Devon in relegation zone after Warwickshire defeat

DEVON have slumped into the relegation zone of the premier division after losing 25-11 away to Warwickshire in the British Inter County Championships.

There was a ray of hope for the visitors after the Ladies B side won 4-2 but the euphoria was short lived.

Devon lost the first and sixth set but in between there were good performances inspired by lady-of-the-match Tracy Ware (23.12) (pictured) who won in three straight legs, as did Hayley Brant (19.27) and Michelle Andrews (21.17) while Cat Callard (15.13) won 3-1.

Neil White (25.69) put Devon 5-2 in front when winning the opening set of of the Men’s B encounter and after being taken to 3-3, he clinched the deciding seventh leg in 15 darts.

But Devon then lost their way and the hosts won six sets on the bounce before Steve Colbourne (25.15) salvaged a point with a 4-1 victory.

Of the last four, only Kieran Burns (24.61) was successful as he came from 3-1 down to win 4-3, aided by a checkout of 124 but Devon trailed 11-7 overnight.

Maria O’Brien (23.92) started day two by coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2, aided by a checkout of 100, but the Ladies A team could only achieve one more victory through Lisa Hughes (17.68) who won in three straight legs.

Trailing 15-9, the Men’s A side now had a daunting challenge against a team that boasted several players that have graced the PDC circuit and a current England international and so it proved when they crashed to a 10-2 defeat.

Glyn Wells (27.02) won his challenge 4-1, aided by a leg in 15 which he finished with a kill of 114 and Paul Milford (29.84) also emerged a winner, despite trailing 3-1.

The Exmouth thrower won the opening leg in 17 and despite losing the next three, clinched victory with legs won in 19, 15 and 17, finishing the 15-darter with an outshot of 104.

Devon will now be hoping they can return to winning ways when they entertain Northamptonshire over the weekend of November 30 and December 1.