Impressive Mann turns it on for the champions

JOHN Mann put on quite a show as Steve Chapman 501 League leaders Cherry Tree B were roundly beaten 9-2 by title rivals and current champions Fawn B.

- JAMES COOK

STEVE CHAPMAN 501 LEAGUE

Mann fired 18 of the 133 ton-plus scores put up by both teams, whilst team-mate Andy Bates added 15 scores of a ton or more.

Bates’ total was topped up by a maximum and the highest checkout of the week of 138 whilst three more players for the second placed side were ton hitters in double figures.

Fred Goldsmith and Luke Johnson both ended their night on 11 tons, whilst Simon Washington rounded off an emphatic victory with a ten-ton total that included a 105 checkout.

Whilst the scoreline suggests one way traffic, the leaders who had their advantage cut from 11 to four certainly played their part. Phil Hoyle put on 13 ton-plusses including two maximums, whilst Scott Wapshott added 12 scores of a ton or more.

Mark Shears was another to hear ‘180’ called after throwing twice and that tally ticked his personal ton total over to the 11 mark.

Each of the quintet of team games were decided by a solitary leg with the reigning champs taking all five before the singles phase showed the class of the two outfits. 

Mann and Hoyle shared five legs that didn’t go beyond seven visits to the board as Mann bested his opponent 3-2 thanks to a crucial leg in 18.

Bates was defeated by Shears 3-2 despite a leg in 16 before Washington was a 3-1 winner with an 18-darter his best.

Dave Johns was a 17-plus man as his heroics enabled Kings Arms to come away from their home match with a 10-1 triumph over Bar Mez.

Johns added two of the six maximums in the match with team-mate Mark Yeoman also netting himself a brace of three treble visits.