Grove Wanderers secure silverware

Grove Wanderers etched their name on the Newark & District Double Board Darts League’s winter subsidiary cup after a nerve-shredding 8-7 defeat of Castle & Falcon Bull Hitters in a final that went down to the last dart.

The teams arrived separated by only 11 league points—Wanderers third, Bull Hitters fourth—and the earlier league double secured by Grove hinted at a narrow edge. What followed was a see-saw contest that lived up to every expectation.

Honours were shared in the opening pairs leg when Shannon Higgins and partner Ann Hubbard finished first, only for Jo Ward and Sam Rawle to level for the Falcon. Jess Esam and skipper Stacey Grand-Scrutton then combined to edge the second pairs clash, overcoming Carol Smith and Jayne Higgins and nudging the Bull Hitters ahead.

Linda Brockson, captaining the Wanderers, swiftly restored parity with a singles win over Rawle, yet Katie Bowditch’s victory against Louise Frances pushed the Falcon to a 5-3 cushion. Jayne Higgins and Grand-Scrutton halved the next singles, leaving everything riding on the final solo tussle between Hubbard and Sarah Clare. Hubbard’s draw ensured the destination of the cup would be settled in the three-point team leg.

Trailing 7-5, Wanderers struck first in the finale, edging ahead on scoring but missing doubles to finish. Castle & Falcon, needing nine, never found a shot as Carol Smith kept her composure and pinned double-2 to spark jubilant celebrations and seal an 8-7 triumph.

The victory adds the winter subsidiary trophy to Grove Wanderers’ growing honours list, six months after their opponents lifted the summer equivalent.

Elsewhere in the ladies’ division, Castle & Falcon Bangers kept their title dream flickering with a 13-2 demolition of Collingham FC MC. Anita Scott and skipper Karen Whittaker were among the winners as the Bangers built an 8-0 lead before Debbie Walker’s double in the team leg capped the rout. They now require an 11-4 final-match win over King’s Queens to reclaim the crown they last held in 2023.

In men’s action, The Taverners’ top-three hopes took a hit as RHP 26ers came from behind to win 3-2, while Castle & Falcon BBC2s closed to within two points of third by edging Wheatsheaf Phoenix by the same score. Balderton Cricket Club cruised to a 4-1 success against RHP Darts of Hazzard, Nick Morley’s treble of checkouts highlighting the win.