London Road A January 31st Challenge Cup

After a week of controvasy and anonymous tip off's to the local darting authority who saw fit dispatch Bill Conners to supervise proceedings during last weeks home match against the Inn On The Green it was back to relative normality for the Rose & Crown. Many positives however, have surfaced from recent events and perhaps the local darting authority may even begin to embrace modern communication aids to help bring the game into the modern era and keep in touch with the many reigistered players that support the organisation year after year!

So unsupervised for the first time in two weeks the Rose & Crown played host to London Road 'a' in the challenge cup, who found themselves visiting what many in the darting world believe to be one of the most "intimidating" venues in the St. Albans district!!

London Road seemed to endorse this recent train of thought and were far from their usual vocal selves, almost to the point of subdued, clearly missing the vocal talents of "Taff" the visitors struggled early on to make an impact.

Despite losing the first match the home side bounced back strongly when Neil Crosby and Carl Bolding levelled the match with arguably some of their best darts of the season. Next up was probably the Rose & Crown's most improved pairing of the season John Goode and Paul Mullins who continue to take on all comers and once again proved they were more than a match for the best in the business Paul Mullins throwing yet another maximum as they strolled to victory to steel a march over the visitors sending the home side into a well deserved 2-1 lead. "Scotty" who didn't so much look like he'd walked to the south pole but was now a permanent resident with a few thousand emperor penguins as neighbours took to the oche with Tom wilson and almost in the blink of an eye the Rose & Crown were 3-1 up at the interval.

Once again Ruth out done herself and both side were soon gorging themselves on rounds of freshly made sandwiches and bowls of piping hot chips and even "Scotty" slipped a few layers off and began to warm himself inforn of the roaring fire.

After the interval there was no let up for the visitors as the Rose & Crown sent on Tom Wilson in the first single and with yet another almost faultless display of tungsten throwing the home side found themselves four, one up and heading into dreamland. The vsitors however, had other ideas and this match was far from over. Paul Mullins failed to capitalise after taking the first leg and lost the next two to give some hope for London Road. Tony Scott, taking on his 'nemesis' Derek Ralph appeared to have surrendered the game after just one leg and never recovered as Derek pegged the side back once again.

Neil 'The Dude' Crosby who missed his eagerley awaited match up with Gary Roche due to a combination of bladder trouble and the new winter sport of mobile phone throwing faced up to his own nemesis, Kim Wiffen and was once again second best as the visitors drew level.

Dave Noble was the Rose & Crown's last hope to gain a place in the next round but his recent lack of match practice showed, butdespite putting up a brave fight Dave could not clinch the final game and the home side managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.