Caledon Club "A" November 22nd

This was old school darts, both teams steeped in their traditions, steeped also in the traditions of the league. This was an epic encounter played out in a traditional old English Pub, a far cry from the dilapidated surroundings of such salubrious establishments as "The Grange" or "British Legion" or the stark empty interiors of so called town pubs who's furniture consists of alcopop binge drinking, ASBO collecting teenagers who's only contribution to the environment is to feed the jukebox to reach a decibel level that masks both their lack of social intelligence and monosyllabic tone of the staff who can just about raise a grunt in between text messages. The public bar at the "Rose & Crown" is about as far detached from this as is possible to be. Cosy open fire's and low beamed ceiling's coupled with the ability of it's enchanting staff to converse on a level that includes both witt and intelligence contributes to an atmospherically charged evening that both teams thrive on and have thrived on for many years.

The dictionary defines pugilism as "the art or practice of fighting with the fists". The fists were thankfully not evident last night as these two first division contenders stood toe to toe trading blows of tungsten against a bristle board that would have had even the purest of pugilists trading in the gloves for these toughened steel arrows.

The visitors drew first blood as Rose & Crown skipper Alan Turner and the Director of Dart's or "DD" as he is affectionately known failed to land the first punch and give the "Rose" the start they so desperately craved. Skipper Alan Turner then turned to the inform John Goode and the resurgent Paul Mullins to steady the ship and after another assured display from duo had ensured the scores were level it was down to Rose & Crown stalwart Tony Scott and the enigmatic Neil Crosby to steal a march on the visitors. Described as a spent match by "Wavey Davey Noble" for his innovative use of head ware, Neil was soon quick to strike up once more as he and Tony wrapped up proceedings to overhaul the deficit and send the Rose in to a 2-1 lead. It was now down to "Wavey Davey" (back from a mid-season break) and the returning Carl Bolding who had also missed the previous weeks match to wrap up proceedings.
Returning from illness with more medical terms in his vocabulary than a BMA medical journal former retired postal worker Carl failed to find his form as he and "Wavey Davey" Noble couldn't live up to their past performances and limped out lamely as the visitors turned up the heat on the hosts to draw level at 2 each.

After the interval and everyone concerned had gorged themselves on the generous helpings of freshly made sandwiches garnished with fresh salad and served with piping hot chips it was back to the business in hand.

"Bryant and May" look alike Neil Crosby dusted down the excess "sesquisulfide of phophorous" and struck once more to send the home side into a 3-2 lead. Skipper Alan Turner without both Tom and Chris Wilson then turned to Paul Mullins to secure the draw, and he didn't disappoint. In a nail biting encounter Paul held his nerve to secure a 2-1 victory and thus secure the home side a valuable point.

Trailing 4-2 the visitors were on the ropes and looked down and out but were given a lifeline as the home side dropped its guard as John Goode failed to take his doubles form into the singles and was caught with a sucker punch to reduce the lead to just one at 4-3 but with stalwart Tony Scott still to play the home side were still confident of picking up another two points. Alas this was not to be. "Scotty" looking to repeat last weeks heroics was strangely out of sorts and his inconsistency proved to be his undoing as the away side fought back off the ropes and snatched a remarkable draw against all odds.