October 13th 2016 away v White Swan (Dirty Duck)

Almost 2 years to the day of the last post on this blog when the Rose & Crown went down by the width of a wire to New Greens it's time to revisit this most local of village dart teams. 2014 was indeed a very different place both on the political landscape and the darting landscape. I say this as the Rose & Crown were gently meandering their way through the second division of the once prestigious St. Albans dart league and arguably the Conservative party had sunk to the second division of politics by needing the help of a man who the public said "He's nice and better than the other lot".Of course that was the nations first ever televised political debate and the man in question was of course Nick Clegg and at the time he along with the Conservative Party sat in coalition together The Rose & Crown went on to lose that night two years ago in a hotly contested match but gained promotion back to division one nonetheless. The aforementioned man however, went on to suffer heavy defeat in the election (May 2015) but in so doing he catapulted the Conservative party back to the top table but that table came at price and that price was ultimately his job not mention his political career but also "Brexit",or as t was known in its initial conception "a referendum". The aforementioned gentleman had now long since departed the corridors of power leaving it in the capable hands of the Conservatives Party "Production Company" who presented over the next couple of years what can only be described as a "Punch and Judy" show played out to an audience of expense claiming MP's, I digress, re Theresa may as Punch in our production, David Cameron as Judy and George Osborne as the Crocodile because he certainly stole all the sausages. Oh how politicians behave. If any further proof is needed you only need to look at the most powerful nation on earth, armed to the hilt with nuclear weapons that would wipe out most if not all of humanity. They start a craze that sweeps the nation where they all dress up as clowns and try to frighten everyone....believe me they don't have to dress up as a clown they are about to elect one as president, lets face it all Hilary needs is the bright red lips and a red nose and we know Trump can juggle his balls don't we? So as we see the world has changed. The very way we live our lives now is quite different and the Rose & Crown Dart team is no exception. Following on from promotion they endured a torrid season back in the 1st division finishing 9th with just three wins all season but post "Brexit" has brought on a new dawn and with only one defeat this season so far they are already close to matching last seasons points tally. Tonight they earned a point in a game that ebbed and flowed but in all honesty was always likely to end in a draw. The opponents tonight were the White Swan but as many would know them "The Dirty Duck". Gone are the days of spit and sawdust in this town centre hostelry, the stale smell of local drunks who in all honesty had probably cut out the middle man and urinated on the tatty old at stools that they were seemingly glued to were now all but a memory too, replaced by the aromatic smell of scented candles and trendy fruit based beverages. The dark dingy surroundings replaced with bright neon lights that make the glasses glow that are stored in chillers and now soft mood lighting illuminates the luxurious seating areas. The beer too has changed, where once pints of brown and bitter and light and mild were complimented by old tobacco tins and spittoons there are now very trendy micro breweries offering craft ales a plenty with gourmet pork scratchings that originate from the Gloucester Old Spot they even manage to have a champion pint of Guinness but I have to say at £4.40 a pint I want it to be a double Olympic Champion that also makes a bacon roll in the morning! It has to be said that the "Dirty Duck" has undergone a transformation in recent years of epic proportions. The Rose & Crown dart team to has changed albeit not so epically but it is a change none the less. The faces maybe are somewhat older and a little more worn than a couple of years ago which goes without saying but the will to want to succeed which was missing for so much of last season seems to have returned in abundance and is no more evident than in the Rose and Crown's newest recruit Rupert, who despite having a torrid time in recent weeks epitomises the desire and will to win of the St Michaels outfit. Other things have changed too, there is a new skipper, Dave Noble and it was the skipper who lead by example last night and got the visitors off to a flying start. Rupert continued his torrid start with stalwart Tony Scott as the usual solid pairing went down 2-1. Paul Mullins and John Goode restored the lead with a hard fought encounter that produced an abundance of tonne pluses from both pairings. The home side rallied and went ahead reeling off the first two singles before Mullins levelled for the visitors. Ron Deamer could not find his form of yester year and was lacking that spark that could have turned this encounter in favour of the visitors. So it was down to the skipper to secure the point and send the Rose and Crown to 4th n the 1st division for the first time in a few years. Oh how things have changed.

October 10th Away New Greens

A contradiction right there.....where? What? Well Look at the title entry.....New Greens.....what's new? Well very little in all honesty. 

New Greens Club, was once a proud and prosperous institution that took no nonsense from anyone, an institution that embodied everything there was about the working man for after all this was a proper working mans club, where the working man went to forget about his woes after his hard day in the field and could saver that moment of elation when he could purse his lips and sip at a nice cold pint of his choosing.

Oh how things have changed, or not as the case maybe, for this evening was a top of the table clash in the local St Albans Darts league (as yet unsponsored) division 2 between the aforementioned establishment and their more (lets just say a polite way of describing the relationship between the two sides would be) salubrious opponents. All that's new these days sadly are some of the faces in the dart team for the cold reality is that this is an institution that is stuck firmly in the 20th century, they may have a Twitter and Facebook account that is cutting edge 21st century but the decor fixtures and fittings remain firmly planted in a time when the likes of Wham and Duran Duran would vie for top spot in the charts. 

The dart team is a Phoenix from flames though, dropping out of the league a couple of years ago they have reinvented themselves and in their first season were runners up in Division 4 when perhaps if it wasn't for their own misdemeanours would surely have gone on and won it.

