WARWICKSHIRE Darts County Youth teams began the new season at a new venue with a new committee, new players and a new manager as Paul Moreton’s squad thrashed Staffordshire 12-1 in a comprehensive victory.
The ladies were first up and made a blistering start as club captain Isobel Gash romped to a 3-0 win with a 12.85 average.
And this was followed up by wins for Kacie O’Connor and Emmie O’Connor who both won 3-1 with 12.64 and 9.85 averages respectively to hand Warwickshire a 3-0 lead heading into the under-18/under-21 section.
Warwickshire’s fine start continued when 10-year-old Jacob Griffiths produced an excellent performance to win 3-0 with a 17.89 average.
And Charlie Moreton edged out his opponent to win 3-2, as he scored more ton’s than any other player, before Keelen Dockerty secured a dominant 3-0 win with an 18-79 average – the second highest average in the group.
Ben Gamble was forced to come from a leg behind to win 3-1 with an impressive 20.25 average and landed the highest checkout in the under-18 section.
Debutant Owen Quinn, from Staffordshire, produced a magnificent display against his home county to win 3-0 with a 17.89 average as the under-18’s won the section 5-0 to hand Warwickshire an unassailable 8-0 advantage.
Next up were the under-21’s and Harry Franklin continued Warwickshire’s perfect start with a 3-0 win and 18.33 average with a steady performance.
Alfie Busby hit a 180 with his first three darts, Warwickshire’s only maximum of the day, in a stunning 15-dart leg on his way to a 3-1 victory
The performance of the day belonged to Harry Earp as he scored a 23.97 average in a superb match against Staffordshire’s Owen Rhead.
Rhead landed two 180’s only for Earp to fire in four ton plus scores in a match that went to a deciding leg with the latter securing a 3-2 win with a 64 checkout to put Warwickshire into an 11-0 lead overall.
Another Warwickshire debutant, Luke Morris, delivered a seamless 3-0 victory with four ton plus scores and finished with the second highest average of the day at 23.48.
Warwickshire’s third debutant, Sam Matthews, confidently raced into a two-leg lead with three ton plus scores only for his opponent to draw level and take the game to a deciding leg.
And Sam coughed up chances to seal the win before his opponent checked out 32 to secure Staffordshire’s only victory with the former ending with an average of 18.95.
Despite defeat in the final tie, Warwickshire enjoyed a near perfect start to the season as they romped to a 12-1 victory.
And two more new players, Mitch Wann and Campbell O’Hagan, played for Warwickshire’s reserve side for the first time.
The former finished with an impressive 25.69 average, an amazing score for a 14-year-old whilst Campbell averaged 18.31 with both playing their part for the county’s team spirit during the day.
Warwickshire’s next fixture is against Lancashire on Sunday, October 23 at Radford Social Club in Coventry with the action set to begin at 12.30pm and doors open at 11am.
Any young players within the Warwickshire area who are interested in getting involved should email: [email protected]
