The race for the 2021/2022 UKDA Elite Premier League title is heating up as current table-toppers Lancashire put more distance between themselves and close rivals Yorkshire after delivering a crushing 25 – 11 defeat to 5th placed Lincolnshire to move 22 points clear.
Saturday’s B team matches saw Lancashire lead by just two points as Lincolnshire’s Men’s B held for a 6-6 draw, however a dominant display by Lancashire’s A-team saw their women run out 5-1 winners and men dropping just two matches to win 10-2.
Adam Huckvale and Carl Sneyd both shared Men’s A player of the match for Lancashire with a 29.88 average, with Jacob Hibbert securing it in the Men’s B. Lincolnshire’s Men’s match awards went to Chris Fiddler (A) and Scott Williams (B).
Jo Clements secured player of the match in both the women’s A and B team matches for Lancashire, whilst England’s Trina Gulliver took the sole win for Lincolnshire Women’s A team and Hayley Reeson for the B team.
Yorkshire also had a convincing 22-14 win over Northamptonshire, who are currently sat at the bottom of the Premier League table yet to find a win.
Yorkshire’s Josh Clough took the top average for the A team, whilst Dave Calvert (B) shared the top match average of the weekend with Northamptonshire’s Tony Littleton (28.23). Danny Goddard produced the standout performance for Northamptonshire’s B team.
For the women, it was Giffy Khaisoi (A) who produced the highest match average for Yorkshire, with Tracy Heppinstall taking the match award for the B team. Northamptonshire’s match awards went the way of Angela Barrow (A) and Rebecca Rose (B).
London’s 22-14 win over Cheshire sees them move up into 4th position, just behind Warwickshire who still have a game in hand following the postponement of their match this weekend against Glamorgan.
Youth dominated the standout performances for Cheshire, with Brad Brooks registering the highest average of the weekend in the Premier League (31.81). The Men’s B-match award went to 14-year old Luke Littler (30.83), whilst Amy Evans took top honors for Cheshire in the Women’s A.
London’s A team match awards went to Nick Cocks and Julianne Birchill, with the B awards being picked up by John Hind and Carly Townsend.
Hampshire played host to Devon, and narrowly secured the win 19-17. Hampshire led 11-7 going into day two, and despite the Men’s A losing 8-4 to a strong Devon squad, held on for those all-important win bonus points.
Players of the match in Hampshire’s B-Team were awarded to Sam Rooney and Laura Turner, with Justin Bradshaw and new England call-up Jane Monaghan taking top averages in the A.
Devon’s Mark Shears (29.91) produced the match average of the weekend in the A, with Kelly-Marie Gabriel taking the match award for the women. Phil Ward and Hayley Brant produced Devon’s best B performances.
The fifth game played in the Premier League saw Essex travel to Cornwall, with the home side winning 21-15 and now sitting 8th in the table, with Essex just one place above relegation. Only two points separated the teams going into Sunday, but wins for Cornwall’s Men’s and Women’s A secured the win.
It was almost an-all family affair in Essex as Darren (A), Jamie (B) and Leanne Peetoom (B) all took the match rewards in their respective teams, with Carol Pinfold taking the women’s A player of the match.
Jez Camp (A) and Martin Hutchings (B) were joined by Nikki Furse (B) and Teresa Brookshaw (A), who produced the standout average of the League, in claiming the top averages for Cornwall.
Elite Premier Division results: Cornwall 21-15 Essex, Hampshire 19-17 Devon, Lancashire 25-11 Lincolnshire, London 22-14 Cheshire, Northamptonshire 14-22 Yorkshire, Glamorgan P-P Warwickshire
Elite Premier Divison League Table: https://ukdartsassociation.com/elite-premiership-tables/