Mann hits top form in emphatic win for Octagan

JOHN Mann heard scores of a ton or more called no fewer than 16 times during Octagon's 10-1 win at Victory in the Plymouth City Super League Division A.

- JAMES COOK

Mann's total was propped up by a 101 checkout that was the highest in the game, whilst team-mates Neil White and Lee Hellings were also prominent.

White found scores of more than a ton on 11 occasions, whilst Hellings was a ten-ton hitter for the reigning champions.

Mann and Quinton Taylor paired in a 19-dart 601 leg in the doubles which was the only effort to better a 22-darter over the same distance by White and his partner, Fred Goldsmith.

In the individual phase, Mann (26.84) added a 15-dart leg to a fine 3-0 success, whilst both of the 180s came in the final singles rubber between Alfie Ford and Phil Hoskin.

There was one maximum apiece in that match-up as Hoskin got his team's only point of the contest in a 3-2 win over Ford.

Antony Hayman was at his imperious best as he plundered 15 tonplusses in a 7-4 win for King Billy against visitors from Oreston, Kings Arms B.

The cherries on top of Hayman's tally were two of the five maximums added to the scoreboard between the two sides.

Hayman's team-mate, Paul Palmer, hit his team's other 180 on his way to 11 tons, whilst Paul Carpenter and Tony Gordon were the players from the opposition to hear '180' called after throwing.

Gordon's maximum ticked his ton total over to ten, but that wasn't anywhere near as impressive as teammate Martyn Down's mammoth 14-ton haul in the defeat.

Down was unlucky to lose to an inspired Hayman 3-2 in the singles with a 17-darter from the former Devon and Cornwall star proving to be crucial.

That effort from Hayman was only bettered on the night by Carpenter, who nailed a 16-darter in one of six games decided by a single leg in a close fought battle between two talented outfits.

A Dave Roberts 12-ton salvo provided the firepower to push Fawn A over the line to a 6-5 win against Bluebird B.