West Midlands are beaten after promotion
The West Midlands came back down to earth a bump with defeat away from home in their first match after promotion.
The county darters opened their campaign in the BDO British Inter-Counties Championship Division One last weekend,
But even a late salvage mission proved to no avail against Hampshire, who won the first three sections and held on to claim overall victory.
Play for two days began at the Hill Park Working Men's Club on Highlands Road in Fareham, with the women's B teams first to the oche.
Hampshire prevailed from that 4-2, Joanne Senior top scoring with an average of 19.78 in a 3-0 whitewash of Kirsty Shaughnessy (15.69)
Heather Wright mustered the West Midlands' best reply, with 15.32 as she saw off Dawn Simmonds (16.02) in the last leg 3-2.
The men's B affairs again went to the hosts 7-5, Steve Jannaway leading the way with 29.67 in another 3-2 battle against Robert Smith (27.81).
But he couldn't match the exploits of Scott Baker for the visitors, who notched the highest average of the weekend with 30.06 in a 3-0 landslide over Nilson Pritchard (25.02).
The plight of the West Midlands worsened after the women's A clashes, which they lost 5-1. Hampshire's Jane Monaghan racked up 26.84 in a 3-0 shut-out of Katherine Jenkins (21.00).
Sarah Roberts had got the away side off to a good start, with 24.24 over a 3-0 drubbing of Gemma Hayter (21.63).
It left the West Midlands 16-8 behind going into the men's A finale, which they won 8-4 but fell short of saving themselves from match defeat. Play was upgraded to best-of-seven legs.
Keith Allman started the fightback, by opening with 25.35 in a 4-2 victory over Andy Mitchell (24.38). Ian Jones' 27.88 was only enough to lose 4-2 to Hampshire's Chas Barstow (27.85)
Steve Phipps also replied in style, with 29.04 in a 4-0 whitewash of Gavin Baker (21.81). They eventually got over the line 23-16, with three added points for the winning county.
The West Midlands, bottom out of 10 sides in the early table, now undertake their first home fixture of the schedule. They welcome Cleveland to Gilberts Bar in Willenhall on October 1 and 2.
