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Some Thought On The New Format
By Alan Hartley 18/6/09

 

Our first match was a long evening with all 6 games being best of 3 at 501 and double start. Having said that we did finish by about quarter to eleven and when we have played in the Weston (Wednesday) Darts League in the past some games have gone on ‘till eleven. On the other hand, as one of our players pointed out it could have been a lot later if our weak doubles pairing had been drawn against another weak pairing. You can’t put a good player with a weak one as the pairings are drawn as well as the actual play position of first or second game. Perhaps there might be some other formula that could be adopted for the doubles, perhaps even a straight start.

I don’t know how the other teams got on with the record sheets, if any other teams played or even used them, but they proved very daunting for our lads, especially me and I designed them from a rough sheet Graham had given me with notes on!!!

We tried to use the second version that had a separate column for darts taken to break for those players that didn’t break first dart and it was just as well in some legs! The other problem was recording the scores at the other end of the game as players hit small scores trying to sort out their finishing doubles. 3 of us tried filling in the sheet and in the end I marked the board as it was far easier! As one of our lads pointed out if you are at home with only 4 players, one has to mark the board so he can’t really relax and enjoy a pint. Someone has to fill in the record sheet and that takes so much concentration that you can’t relax for a moment. That only leaves two players who can enjoy the evening. Admittedly, it is only on every other game, but I can see the same people having to carry out these roles every home game in much the same way as many teams have only one regular marker normally. Now all teams will need two score keepers in effect and with only 4 a side that seems unlikely to happen in some teams, ours included.

Keeping the averages to reveal exactly how well each player does is a great idea in principal as you can have a good game against a good player and lose and play terrible against a weak player and win, but you still won’t have played good darts in that game although the results say otherwise. Rather than actually recording every score it may be a thought to simply record the number of darts thrown and the score remaining, ie;- 0 and 24 darts if you win and say 20 and 21 darts for double 10 left when you lose.

With only 4 singles games it may well be that a few players at the end of the season have never had their averages recorded as they might play only in the doubles, but that will take even more thought by someone to sort that one out.

Judging by the Tons and Ton pluses in our first match it will be great if we can keep recording  these properly, as I think some ordinary pub leagues already do from looking at their web-sites. It will reveal more of the phenomenal scoring power of some players that is not really apparent from records when they have played in 301 games in the past.

These are my thoughts and I don’t know what Graham and the other captains will say, but as we all agreed before we started, this inaugural season for the Rugeley Wednesday Night League is a “Suck It And See” attempt to try a different way of doing things. Perhaps one or two other captains/players could send in their thoughts and things could be discussed at a future meeting sometime.

By Alan J Hartley

superdart@tiscali.co.uk

The First Comment;-

 

Morning Alan,
 
Just read your account of writing down the averages during your first Wednesday night league match.
 
We actually played away at the Castle A last week and I made it a point to sit next to M. Hylton and R. Herrington whilst they scored the averages. It became quite noticable that both players at times queried what they were doing in relation to the sheet. If these guys get confused what chance have we lesser mortal's!!!
 
Tonight we play our first league match at home, I am in no doubt that the taking of these scores will fall on my shoulders. As we are only a fun team, a bunch of lads who are out for a good few beers, fun night out etc I strongly disagree with having to write down the averages, especially when I will be half cut!
 
I would like to suggest that if "serious teams" wish to take their averages, then they do so themselves. We as a team will welcome opposing teams, have a good drink together and enjoy a good sporting game of darts, win or lose.
 
Yours in sport
Neil Hutchings
Red Lion Captain