Nevertheless they gained promotion to division two and along with it a fresh face or two mingled in with the odd wiser head giving themselves every chance of redressing the mistakes of last season.

Tonight though they are playing the Rose and Crown, an experienced team who find themselves in the second division for the first time in half a century according to team stalwart Tony Scott. It's been turbulent times for the Rose and Crown in recent years, losing key players at vital times and along with new faces coming and going it was difficult for them to find that winning formula that's needed if you are going to survive in the top flight. So they find themselves in Division two and unbeaten to boot and confidence seems high within the ageing band of brothers.

The evenings darts certainly lived up to the top of the table billing and in truth in parts would not have been out of place in the top division. Eventually New Greens coming out on top 5-3 but the Rose and Crown pushed them all the way. 180's a plenty and remembering singles are 301 double start that's some going and but for the width of a wire, In Big Rons case the wrong side of it, the result could have been entirely different as that was the home teams last throw of the dice. The Rose and Crown had wrung every last drop out of their more youthful opponents (Mickey Norris aside) and had Big  Rons arrow been 2mm higher Tony Scott would surely have earned a point for the visitors who had nothing left to give.

January 31st away Townswnd Bowls

After only their second league victory of the season hopes were high that the Rose & Crown could now drive on and secure their place in the top flight for next season. Perhaps they could take heart that they finally ended a run of thirteen straight pairs defeats and a losing sequence that started against tonight’s opponents back in late September. Back then the Rose went down 5-4 in a nip n tuck encounter that went to the wire (literally) just losing out in the final game of a long evening.

Hopefully the worst of the winter weather was behind us now and the Kitchen at tonight’s opponents, Townsend Bowls Club had taken heed that Tesco’s burgers contained quantities of horsemeat not to mention the detritus that makes up the rest of your burger and chips. Not that I’m suggesting that Townsend Bowls club would harbour such gourmet cuisine in the first place, in fact if memory serves me correctly there is usually a vast array of sandwiches with all manner of different fillings consisting of egg, egg and yes you guessed it egg. It’s fair to say that it has never been the most salubrious of establishments although it seems to have tried to reinvent itself recently by moving the dartboard and with it the oche but let’s face it the oche generally moves of its volition anyway. I suspect though the reason for the move was not that to remove it from underneath the giant television that belts out the theme tune to all manner of programmes that no one is remotely interested in but in fact I suspect the truth of the matter behind the move was its close proximity to the members lounge.

By half past nine just as the waft of the egg sandwiches was getting under the noses of all present this match, in truth was over, The Rose & Crown had once again surrendered all 3 pairs matches and were tasked with an all too familiar uphill struggle, one that they found yet again insurmountable. The visitors may have only lost by the odd leg yet again, going down 5-4 but the hosts didn’t have to play their hand and cantered to victory, Big Ron really the only shining light for the visitors hinted at a comeback in the first singles of the night but the revival was short lived and the hosts reeled of the next couple to secure the match and with it perhaps the fate of the St. Michaels outfit.

January 17th 2013 Home V White Lion

With the country gripped by fear of what could possibly by complete whiteout, the Rose & Crown were taking on the White Lion and hoping to avoid another whitewash as befell them the previous week when they went down at home 9-0 to the Inn on The Green. Souls were searched and memories checked in a bid to try and recall the last time they had received such a hammering. The stalwarts of the team all just shook their heads unable to think of such an occasion but most likely their grey matter was unable to recall events more than 6 months prior, in fact when quizzed most could not remember what they had for tea that evening never mind a result against the flights in 1996. And so it came to pass that never before had The Rose & Crown lost by such a margin.
The run of straight pairs defeats now extended to a record thirteen however and was most certainly undisputable, as is a run of 7 league defeats stretching back to September 27th.
So with the unwanted stats stacking up the very real possibility of relegation to the second tier of St. Albans darts the Rose were going to have to try and turn their season around somehow. This they did and they did it in style, The Brothers Grimm (Kevin and Ian) finally chalking up a pairs victory not only ending a miserable run but unwittingly in the process giving the home side a 1 leg lead. This was quickly followed up and before the Rose knew what was happening the unthinkable had happened and they had raced away into a three leg lead. Neil Crosby was an early casualty in the singles and must now surely be contemplating a life off of the oche and closer to the chalkboard. But this was just a minor setback and when Ian went on to secure the victory the relief could be seen coursing through Skipper Alan Turner’s veins after masterminding an if not memorable victory but certainly one of the most important.
And so the Rose kick off the second half of the season with a victory, only their second victory of the season but this is the time now to build on that success and try to gain the momentum needed to push away from the foot of the table. It’s not all been doom and gloom as some would have you believe for the most part the Rose & Crown have given a good account of themselves and but for a fair wind and a bit of good fortune could have had more points on the board but as the great Syd Wardell said “They’re just like long John Silver, unlucky and short of a leg.

