After last weeks defeat at SSSC we welcomed the Blue Lagoon 'A' to the Mill for some fun and frolics and hopefully a whipping on the oche!
Longy and Joe turned up with only Gaz left to arrive. Longy was amazed for 2 reasons:
1. Holly had a Rangers shirt on?!? Was it fancy dress pyjama night ha ha
2. Lee had actually decided to turn up after 2 weeks of celebrating the Mill's first win
From being spotted by the 'lads' coming through to the bar, I must have heard about 12 times that James had hit a 180 in practice!!! Lee had got 4/1 at Ladbrokes that it would be mentioned at least 14 times along with a couple of 'Paul Burnetts' thrown in for good measure. That is the reason Gaz was last to arrive, he went and lumped on it too..... But in all seriousness, good darts for the 180 mate! Although with the dodgy lighting and the way you lot count it was probably a 45!
Much to Longy's delight (which is obviously the main thing about a Thursday) James offers him a drink, spot on. The first of a few I'm sure! The question was 'Will Joff buy a round?' as after last week his round cost about £4 this week you can multiply that by 5 (and add 75p for Joes ready salted ha ha).
And what a relief to see Joe 'Lightweight' Franchi reunited with his mate - Arfur Kronie but for how long?????
AS the beer, cider and wine flows Shane and James have a barney about the way he tries to checkout and Shane warned James about 'getting lemon' but they kissed and made up (Lee reading this will be getting lump at this point I'm sure!)
Well, the oppo turned up about 10 strong and were eager to get underway! Longy flips the coin and they call tails. HEADS, GET IN! Longy takes the throw and they pick a singles. Longy uses the in form James to kick off the match.
James: Great darts to kick off 60, 86, 60 followed by 2 more 60's saw Gumbo cruise in front. EASY EASY EASY was the cry. The other guy had 295 left when James was on 60 but scores of 20 and 10 followed by bust, bust miss and bust (where a chunk of the wall fell away!) it left matey a chance with 24. He took out D12 with 1 dart. Head up son, we'll have this next one. Much slower scoring from James saw him give the 'lucky' blow on his 7th throw but would it inspire him?? Well, with Gaz nausing up the scoring as usual, we might win by a fluke ha ha. Well with 51 left and the oppo on 16 we should be in for a close game. James hits T2/13/miss D16 and the oppo hits D8 1 dart! This is the guy that has never won a leg, let alone a game for 2 seasons. Sorry to rub salt in the wound mate! 1-0 Down
Gaz/Em: Some average scoring by both teams until thay smashed in a 140 to leave 103. How would we react??? Em hots a T20 followed by 5 and T5 for 80 leaving 67. Gaz comes in with 59 that he never in a million years calculated to leave 8/ They missed their chances and the D4 was hit by Gaz on the 3rd dart. Lee, who was scoring, used the old 'I really need to use the little boys room' line and Shane took over. On Gaz's 11th throw in the game he hits his first T20. A pretty low scoring leg left us on 20 when they took out 30 with D2 & D13 (Longy corrected them after their player that was watching yelled D14. Back to school for him ha ha). The deciding leg and the pressure was heightened. 85, 98 and 80 scored by Emma and 85 and 80 by Gaz saw the score of 32 left. They hit 81 to leave 125. Gazza steps up and pings the D16 with his 1st dart. Get in there my son, although the bulk of the work was done by his partner Emma. Well played both. 1-1
It was noticed that Lee never came back to chalk the lask 2 legs of the game too! Snide!
Longy: Nothin to really shout about here but Longy hits 61 (including the first Brucey of the night), 81 and 80 to leave himself 43. The oppo was back on 123. Longy steps up and hits fat 19 / D12 for the 43 checkout and to nose in front. Second leg was much the same but scores of 81, 92 & 80 leave Longy on 16 and the oppo has 198 left. He smacks in a pressure moutning 140 to leave 58 but '1 dart' Longy (not because he looks like Peter Manley but his solid checkouts) pinfs the D8 to put the Mill in front. 2-1 Up
Lee/Joff: With Joff scoring 16, 17 and 15 he relied on Lee to save the day.Hitting 22, 41 and 37 before weighing in with 60 & 60 were we too far back? Joff comes back with a great 98 to leave 135. They had hot 66, 80 and a great 140 to leave Tops but they bust it and took it out next time round. I think the pressure of teamwork got to Lee (as a bit like his ever decreasing sex life he only considers himself). Same story in the second leg with both sets of players struggling to find their range. Joff hit a High Score of 66 and Lee's was 46, not good enough to beat these boys as they took out 20/D10 for a 40 outshot. 2-2
Still all to play for in this tight affair (no, I don't mean Joff and Gemma). WHich way would it go? Longy has decisions to make here as the pairings and the order of games could be decisive!!! Can you feel the pressure? I can!!!
