The 2024 Summer League season started on Thursday with all 50 teams in action.
In Section One, Bogey Flickers kicked off the defence of their title with a dominant 8-1 win at Clarry B with Bully Dogs winning 6-3 at home to Runcorn Linnets. The other three games were close, with Northern Bar beating The Lads 5-4 and Wanderers beating Beechwood Cavaliers 5-4, both of those being last leg deciders. Total Confusion also won 5-4 at Halfway Mixed.
In Section Two and three teams won 7-2 in their opening games. The Roundside won at home to Doo Waps, with Halfway Peers winning at Northern Starks and Clarry Tats winning at The Royal. Halfway to the Fids opened with a 6-3 win at Nomads, whilst perhaps a surprise result was Has Beens defeating Windy Hill Bullys 5-4, bringing to an end their incredible run of 46 successive league wins.
Section Three newcomers The Con Artists are the early leaders after a 7-2 win at Bang Tidies, with fellow newcomers High Voltage winning 6-3 at home to Beechwood Bullets. The Quarrymen and The Willies both also won 6-3 on the road at Wilsons Woodchuckers and Norton Arms, whilst Castle Double beat Northern R Soles 5-4.
Wine Bar lead the way in Section Four after a 7-2 win at Golden Arrows, whilst there were three games that finished 6-3. Halfway Bar won 6-3 at Blue Oyster Bar, with Legacy Darts and Northern Flytes both winning by that scoreline at home to Lockdown Lizards and Addy Chuckers. The final game saw The A Team come from 4-3 down to beat Lockdown Legends 5-4.
Plenty of new teams were making their debut in Section Five. Flight Attendants won their first game 7-2 at home to The Unusual Suspects, whilst The Prospect recorded their first win having won 7-2 at Bottom House. Beechwood Originals debut saw them win 6-3 The Fat 20s got their first win beating Queen of Hearts Mixed 5-4. Linnets Chuckers led four times in their match with Low Voltage levelling each time to make it 4-4, before Linnets claimed their inaugural win in a last leg decider.
Full stats from the games will be added to the website over the weekend, but there were eight 180's thrown in the league on the opening matchday. These were by Ben Webster (Bogey Flickers), Ian Woodward (Halfway to the Fids), John Teretta (Norton Arms), Liam Ward (Bogey Flickers), Mike Bentley (The Lads), Phil Messer (The Prospect), Phil Smith (The Con Artists) and Sean Bell (Halfway Mixed).
Quickest game of week one came in 14 darts by the sensational Josh Bury, who also had a 17 dart leg in his other leg. There were two 15 darts legs, both in doubles matches. One was from the pairing of Anton Conroy and Joe Doyle (Bogey Flickers), with the other from Sean Bell and Chris Clarke (Halfway Mixed). Bell and Clarke followed this up with a 19 dart game in leg two of their doubles match.
In singles matches, Brian Spruce (Bullydogs) and Logan Keogh (Windy Hill Bullys) both won in 17 darts with Michael Jackson (Halfway Bar) winning in 18 darts. There were also a 19 dart game for Phil Stirzaker (Queens of Hearts Mixed)
There were plenty of ton plus scores, particularly in Section One which is now the best of three legs. Particular mentions go to Ste Shackleton (The Linnets) and Josh Bury (Wanderers) who both hit 8 tons across their singles and doubles games. Mike Bentley (The Lads) and Kev Jones (Wanderers) hit seven tons in their games.