January 3rd 2013 away v Crooked Billet

So with Christmas and the New Year celebrations well and truly behind them, seemingly washed away by the heavy rains that swept in across the Atlantic for what seemed like an eternity the Rose & Crown resumed their faltering season with the distraction of a 1st round cup tie away to the Crooked Billet.
For those of you that are not aware, the Crooked Billet lies in the village of Colney Heath, one of St. Albans furthest outposts that until recent times was only accessible by horse and cart and in extreme weather only by the river Colne (if you had a suitable inflatable device) so you never know what awaits you. The half time spread could sometimes consist of carrot and Celery Sticks, the odd pickled onion and even an ear or two of corn. None the less this was a chance for the Rose & Crown to put the troubles of 2012 behind them and lay down a marker for the rest of the season.
With Skipper Alan Turner struck down by illness along with the Director of Darts and the whereabouts of Neil "the dude" Crosby unknown it seemed the troubles of last year were not banished as one hoped. But with Dave Noble making his own transport arrangements as did Big Ron, club secretary John Goode was hopeful that a full team of six would be available and with that along with the reappearance of the Dude it was decided that we would set sail for Colney Heath.
Stand in skipper Paul Mullins pulled no punches selecting the pairs and indeed the first single. Sending Brothers Grimm off first followed by John and Neil then Paul and Big Ron.
The Rose & Crown were aiming (I use the term loosely) to secure their first pairs victory since November 22nd, an unprecedented run of some seven consecutive straight pairs defeats. First up The Brothers Grimm but Wally has been in great form of late and saw off the challenge with ease to give the home side the advantage. Next up Neil and John who faired no better, 2-0 the home side. Mulls and Big Ron next up hoping to turn the tide and perhaps would of done so had Mulls nailed the double 8 in the second leg, 3-0 the home side. So, ten straight pairs defeats for the Rose & Crown, there are no records kept but I suspect that this is one albeit an unwanted one and with the Blackberry Jacks up next (formerly Inn on The Green) its difficult to see where the next one is in fact coming from.
So if the Visitors were going to get anything out of this match they would have to do it the hard way. So when Dave Noble defeated Ashley Ralph in a thrilling first singles I think for the first time in a few weeks there was a slight flicker of belief that they could earn something out of this game even of this was self respect and it wasn't doused even when the dude came back empty handed for even the Dude showed some fight and spirit going down 2-1 to Derek Ralph and perhaps could consider himself unlucky not to come away with the spoils. Mulls chalked another one on the board for the visitors with a straight forward 2-0 victory which was followed by Ian Oakman who ran out the victor in yet another thriller to reduce the home sides advantage to just one leg. The belief now was coursing thoughh the veins of the visitors who were producing by far the most noise of the two teams.
So with two to play it was a choice of Kev or an out of sorts Big Ron. Stand in Skipper Mulls opted for Kev opting to save Big Ron to face Wally. But despite a brave performance from Kev it was not to be and the Rose & Crowns unlikely comeback was over.
Far from being down hearted the visitors should go away heads held high, for it would have been easy to throw in the towel at 3-0 but spurred on by Dave Noble who got them off the mark the visitors seemed to grow in confidence and began to fight for every leg that was on offer. If the same fight can be carried forward surely they will avoid the fate in the league that currently awaits them.

December 20th away vs Bricketwood

In the last game of the year in what has been both a disjointed season and a bitterly disappointing season for the Rose & Crown it was the last chance to redeem themselves of some very lack lustre performances to date. Tonight the St. Michaels outfit were away to Bricketwood Social Club and would surely be looking to put behind them last week’s most miserable performance against the Arrows of Sandridge. Hopes were high as Ian partnering Dave Noble in the first doubles pair weighed in with a maximum but it was not enough as the pair went down in 2 straight legs. Hopes were still high as Kevin and Big Ron went up next in what was an evenly matched tie and with the it being leg and leg hopes soared as Kev hit the Rose's second maximum of the night which left Ron needed 67, he gave himself every chance but couldn't nail the double 8 and when Kev missed double 4 the writing was well and truly on the wall for The Rose as yet again they were facing an uphill struggle which was compounded when the evergreen John Goode and his partner Mulls lost 2 straight legs to leave the visitors trailing 3-0. So 3-0 down the Rose needed to show some fight and for a while it looked maybe like they could but when Ian lost the third leg of the first singles to leave the Rose trailing 4-0 all hope was surely eradicated. Mulls provided a bit of respite as he pulled one back in straight legs but the revival was short lived as Big Ron couldn’t clinch the 3rd leg meaning the Rose & Crown had no way back now. 5-1 quickly became 6, then 7 before finally the Rose & Crown went down to their heaviest defeat of the season so far by 8-1.

December 6th Home V Sandridge

Temperatures plumbed the depths this week with the mercury dropping to as low as -5c but this was nothing compared to the depths that the Rose & Crown dart team plumbed tonight.
Facing Sandridge Football club this was the day the Rose and Crown died. So without further ado.

In Affectionate Remembrance
of
The Rose and Crown Darts,
which died at St. Michaels
on
6th DECEMBER 2012
Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing
friends and acquaintances
R.I.P.
N.B.—The body will be cremated and the
ashes taken to Sandridge.

Back on line

Just got back on line so hope to have the blog updated by tonight.

