As the smoking ban continues to descend the game of tactics into absolute chaos, albeit ably assisted by the "Director of Darts" with his penchant for disruption ,the Rose & Crown continue to go from strength to strength when it really matters.
Last nights visitors to St. Mitchael's darting Mecca were the Evergreens, who on their day were capable of beating the best in league, a fact proven by a recent victory over the Inn On The Green. The Rose & Crown how ever are anything but The Inn On The Green and are most certainly not a bunch of silver pot chasing, egotistical spear throwing megalomaniacs, au contraire quite the reverse in fact. The Rose & Crown embody the very spirit of darts, a team built over the years in the best traditions of the game (the director of darts a part) with a strong cohesion and togetherness that sets them apart from the "gypsies" that have wandered across the boundary to the north of the district. The Evergreens found this out to their cost on Thursday night as the home side turned in a performance worthy of a higher placing in the league table.
After a shaky start to the evening with what was perhaps the longest doubles game in Rose & Crown memory Skipper Alan Turner and Dave Noble finally came out on top as an out of sorts Tim Banks and below par Geoff Greene just couldn't find any rhythm and left the door wide open for the Rose & Crown duo. This early advantage was soon to be overturned, Carl Bolding and Neil Crosby surrendering to Jimmy Meyrick and Paul Stevens followed by the first defeat of the season of John Goode and Paul Mullins who despite dominating the match and throwing a maximum with his first three darts were unable to put away the wily campaigners of Mick Norris and John Thiel and thus find themselves trailing 2-1. Enter Tony Scott and Tom Wilson who set the standard for the rest of the evening with a comprehensive 2-0 win to put the home side back level.
The sandwiches brought some light relief to proceedings and it has to be said that Ruth does the team proud. Wonderful freshly made sandwiches with a variety of exciting fillings served on a platter and garnished exquisitely always go down well after a few pints of the cask conditioned ale on offer to which the delicious Gemma is only to happy serve up.
So with refreshments taken and the last remnants of fresh bread woofed down by Tia it was back onto the Oche. Neil Crosby usually takes first single, not by the skippers choice it has to be said, while others are gorging themselves on the fresh fare Neil hones in to the vacant oche and refuses to move until he plays. This was a season defining game for the enigmatic Mr Crosby as well as a defining game in the evenings events. At two each the pressure was on both players to get a result and it was Evergreens Paul Stevens who looked the more likely victor as he out played "The Dude" for all three legs. and looked sure to wrap things up before Neil hit him with a bolt from the blue. Limping like a lame duck it was all Neil could do to stay in touch with his opponent at times, but staring down the Barrel Neil pulled of an incredible 112 finish that stunned not only his opponent but all inside the public bar at the time and so put the Rose & Crown back in pole position and with the likes of Tom Wilson and Tony Scott to follow not to mention the in form Paul Mulins there only looked like one team in it and so it proved. Tom Wilson came out on top despite a momentary lapse of concentration in the second leg against John Thiel before Tony Scott turned in yet another masterclass to seal the victory. Paul Mullins then put the icing on the cake as the home side reeled off all four single matches to complete a wonderful 6-2 victory
Last nights visitors to St. Mitchael's darting Mecca were the Evergreens, who on their day were capable of beating the best in league, a fact proven by a recent victory over the Inn On The Green. The Rose & Crown how ever are anything but The Inn On The Green and are most certainly not a bunch of silver pot chasing, egotistical spear throwing megalomaniacs, au contraire quite the reverse in fact. The Rose & Crown embody the very spirit of darts, a team built over the years in the best traditions of the game (the director of darts a part) with a strong cohesion and togetherness that sets them apart from the "gypsies" that have wandered across the boundary to the north of the district. The Evergreens found this out to their cost on Thursday night as the home side turned in a performance worthy of a higher placing in the league table.
After a shaky start to the evening with what was perhaps the longest doubles game in Rose & Crown memory Skipper Alan Turner and Dave Noble finally came out on top as an out of sorts Tim Banks and below par Geoff Greene just couldn't find any rhythm and left the door wide open for the Rose & Crown duo. This early advantage was soon to be overturned, Carl Bolding and Neil Crosby surrendering to Jimmy Meyrick and Paul Stevens followed by the first defeat of the season of John Goode and Paul Mullins who despite dominating the match and throwing a maximum with his first three darts were unable to put away the wily campaigners of Mick Norris and John Thiel and thus find themselves trailing 2-1. Enter Tony Scott and Tom Wilson who set the standard for the rest of the evening with a comprehensive 2-0 win to put the home side back level.
The sandwiches brought some light relief to proceedings and it has to be said that Ruth does the team proud. Wonderful freshly made sandwiches with a variety of exciting fillings served on a platter and garnished exquisitely always go down well after a few pints of the cask conditioned ale on offer to which the delicious Gemma is only to happy serve up.
So with refreshments taken and the last remnants of fresh bread woofed down by Tia it was back onto the Oche. Neil Crosby usually takes first single, not by the skippers choice it has to be said, while others are gorging themselves on the fresh fare Neil hones in to the vacant oche and refuses to move until he plays. This was a season defining game for the enigmatic Mr Crosby as well as a defining game in the evenings events. At two each the pressure was on both players to get a result and it was Evergreens Paul Stevens who looked the more likely victor as he out played "The Dude" for all three legs. and looked sure to wrap things up before Neil hit him with a bolt from the blue. Limping like a lame duck it was all Neil could do to stay in touch with his opponent at times, but staring down the Barrel Neil pulled of an incredible 112 finish that stunned not only his opponent but all inside the public bar at the time and so put the Rose & Crown back in pole position and with the likes of Tom Wilson and Tony Scott to follow not to mention the in form Paul Mulins there only looked like one team in it and so it proved. Tom Wilson came out on top despite a momentary lapse of concentration in the second leg against John Thiel before Tony Scott turned in yet another masterclass to seal the victory. Paul Mullins then put the icing on the cake as the home side reeled off all four single matches to complete a wonderful 6-2 victory
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