Champions Steam Packet begin title defence in style

LAST season’s Monday Premier League champions Steam Packet finally got off the mark after having a bye on the opening week and began the defence of their title with a 10-1 victory against Firkin Scholar.

They had Alec Turner top scoring with 12 throws of a ton or more and Luke Johnson (26.84) caught the eye when emerging a 3-0 winner in 17, 18 and 21.

The one point that eluded them was claimed by 13-year-old Frankie Stout who recorded an accomplished 3-0 singles victory.

Brewery Tap, who had Paul Goundry (100x12) as their leading marksman, restricted Indian Inn B to just a single point and are the early leaders, albeit by a single point.

The Tradesman are one of three teams just behind them on 17 points and they too won in double figures when defeating Bluebird D 10-1, buoyed by a 3-0 singles success from Malcolm Johns (28.90) (pictured) who won in 15, 18 and 19.

Octagon B won 6-5 on their visit to Bluebird B, the same winning scoreline that was also achieved by Octagon A when hosting Bluebird C.

Glenn Halford (100x16) gave a good account of himself as did his Bluebird team-mate Tony Teal who hit a 15-darter in a 3-2 singles success but with the scoreline evenly poised at 5-5, Stew Roberts clinched the winning point for Octagon.

The A team earned the bragging rights in the Victory Inn derby match when they won 7-4.

Darren Collis took out a 15-darter before going on to a 3-2 win while team-mate Keelan Kay top scored with 13 throws of a ton or more which included a brace of 180s.

Ryan Harris gave a good account of himself for Victory B and emerged a 3-1 winner with his best legs coming in 18 and 16.

Maritime defeated Porters B 9-2 and Bluebird A overcame Ford Hotel 7-4 while Porters A are only one point off the pace after winning 8-3 against Plympton Cons.

Lewis Dare and Kev Lofthouse won their 601 doubles 2-0, aided by a leg in 19 while Scott Wapshott took his singles in three straight legs, the best being won in 17 and 19.

The Tradesman had Ryan Jones achieving the week’s top checkout when finishing at the first time of asking from 136 while also on target were: Kieran Burns (121), Glenn Halford (120), Lewis Dare (116), Nick Furneaux (100).