Thursday Novemebr 22nd 2012 Away V Crooked Billet

With Harry Redknapp waiting in the wings for a top flight return this was the Darts equivilent of Manchester United V QPR as top of the table Crooked Billet take on bottom of the table Rose & Crown (arguably the divisions longest serving team) who find themselves in a relegation dog fight cut adrift now from those above them. If the trek to the title favourites and the runaway leaders wasn’t bad enough on a rainy Thursday night to Colney Heath things went from bad to worse as a bad accident at the Smallford roundabout added an extra three quarters of an hour to an already arduous trip into the country. The empty car park eventually greeted the visitors and perhaps was a sign that the home side were furnished with local villagers who had no need for mechanical devices other than those needed to work the land, but this was soon revealed to be a falsehood as the Crooked Billet far from being locals who enjoyed a game of arrows after a hard day in the fields were in fact townsfolk more a kin to driving white transit vans around the streets of Watford than that of the John Deere tractors through the pastures of Colney Heath. Skipper Alan Turner feeling the pressure decided tonight was the night to mix up the Rose & Crowns underperforming pairings and took the unusual step of splitting up Mulls and Neil Crosby who had previously lost only one match all season and his selection look vindicated as Skip who partnered Mulls went on to take the first leg with some ease but that was as good as it got and seemed the jinx of the first game continues as the Rose and Crown surrendered what should have been an easy victory, largely due to a lack lustre performance from Mulls who was way off the mark given several chances to wrap up the each of the next two legs. The Rose and Crown needed someone of the calibre of Harry Redknapp now to give them that motivation that they so seemed to be lacking but a quick look around the bar and apart from the darts players just one man and his dog sat in the saloon both appearing to be drinking curiously from the same vessel, it was therefore clear that this would have to come from within. Dude and Ian were up next and it has to be aid that Ian looks a different player away from his brother somewhat uninhibited. Nip 'n' tuck in the early stages then Ian rattles in 87 followed by Dude who leaves 42 against 116 Ian putting the home side out of their misery to go one leg up. Struggling to get off in the second leg surrendering 200 before eventually getting off but unable to make any inroads as the home side levelled the game. This habit repeated if’s self in the early stages of the second leg but Dude eventually gets off with 90 and Ian backs it up with a cool 81 to put them right back in the game. Both pairs then trading blows but it’s the dude with the knockout punch as he nailed 32 to level the scores 1-1. Ron and Kev now had a chance to give the Rose a surprise 2-1 lead. A slow start but they are soon off and running Kev hits 97 before Ron cracks in 101 giving the pairing a big lead in the first leg which Big Ron eventually wrapped up giving the pair an unlikely lead against their more illustrious opponents. A ton followed by 140 puts the Super league pairing for the Crooked Billet in the driving seat and with a 300 plus lead the pairing easily level the match. 18 darts and a 5 minute braak for ablutions later it was clear that the Rose and Crown were going quicker down the pan than Kevin Atkins could get to it. How crucial that first game now was and how Mulls must have been reflecting on it knowing that 2-1 down could easily have been 2-1 up. The honour of the first single fell at the feet of John Goode who put in a no nonsense performance with some solid scoring at the crucial times to produce a two leg victory and give the Rose, what Tony Scott (that other great” motivationalist”)would have described as a "sniff". It was up to Ian now to keep the momentum going for the visitors. This was going to prove to be a tall order against arguably the best player on the night and the tone was set as the home side got off to a flier with 120 away in reply to Ian's 20 from then on it was one way traffic as Ian was taken apart and putting paid to any reversal of the score line in the process. None the less the Rose were well and truly in this contest and most certainly not being put to shame by their more illustrious opponents and with the inform Kevin Atkins next to the oche anything could happen. If there was controversy tonight it revolved around Kev and the first leg was no exception with scores of 60,125 and 89 on his way to leaving 39 he then stepped forward to the oche and as the giraffe said "You don't get any leaves unless you stick your neck out a bit" hit 16, 9 and then checked out with double 8, the visitors thought that was it but on count back it was realised that in fact ex-school master now business manager had in fact miscounted and in fact required 39. This proved to be pivotal despite Kevin rattling in a 140 on his way to levelling the match the third leg was a leg to far all his efforts it seemed put into the first two legs. Despite being 2 legs down the Rose were still hopeful of pulling off an unlikely result especially as Mulls, Big Ron and the inform Neil Crosby were still to be play. It was down to Mulls to keep the St. Michaels outfit in the tie but right from the off Mulls was never in it. His opponent hitting the crucial scores at the crucial times whilst Mulls just simply went missing for parts of the game. Losing the first leg he managed to get back to level it but his darts were unusually wayward at times and his opponent took full advantage to wrap up a 2-1 win handing victory 5-2 to the league leaders. For the home side it was surely another two points as they march relentlessly towards the league title, for the visitors it’s back to the drawing board and perhaps a phone call to Harry!

November 15th 2012 Home V Merrymen

Hopes were high this week after a convincing win in the cup the week before which rewarded them with a tricky away tie against top of table Crooked Billet.
But tonight was all about the league and the need for two points to ease the relegation worries.
Tonight's visitors were the newly promoted Merrymen from the Robin Hood who themselves have yet to set alight the top division making this the first true four pointer of the season for the home side.
The brothers Grimm were up first as is customary on these occasions and were aiming to put behind them a miserable run of form, but as in previous weeks it was not to be as they went down 2-1.
The home side are no strangers when it comes to having to claw back a deficit, and have done so time and time again down the years So when Big Ron and Dave Noble stepped up to the Oche hopes were high of squaring the match but neither of them were able to get going and played well below their usual standards. So it was down to Skip himself along with the Dude to bring the Rose and Crown back into tie for surely it would be an uphill struggle coming from 3-0 down. But that is exactly what they must do as Skip and Neil were unable revive this tie for the home side.

