Championship finals, put the Blues ahead again by winning 4-1 against Graham Cook. Andrew also hit three 180s and took the Man of the Match award with a 29.47 average. The ever consistent Andy Noy (Leiston – 27.20 ave) had a 4-1 victory over Neil Birkin, before Ian Randles (Sudbury – 27.83 ave) won 4-3 in a topsy turvy encounter with Thomas Allies. Stephen Burton (Woodbridge – 26.37 ave) put Suffolk 5-1 ahead by winning 4-0 against Mark Wilson, but Notts hit back as Dean Barker (Leiston – 21.44 ave) went down 4-1 to Andrew Kerr. Another edge of the seat game saw Jason Mold (Walsham – 27.39 ave) hit two 180s and eventually overcome Tim Broadhurst 4-3 to leave Suffolk on the brink of victory, with a 6-2 lead in the Men’s A game and 18-14 up in the overall match. But Nottinghamshire rallied in the final games of the weekend as a string of fine performances earned them a draw. David Ballard-Flatt (Leiston – 26.08 ave) went down 4-2 to Neil Ward, before Richard Watson (Bury – 22.26 ave) lost 4-0 against Peter McConville. Andy Meikle (Leiston – 24.46 ave & 180) had no answer to a brilliant performance from Paul Harvey as Notts pulled back to 6-5 (18-17 overall) – leaving Lake Lothing’s Tony Lincoln to face Darren Layden in the final and deciding game of the weekend. In a crackling atmosphere, Tony went down 4-1 (25.93 ave & 180) as Darren completed the Notts comeback and delighted the home supporters with some clinical finishing, ensuring a 6-6 draw in the Men’s A game and an 18-18 draw overall. Suffolk are next in action on the weekend of January 17th/18th when Wiltshire are the visitors to Kesgrave Social Club.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 19:30:13 +0000
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