This weekend saw Gwent start their championship journey with a home fixture against Cheshire. Gwent newly promoted to the division after a last fixture extravaganza against a Leicestershire side who were also battling for the same promotion spot. Cheshire finished mid table in the Championship last season having been relegated from the Premiership (writes Andrew Jenkins).
Both sides playing their first game this week as Gwent had a bye in September while Cheshires first game has been rescheduled.
Gwent Ladies B side, who finished top of their table last year, started with a new look with 3 new players joining the squad. If these ladies were nervous it didn’t show. Hollie Williams, Katie Stone and Caitlin Manley all produced the goods on the stage winning their debut matches with ease. Hollie, playing first, hit a 180 in leg 1 and carried on with ease winning Gwents first point of the campaign. Hannah Williams tokk lady of the match for the B’s with a magnificent 18.11 on her return to the squad following a break. 6 games later and the ladies had carried on from where they finished with a 5-1 victory.
The Men’s B side also included a whole host of changes with new players coming in to the squad as well as internal player movement between the A and B sides. With mixed fortunes for the debutants and some brilliant displays from the seasoned players then finished 8-4 to the good.
The standout performance of the day though went to Ieuan Halsall who looked more focused than he’d ever been. Every pitch was measured and calculated as he stormed to a 4-0 win and a 32.85 average, winning him the man of the weekend award.
Saturday finished with Gwent leading 13-5 and things looked good for the home team.
Cheshire though had other plans – Sunday morning and cue the fightback!
Cheshire’s women’s A side were ready for war. They started strong and with Lindsey Ashton hit a 21.17 average she must have thought she was certain to get lady of the match. But her teammate Emma Pearce found some inspired form finishing with a 22.77. Before you knew it, Cheshire were 4-0 up and Gwent were on the back foot.
Lady of Gwent Jackie Norman put a halt to their winning ways and Mel Williams fought from behind to earn Gwent a second point of the day in the last game leaving the women’s B score at 2-4 to Cheshire.
In to the final round of games and the mens A sides stepped up to the ring. Gwent needed 4 points for victory and when their first man Harry Williams won 4-0 with a 30.83 followed by Sam Cankett (29.04) it looked like an easy task.
What wasn’t foreseen was the true grit and determination of a Cheshire side who don’t know the meaning of slipping away quietly.
They took point after point after point until there were 3 games left and Gwent still need 2 points.
Back in June, Gwent veteran Mike Fleet withstood the pressure to win the point that sealed Gwents promotion. Today he was in the same position just to gain the point they need to not lose. Despite going behind he clung to every advantage he could find to battle back and take a deciding leg victory. Gwent were now on 18 points.
Who better to follow Mike than Gwents Chairman, team manager, Nick Kenny. It was a tough game with KarlWoodward who fought as hard as Nick to take it all the way to a 7th and deciding leg. Nick held his nerve and took the point giving Gwent the 19 required to claim victory.
With the pressure of for the final game, Miles O’Toole, newly promoted to A side duties, looked comfortable as he took a 4-2 victory to make the final score Gwent 20 – 16 Cheshire.
Gracious in defeat, the Cheshire side have made a lot of friends this weekend. The atmosphere in the club from both sets of players and supporters was electric. The mutual admiration and respect was evident from the start. What ever happens this season we will look back on this fixture with pride and happiness.
Next month Gwent travel to Kent. We look forward to meeting new friends and old.
In truth there was only one winner this weekend and that was darts.