If coming back from 3-0 down wasn't a tough enough task then coming back from 4-0 behind surely would be as Big Ron continued what for him has been a miserable season so far losing two straight legs.
A mini revival was on the cards as the dude produced probably his most accomplished performance to date on his way to an impressive 2 leg victory which was closely followed by Kev who seems to be getting better and better as the season goes on. But the mini revival was just that as Ian narrowly missed out in a tight affair that none the less condemned the home side to defeat. So with just pride and legs to play for the former Blue Anchor prodigy John Goode pulled one back but a below par Dave Noble was unable to get the forth leg and the home side went down meekly to a 6-3 defeat

The Potato

I feel I must explain the sometimes subtle and at other times no so subtle references to the humble potato during my last entry. For the potato is not usually the protagonist on a darts night. Indeed the potato is the supporting actor, the part that brings a crunch to the roast beef or part that elevates the can of tuna into a gourmet meal. But last night the potato was the fire starter. In previous campaigns arguments have raged over contentious blog entry's, loud music, unstable oches, and just rude behaviour, after all we are talking about highly tuned athletes locked in combat in often claustrophobic conditions as they quaff back vast amounts of alcohol in a relatively short time period. But never before have I encountered such a rowdy plate of chips.
I wasn't privy to the actual shenanigans that unfolded but I somehow believe that they involved Neil the "Dude" Crosby's' former betrothed and a gentlemen by the name of Tarquin O'malley who one rather suspected had quaffed a little too much Pimms.

November 8th 2012 Challenge Cup 1st Rd Victoria "A"

This was the week when Barack Obama effectively became a lame duck by being re-elected for a second term of office as US President, it was also the week that a herd of Elephants broke into an off license in India downing 500 litres of liquor and going on a drunken rampage through the village destroying shops and huts in their quest one imagines for more of the hard stuff. But this was also the week which saw the Rose & Crown break their losing streak as they swept aside their opponents with aplomb.
Having played 5, winning only the one solitary game back in September and losing the last 4 all by the same score (5-4) it would be fair to say it was squeaky bum time in St. Michaels on Thursday night and given that their opponents topped their division (albeit the fourth division) by having won all six of their previous games it was surely going to be a big test for the division one outfit. Any thoughts the visitors may well have had of causing an upset were quelled as early as the first pairs as the "Brothers Grimm" after a topsy turvy first leg which went to the home side pressed home their advantage in the second by quickly opening up a 200 lead. Needing 100 Kevin unerringly honed in on treble twenty before his accuracy narrowly let him down as his next two arrows grazed the wire. Ian left double 5 giving their opponents a sniff of a chance, Kevin failed to capitalise once again as their opposition sought an unlikely upset. But it wasn't to be and Kevin finally nailed double 2 to put the Rose in the ascendency the pair returning to the bar as one would imagine a triumphant Sir Walter Raleigh would do after carrying a sackful of spuds through the streets of Dublin during the potato famine. A brief fight back followed, Big Ron, whom it has to be said is wearing his advanced years well as he clocks up yet another one and Skipper Alan Turner failed to follow up on the Brothers Grimm success. This despite a first leg that was so hot it would have melted what was left of the Greenland Ice sheet. Skipper Al Turner getting off with 28 and Big Ron following on with ton, sixty, sixty and a magnificent 137 to leave Tops allowing Skip to wrap things up with double 5. But like Long John Silver they needed another leg and just like the fictional pirate this eluded them as the visitors came from behind to take the next two legs and level the match. Any hope that the visitors may have had were soon extinguished as Mulls and the flighty John Goode renewed acquaintances and chipped away patiently to gain a deserved two leg victory to restore the Rose & Crowns lead after the pairs. Indeed the visitors were not to win another leg as first Ian who seems to relish the opportunity of being unshackled from his brother was like a baked King Edward and definitely to hot handle for his opponent as he eased to a two leg victory. Then Kevin himself who was impervious rattled in a ton forty and a one two five as he swept to victory and really drove a wedge between the two sides. This left Mulls to wrap up proceedings and two legs later it was all over. For the home side safe passage to the next round but for the visitors the chips were well and truly down.

