Last season Gwent made the long trip down the M4 to Tonbridge to take on a Kent team who had started the season strong with back-to-back wins. Gwent, having had a bye in September 2024, hosted Cheshire in October and came away with a win.
This season it has been a different start with Kent having won 1 out of the 2 fixtures already played and Gwent losing to Cheshire last month having had a bye in the first round of fixtures.
After a very tight weekend last season, it went down to the wire and Gwent took the final point of the day to draw with Kent.
Since 2009 the 2 counties have played each other 6 times.
Kent lead the count with 3 wins, with 2 draws and 1 win for Gwent.
With quite a few changes to the Gwent squad this season, who knew what the weekend would bring.
Gwents women’s B side had been a force to be reckoned with last season finishing 2nd behind Humberside. This season with some new players and movement in the squad, it looked like a new team. Unfortunately, Kents ladies B were clinical and ran out a 5-1 win with just Gabby Mason. Kent’s Cara Broad taking Lady of the match with a 17.50 average.
If Gwent’s mens B were hoping to turn things around, then they had a hard fight to take part in.
Chris Monk, Last months 9 dart hero, fought hard in the first game but missed out in a final deciding leg to young Teddy Acott. Kent’s Ben Lloyd had the game of his life ending with a comfortable win and and an outstanding 30.83 average.
Gwent old boy, Ray Hardwick took the home sides first point for the men, before Kent rattled off 4 points in a row to move to 6 points. Gwent managed to take 3 more points from the last 5 games making it Gwent men 4, Kent men 8.
At 5 – 13 to the away side, Gwent were on the ropes.
Sunday morning and Gwent needed a strong start. With 2 youth players in the ladies A side who had started strong last month, Ella Trimm and Yazmine Ruck-Havard, alongside former Welsh international Amanda Rosser and the 2023=24 ladies B averages winner Lady Jackie Norman, Gwent had the belief that they could turn things back to their favour.
Yazmine took the first game and Jackie took the 3rd. But after the 4th game the score was all level. =
Ella Trimm, in her first year in a county shirt, showed no nerves as she ran out a 3-1 win to put the home side ahead. Amanda took the final point in a last leg decider to give Gwent a 4-2 win.
The overall score now stood at 9-15. Could there be a dramatic finish?
The Mens A side needed 9 points for a draw, 10 for a win, While Kent just needed 4 to take the victory.
Ieuan Halsall, who is flying high at the moment started the match for Gwent and left the stage with a man of the match winning 31.34 average. Kent took the next before the home side took 3 more points.
6 games in and the overall score was now 13 – 17. Kent needed 2, Gwent needed 6.
Chairman and manager Nick Kenny took the 7th game with the Kents, Dave Saint taking the 8th meaning Gwent could only hope for a draw.
Stephen Cake showed his composure and talent taking game 9 before Harry Williams put in a monster performance with a 29.91 average to move Gwent to 17.
2 games to go and Kent needed 1 point for victory.
That point came in game 11 as Keith Montgomery took the vital point.
Geraint Harbon took a consolation point in the final game for Gwent making the final score 8-4 for Gwent but overall Gwent 17 – 19 Kent.
From what looked like an unassailable deficit the home side fought bravely to close the gap but it wasn’t to be.
Kent took not just the victory but a lot of new friends this weekend as the travelled back up the motorway. A thrilling weekend of darts and an enjoyable atmosphere.