return of the mac in the knack league

Gateshead’s Rob McCluskey got back to winning ways after a dip in form with two fine wins.

First he played the impressive Dan Gillibrand. McCluskey led 4-3 going into the last leg and it was a touch of class shown as he took out 135 when Gillibrand was sitting on a double to wrap up the game.

McCluskey had best legs of 18x3, 19 and 21 darts and Gillibrand’s best came in 18, 19 and 20 darts.

Next he faced Murton’s number 1 Neil Mather and again it was McCluskey who took the last leg to win 5-3, Rob had best legs of 16, 17, 18 and 20 darts with Mather replying with a brace of 18-dart legs his best.

Dougie Hall looked as if he was going to keep his unbeaten streak going as he battled from 4-2 down against an outstanding Andrew Ambler to grab a point in a 4-4 draw, Hall hitting a 16-darter followed by an 18-darter to take a point.

However, his luck had ran out when he faced off against Davey Thompson and he succumbed to a 5-1 defeat.

Thompson was in fine form during the game as he hit best legs of 17, 18, 18 and 19 darts which included two excellent finishes of 127 and 128 on route to victory.

Thompson kept his winning ways as he beat Dan Gillibrand 5-2 in a thrilling game, Gillibrand took out a fantastic 153 finish to go 2-1 ahead but Thompson was not to be outdone as he rattled off the next four legs in double quick time aided by a maximum and best legs of 17, 18 and 19 darts.

Thompson wrapped up a perfect night as he thrashed Spiller Henderson 5-1, which saw Thompson hit his second maximum of the night and his third ton plus finish as he took 108 out.

Dave Prins remains unbeaten as he displayed the form which has seen him make the World Championships several times. First he played Graeme Mullen and Prins strolled to a 5-0 win with a 29.82 average with best legs of 14, 16, 17, 18 and 19 darts.

Next he played Neil Rose in an absolute thriller, Prins stormed into a 4-1 lead aided by three 180s and best legs of 12, 14, 18 and 18 darts, with Rose replying in 19 darts himself,

Rose wasn’t going to give up without a fight as he fought back to 4-3 with a brace of 18-dart legs, but Prins wasn’t about to drop points as he took the last leg in 16 darts. Paul Williams picked up maximum points on the night with two 5-0 wins, firstly against John Allan in a solid display, then against Neil Richardson and Williams was in sensational form as he hit three 180s, a 120 checkout and winning legs of 15, 15, 18, 18 and 19 darts (29.47ave).

Ryan Joyce also continued his unbeaten run as he best Lee Walton 5-3 in a high quality match,

Joyce had best legs of 14, 15, 16 and 20x2 darts which included a maximum and Walton replied in 15, 16 and 20 darts with a maximum of his own.

Joyce then beat Graeme Mullen 5-1 which saw his second maximum of the night a 107 finish and best legs of 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 darts on route.

Lee Walton was a 5-2 winner in his other game of the night against Alan Smith.

Geordie Morton put in a solid display against Philly Dunn as he romped to a 5-2 victory with best legs of 17x2 and a hat-trick of 21-dart legs,

Dunn replied in 17 and 20 darts and hit a maximum. Dunn was thumped 5-1 in his second game of the night against Matthew Hodgson.

Morton shared the spoils in his other game of the night against Anth Skelton, Skelton hit best legs of 18, 18 and 19 darts, which included a 180 and a 108 checkout.

Paul McGowan picked up another two wins on the night as he beat Spiller Henderson 5-2, which included a 180 and best legs of 18, 19 and 20 darts,

He then beat Barry Rutherford 5-0 in a solid display, which saw him hit his second 180 of the night and best legs of 17, 18 and 19 darts on the way to victory.

Rutherford’s night didn’t get any better as he was beaten by the same score against Neil Rose who had best legs of 14, 17 and 19 darts.

Anth Skelton beat Neil Richardson 5-0 which saw him hit his second maximum of the night and best legs of 20, 20 and 21 darts.

Richard Selby didn’t drop a leg on the night as he beat Neil Mather 5-0 with best legs of 15, 18 and 19x2 darts and a 116 check-out for good measure.

He then beat Will Neave by the same score with best legs of 18x2 and 19 darts which included a 180.

Eddie Ashman beat Matthew Hodgson 5-3 in his first game of the night aided by a 16 dart leg and a brace of 19-dart legs.

He then beat Graham Hills by the same score which saw Ashman hit a maximum and best legs of 17, 18 and 20 darts with Hills replying in 18, 19 and 20 darts.

Will Neave and Alan Smith couldn’t be separated in a 4-4 draw despite Smith leading 4-1 which was aided by two maximums and best legs of 16, 17 and 18 darts.

Chris Wood and Graham Hills shared the spoils in a 4-4 draw, which saw both players hit a maximum each and Hills hit a 15-dart leg which was finished off with a 103 checkout.

John Allan was beaten 5-2 by Chris Wood despite hitting a

maximum and a 110 checkout,

Wood rallied back with winning legs of 18x2, 19 and 20x2 darts.

John Allan and Andrew Ambler had to settle for a point each in a 4-4 draw in an entertaining game.