November 1st 2012 Away V White Lion A

The chilly nights have now returned to St. Albans and the smoke being expelled from the various chimney stacks around the town is just visible as it twists and turns its way up into the night sky. The western Christian feast of All Hallows is upon us and the trick or treaters have returned home pockets bulging from their night of legal racketeering. The darker nights have set in now that the clocks have been turned back but how the Rose & Crown must wish that they could turn them back more than just the hour. Perhaps they wish they could turn the clocks all the way back to the AGM that changed rule 8.7. Veteran Skipper Alan Turner hardly had to rely on his wealth of experience to pick the team as with only six players available to him the side picked it’s self, Indeed it was the skipper himself and fellow veteran and Rose & Crown stalwart Dave Noble who got matters underway just after eight thirty. Taking over from the absent Brothers Grimm this was always going to be a tall order for balding pair who at times offered us a glimpse into the distance past with some patches of vintage arrows but these patches sadly were all to fleeting and the duo quickly succumbed 2-0 to leave the Rose trailing by 1-0. Big Ron who surprisingly had not played a doubles all season, partly one suspects due to the absence of Tony Scott and partly due to the change in format found himself partnering the mercurial John Goode. After losing the first leg the pair were quickly away and were soon a hundred in front but a slip up from Big Ron (7) left the door open for their opponents who didn’t need a second invitation and stormed through it leaving the hapless visiting pair to pick up the pieces of a 2-0 defeat which left the Rose now facing an uphill battle if they were to get anything out this encounter. 2-0 quickly became 2-1 as Neil Crosby partnered by Mulls put the disappointment of their only defeat of the season so far against New Greens behind them to register a crucial victory. Indeed the “Dude” discovered some form that has deserted him for large parts of the season to date and possibly went into the first singles of the night as a slight favourite. The favouritism seemed justified as Neil went straight off and followed it up with two consecutive tons leaving his opponent trailing in his wake before finally securing the first leg on double 4. With his opponent seemingly beaten having also the lost the doubles to Neil this was surely Neil’s chance to take what would later prove to be the pivotal match of the evening. But old habits die hard and Neil’s previous failings came back to hit him like the storm surge of hurricane Sandy as it battered New York into submission earlier this week. Needing what almost approximated 33 darts to get off in the 2nd leg Neil had lost the initiative and his opponent took it with glee putting Neil to the sword to level at one a piece. Neil needed a good start and duly got it having a one hundred lead in the early stages but a ton forty by his opponent opened up a gap and despite a late rally hitting one thirty seven the White Lion opened up a 3-1 lead. It was soon 3-2 however as Big Ron, who despite losing the 2nd leg to Steve Herring always looked in control and never looked like losing duly checking out 48 for a 2-1 victory. 3-2 soon became 3-3 and the fight back was on as John Goode who came back after losing the 1st leg and registered a victory with an impressive spell that at one stage saw him hit two straight tons. Skipper Alan Turner was up next but it was always going to be a tall order for possibly the leagues’ longest serving captain as the hosts had a wealth of talent available to them as they restored their lead. Mulls pulled it back to 4-4 to set up the finish but in truth the Rose and Crown’s chance slipped away in the pivotal first singles of the evening and Dave was just fodder for the home side condemning the Rose & Crown to a fourth successive 5-4 defeat.

October 18th 2012

No darts this week so i thought I'd leave you with this:- The Oche the dojo to hurl wolfram and feather Gladiators divided yet still close together The rattle of the wire the odd one bouncing out Sixty on the floor the supporters do shout A fight to the death but contact there’s none Hit one hundred and eighty the games there to be won The contest continues and no quarter is given And the doubles are missed but are they forgiven

Rose & Crown v Evergreens October 11th 2012

After a run of 2 straight defeats the Rose & Crown were aiming to go into the two week break with a morale boosting victory against a depleated Evergreens side. Any thought of this however was dismantled and disappeared faster than Jimmy Savilles headstone. What looked liked a relatively straight forward two points turned into anything but as a disorganised Rose & Crown looked impotent and out of touch seemingly failing to come to terms with the new format against the visitors. The visitors who, lost their most inspirational player in Ashley Rudge at the Start of the season to the Mermaid, followed quickly by Jimmy Meryick at the 11th hour for personal reasons. It could be argued however that the Rose & Crown had lost their vice skipper and who for many throughout the darting world thought as their most influential player Tony Scott but what can't be argued is the devastating loss of Neil Crosby which has come as a hammerblow to the St. Michaels outfit this season. His replacement but a shadow of the former junior and St. Albans District Darts league Doubles champion. Where once a youthful but enigmatic Neil "The Dude" Crosby would stride out confidently muscling his way to the oche to take the all important first single, there is now only a balding, middle aged and predictable player with less enthusiasm to elbow his way to the front than a group of special needs children on a backstage visit to the BBC studios. In truth the blame for this dismal performance doesn't lay solely at Neil's feet and some of the senior players must shoulder some of the blame, Paul Mullins for failing to convert a one leg lead in the final doubles of the evening and the "Brothers Grimm" for a performance the Brothers Marx would surely gave been proud of as the Evergreens virtually laughed their way to the first doubles of the evening. Big Ron could only watch from the bar forced once again to sit out and endure at best this abject display that began to unfurl. The only bright spark coming when veterans Dave Noble and Skipper Alan Turner stole the second doubles of the evening honing their predatory instincts on the board like a Radio 1 DJ inside the confines of the children's ward of the local hospital. 2-1 down and the pivotal single fell to the person who was once Neil Crosby. Gone was the swagger, gone was the youthful exuberance, the boundless energy and the non stop insessant chatter, replaced by a now sullen look, receeding hairline and all the accuracy Of a West Yorkshire Police officers account of the Hillsborough disaster. Now 3-1 down the home side were facing an uphill battle to salvage anything from a game which on paper should surely have yielded two points and safe passage to mid table. If things could get any worse they were about to do so. Big Ron who must of been scratching his head for most of the season wandering what he'd done not to warrant a doubles so far was about to find out why. The usually dependable big Ron summed up the Rose & Crown this evening. An evening which lacked the electrically charged atmosphere which propelled the Rose to such famous victories in the past, an evening devoid of nouse and urgency, an evening filled with nothing but desperation and inacuracy. It was as if Big Ron had sucked in the amtmosphere and ambience and then let it manifest it's self painfully over two gruelling legs of darts. 4-1 down and Rose and Crown were all but done needing 4 of the last 5 legs to secure an unlikely victory. Hopes were raised momentarily as Ian defied his earlier doubles performance to secure a hard fought and unlikely victory against the conqueror of the previous undefeated pairing of Crosby and Mullins. Mullins further raised hopes in a comfortable 2 straight legs victory to bring the Rose back in to the game at 3-4. The mountain however, was still insurmountable and Kevin yet again tasked with reaching the summit came up short and handed the spoils to the overjoyed visitors. John Goode made the score respectable but in truth it was a dead rubber which only masked this most inadequate of performances.

