Exeter College Darts

We didn’t win the league. It was a good effort, and from 6-2 up, it was always possible. But it finished 7-5, Queen’s beat Peter’s 8-4, and we lost by a point. That’s darts. (Visit “Tables” for a final league table, or click here for Fox’s heart-rending match report)

Well done to the whole team for their performances this season. Unlucky to Teehee for being too ill to play, and to Clifford for being too ill to do himself justice.

To put the achievement of coming second by a single leg in perspective, we need to go back to the start of Michaelmas Term.

SEASON’S REVIEW

When the year started the talk was not of the title but of relegation. The team had lost five top players, including their best four, all university players : Andy Cox, Matt Bale, Jo Davis, and Jonny Sultoon, plus Jon Devaney, who had won nine of his ten legs in the previous year’s league. In their place came Ben Fox as captain, first year Graham Stevenson, and three players whose only previous involvement in college darts had been in a 7-5 defeat by St Anne’s for the second team in cuppers : Tom Clifford, Tom Barkworth and Jon Lewton, with Jon Killingley as first reserve.

The first match was New at home, and the 8-4 defeat—Exeter’s first at home in two years—seemed to confirm that Exeter would not pose a serious threat this time. Victory at Oriel and the ritual cracking of Kader Allouni the next week was followed by a 7-5 home defeat by Peter’s, and it looked like the only fun left this season would be in the Queens games.

Luckily we had them next, and beat them 7-5 down our bar, with captain Fox hitting the winning double 15. Now the season could get going. We next beat Johns 8-4 away before a narrow defeat at New. There was no suggestion of a title challenge, but at least relegation didn’t seem likely. Barkworth had hit form, taking out a 108 outshot against John’s, and “golden bollocks” Stevenson had started to play amazing darts. The highlight was his trousering of New’s number 2 in their bar, hitting a 180 into the bargain.

But the big results came in Hilary term. Oriel folded and gave us (and indeed everyone else) an 8-0 claim. Then came what looked like it would be the best team performance of the year : a 10-2 win away at St Peter’s. Winning the singles 7-1 was impressive enough, but spectators that night were privileged to witness an amazing leg of darts. Stevenson stepped up at 2 against Phil “The Power” Taylor and threw a near-perfect leg. 10 darts, opening up with a 112 inshot and then a 180, his second of the season, before hitting double 16 first dart. As far as we are aware this is the best leg ever thrown in the university leagues.

The next performance was even better. Queen’s had only to beat us at home to win the league, so we simply went down their bar, outbantered them, and battered them 9-3 to go joint top of the league with one match to go. Fox’s 17-dart leg was the highlight of an excellent team banter and darts showing.

So for a few days, it looked like we could do it. One more leg would have been enough. Queen’s may have won the title … but we did beat them twice. And twice last season.

It’s good to know that even experienced Queen’s players can’t remember ever beating us.

Get ready for cuppers.