Joe: Called up to play his life long friend Brad, whou would be victorious in this encounter? Joe hits 46 to kick off, although there was some debate about whether or not it was a warm up throw, fuck 'em we'll have that!, followed by 41 and 54. Brad hits a games highest score of 105 followed by 93 to eventually take out 25 (2/7/D8). Joe hit so many T1's in the leg, unlucky mate! 2nd leg and Joe hits scores of 79 and 83 (always losing his rythm cos he looks at whether it is in the treble or shuffles across the oche)with Brad hitting 85 and 130. Scores even and both players find themselves on D1. Joe missed 8 times but Brad took it out on his 11th attempt. Longy got a laugh with the good old 'Last Orders' comment. The old ones are the best, hence Lee is always sniffing round Maria!!!! 3-2 Down
Emma: With Longy chalking this one (I couldn't have done it last week as those green eyes looking at me scared the fooking life outta me), at least the counting would be right. 5 scores below 30 and 3 x 60+ saw 'Dicky' with a chance to go in front bu with James nausing her up the favourite saying 'Shut up James' was heard more than once. As is always the case with Emma she showed us a nice bust 4 times (now now, I am talking about the darts scores you dirty minded people!) before they took out D1. Longy is running out of pages in his notepad with all these legs going to D1 finishes! 2nd leg was much better andEmma takes out 32 with D7 / D9 (why hit 1 double when you can hit 2). This was won in 21 darts less than the previous leg. Joe interrupts Emma to tell her someones nicked his drink!Longy then realsised he was on the Double Vodka Red Bull (the only Double he would be getting tonight, I bet ha ha). Deciding leg and Longy managed to nbause up the scoring this time but in this uneventful leg Emma took out D8 to win the game. Well played. 3-3
Well, the food was out! Breakfast pie. Was it the recipe stolen from the Cobden Arms from the Tuesday Night Summer League? THe taste wst will reveal all. Rumour had it that there were some chips too! I saw no evidence to support this, probably because I was next on and then chalked the the game after. Cheers!
Longy/James:James outscored Longy on the highest score of the leg 86 v 85 but Longy came up with the crucial finish 20/D10 = 40 (for those that can't count. So, all of you then ha ha). Longy crashed in 125, 95 and 91 to set James up with a 32 outshot. Single 8 followed by 1 dart D12 made it 2-0 and a comfortable win. 4-3 Up
All the talk of Longy being promised a bunk up with James' mum if he took out the required double wasn't what spurred him on. I mean, if the facebook rumours are true he has been doing that since they met midway through the Summer League when Longy went round to chase James for subs! She is a good old goer though!
James and Longy had thrown their last competetive darts of the evening and left the team in a good position with Gaz and Shane left to play.
Shane v Chris: Shane kicks off with 5 (no this isn't a typing error he actually scored 5) and Chris hammers in 66. Shane hit 70 & 100 but 7/9 scores were below 50. Chris (their best player) on the other hand scored 6/10 over 50. That made the difference and he checked out D12. Similar leg to the 1st SHane hits a 60, 120 and 85 but the other 5 throws not scoring over 50 (indivdually not all together) nd Chris hitting 100, 85, 81, 60 and checking out 62 was tidy darts. Unlucky SHane, you found their best player in top form tonight. 4-4
Level peggings and Mr Reliable himself (well, when you want a 26 anyway) was Gaz aka 20+5+1.
Gaz: A 60, 74 & 116 played a part in getting down to 8 but Gazza bust it and Si (a close call to being their best player) took out D5 after hitting 95 & 94. 121, 83 and 122 from Si put him in a good position but Gaz didn't let him have it all his own way, replying with 60, 85, 120 in consecutive throws. Unfortunately, Gaz followed up with 33, 41 & 41and Si took advantage by checking out 7. A ggreat average of 53.67 fom Gaz wasn't enough to see him to victory! 5-4 down
Really unlucky tonight but a great match. I really enjoyed it (other than fact I chalked too much!). All games were evenly matched and well contested. They were a really good side and I look forward to playing them down at their place (as long as they shoot that poxy parrot ha ha).
Food = Average 6/10
Doubles = We won 2 which is more than normal
Singles: Key players lost tonight. More expected next week (if you get selected)
Longy = Different class
Anyway, I have to go now and slip James' mum a quick length! I hope he isn't at work as I need someone to hold the camera!