Thursday October 4th away to the "Billet" Colney Heath

The red glow that greeted us could almost have been mistaken for the deep red of the setting sun across the African savannah and the local wild life reminiscent of a heard of wilderbeast as they gathered around the local watering hole to quench their thirst before the long night set in.  But this was no Kenyan safari , this was the Crooked Billet, Colney Heath, one of St. Albans furthest outposts. The red glow was no setting sun but instead a shrine of membeobilia dedicated to the once great Arsenal and the wilderbeast, the dart players that supped their Ale  as the sun's heat became a distant memory. Football programmes denoting past sucesses adorned every wall from Bob Wilson and the epic Double winning team of '71 to the invincibles of 03-04 but recent times have been barren and indeed  It has been many years now since the trophy cabinet at the emirates was furnished with any silverware and judging by the performance of the Billet last night they look set fair to emulate the trophy less years of the once mighty "Gooners". They may have won (albeit 5-4) but in years gone by, before the league decided it would  slice open the underbelly of the "little teams", the "unfashionable" ones and then reach inside  pulling free their intestines and leaving their soul to bleed dry, this would have been a well earned draw and probably the most that could be expected. For those who are not blessed with superstar county players that are only too happy to corral themselves in the top three to four teams all clamouring to add yet another "ornate pot" to the already overcrowded mantelpiece that overflows with the very best re-cycled plastic that money can buy, the ability to skilfully play as a player and orchestrate the draw as captain earned themselves a sense of worth and the thought, even if it was for the briefest moment that they too were superstars if only for one night have now had this cruelly stripped from them. One must surely then question the very wisdom of those who voted to increase the format to six singles thus preventing the draw and in the process exorcising the most fundamental of sporting results, for who can declare Benn Vs Eubanks 2 a "waste of time" and who asked for their money back as there was no "winner" on the night as the two fighters fought and slugged their way to what is probably the most famous draw in British sporting history ( barring the 1877 boat race)  .  So i digressed, anyway, Awash with superstars the Billet struggled against a not only underpar Rose and Crown but also a depleted one that lacked the nouse and experience of the inspirational Tony Scott and the sharp wit and quick tounge of the "Director" and they could have easily been embarrassed but for the inaccuracy of "the dude" who luckily missed by a country mile when sacrificing his own throat!!  A strong start saw the Billet ease in to a 1-0 lead as the brothers Grimm were no match for Nick Webbley and co. But Mullins and "the dude" restored parity for the Rose paving the way for Skipper Alan Turner and Dave Nobel to hopefully send them into a 2-1 lead. Alas this was not going to be the case and despite taking the first leg the Billet sailed into the singles one point to the good, all "Big Ron" could do was watch from the sidelines. It was now make or break. The first single was going to be pivotal, lose this and a two leg deficit was going to be virtually insurmountable, the Rose needed a mountaineer, they needed their very own Sir Edmund Hilary....what they got instead was Neil Crosby. So 3-1 down now and with Sherpa Tenzing nowhere to be seen John Goode adorned his crampons and quickly climbed in to a one leg lead and with momentum behind him now he reached the summit hauling the Rose & Crown up with him. 3-2 was soon to become 4-2 however as Kevin was unable to follow in John's footsteps. "Big Ron" who patiently waited all night finally got his chance and he didn't disappoint as he pulled one back for the St. Michaels outfit. Two down, one to play Mullins on next, surely 4-3? A nervy start saw Mullins fail to register a double early on and in so doing conceding the first leg but this proved to be nothing more than a blip as Mullins secured the next two legs (albeit not with his usual confident manner) to draw the sides level and leave the decider to Ian. Facing Derek Ralph Ian succumbed fairly quickly in the first but grew in confidence in the second and had the beating of his taller opponent but unfortunately for the Rose couldn't hit that all important double and the Billet claimed the game at half past eleven five games to four.

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Thursday September 20th 2012

Controversy rules as the 2012-13 St. Albans district Darts league season kicked off last Thursday for the Rose & Crown. Drawn away to the White Lion “b” for the first week of the campaign the Rose had the bare minimum of six players (or seven if you include the self-styled “Director of Darts”) needed now that the league had voted on a new format of 3 doubles and 6 singles. Club secretary John Goode however had other ideas and was insistent that the format was amended to only include 5 singles thus enabling the draw. This did not go down well with the home team and set the scene for the remainder of the evening with the home team’s skipper feeling particularly disgruntled. Discussion followed debate and the situation was given hope of avoiding the decent into a mockery when John gave in and called “Foggy”. Two minutes later “Foggy” confirmed what everyone else in the pub already knew and that six singles were to be played.   The Rose quickly raced into a 3-0 lead, I say quickly, each going the full three legs with the home side wasting opportunities to reverse the score. They didn’t have to wait long however before chalking up their first legs of the season as they took the spoils of the first two singles. By this stage the clock was ticking and it was gone 11 o’clock and concerns were raised as to the format greatly lengthening the evening, concerns that were well founded as the last Dart rattled in to double eight securing a 7-2 victory and two points for the visitors at 23:50.

Thursday September 27th 2012

With the weather on the turn and the chilly evenings starting to take effect winter league darts made a welcome return to the Rose & Crown last night. The car park was still a squeeze and took John a couple of goes to fit his car snugly in its place, helped largely by the rear sensors and the guidance of “DD”. As we turned out of the car park and onto the street the sun was in its last throes casting the centuries old tavern in its warm glow. The smokers as if caught in time were still huddled around the door as they had been since the smoking ban was introduced some four or five years earlier. Inside the fires still burned, their warmth only interrupted as the unwary patrons upon their exit left the door agape. To all intense and purposes it was a typical scene that was being played out at all manner of village pubs up and down the country. But something was different, something had changed. It was five minutes to eight and not a dart player in sight. Where once you would expect “Ming” to be scrapping for yet another fifty pence piece over a game of tactics with possibly eight or nine fellow dart players, there was only silence. Where once Neil would whine like a baby and throw his darts to floor as if toys from a pram lamenting that “stupid game”, the floor was bare. Where once these finely “tuned athletes” strained every sinew hurling their precisely engineered barrels of wolfram at the board hoping and praying at all costs it wouldn’t be a brush and cost them a pound, the board was just pierced by stark white light from the ceiling mounted spots above. It’s now five minutes past eight and the darts players are in attendance all lining up meaninglessly awaiting their turn to thrust the cold wolfram into the Stark new board. Once the atmosphere here would crackle with electricity as “Scotty” picked the teams that would do battle and we can still hear the phrase “I’ll play with Tom” echo around the once nicotine stained walls even today. But this is 2012 and “Scotty” is not here, at least not yet and nor is the spark that would once ignite the fire for that early evening competition. This is where the true darts were played. Tactics. We may have taken points from the “Inn on the Green” we may have heroically gone to London Road with just six players and come back victorious, we may have even beaten the Crooked Billet into submission but this nothing to winning 50p off Scotty but instead now each takes their turn not even registering as they strike the board.   The visitors are here now, Townsend Tennis and bowls club, familiar foes and bristling with a mix of youth and experience but lacking their talisman Barry Curran a semi nomadic team that have made their way around St. Albans before settling down.   It’s leg ‘n’ leg in the first and the tension now is starting to rise Kevin wants 21 but leaves Ian 3. Townsend fluff their lines and Ian bags the first game.   Paul and Neil up next and before we know what’s happening Townsend are a leg to the good. A good solid start in the second leg aided by the oppositions inability to start and they claw it back to leg ‘n’ leg. Again the tension can be felt all around the room and all that can be heard is “DD” chattering inanely. Third leg and it’s nip ‘n’ tuck all the way down then one, double one and the Rose are two nil up.   Dave and Skip take to the board but don’t have enough to contain the opposition and its 2-1   The singles start and “Big Ron” gets the Rose off to a flyer, but wait where is the third tray of sandwiches without “Scotty” here the whole place is in turmoil not only can no one keep “DD” but the third tray of sandwiches has gone missing. Hurry back Tony.   So at 3-1 and the missing sandwiches now making their appearance can Neil the “Dude” Crosby extend the lead. After losing the first leg Neil hits straight back clinching a tension filled second leg but old demons come back to haunt him and he surrenders the initiative and Townsend pull it back to 3-2 Ian and John then fall short and the Rose find themselves 3-4 down. Paul squares the match at 4-4 and in times gone by would have earned them a valuable point but the new format mean a sixth singles and Kevin finds himself no match for his youthful counterpart and Townsend take the spoils.  

Challenge Cup 2nd Round Away to Waverley Club 11.12.08

With sickness kicking in once more for the unfortunate Rose & Crown the account of tonight's match has kindly been written by John Goode.

Mercifully Badger showed up which just made 8 players.
Myself, David Noble, DD and Scotty went directly to Waverley as the last two had just got back from Heathrow after their Portugese golfing break, and David had collected them from the airport (at 1730!).
Although I recognised most of the Waverley players, I don't know their names, so this report will be a bit lacking in that respect!
Our first pair were the "tactical" DD and Alan Turner. Unfortunately DD's head was still somewhere between Lisbon and Heathrow, and they lost in straight legs, admittedly to reasonably good players. One down.
Next was myself and Wavy Davy. I wasn't as good as I should have been, and David wasn't as good as I should have been either. We lost 2:1. Two down.
Third pair was Scotty and Kevin. After a shaky start, losing the first leg, (with Kev struggling as he'd left his darts at home) he borrowed a lighter set (mine!) and things improved. They managed to win 2:1. Waverley 2, R & C 1.
Finally, The Dude and Badger. They won in straight legs (I think) with the Badger doing some great finishing. That man is proving a great asset to us! So, after a dodgy start it was 2 - 2 after the doubles.
In the singles we started with Kevin, who was back on form with my spare set of darts. He won 2:0 I think, with a final flourish (if that's the word)... requiring 55, he went for 15 and got 2; then went for 17 and got 3, leaving 50! There was a pause while we all offered a silent prayer, then BOSH, a bullseye! Wav 2, R & C 3.
Next, The Dude, who won, despite moaning that he was playing rubbish! Wav 2, R & C 4.
Finally, I went on and managed to win the first leg despite my opponent beng on 40 before I got a double start (Singles were 301).I lost the second leg, but managed to win the third. That made it Wav 2, R & C 5, and as it was gone 11pm we called it a night.