Staffordshire miss out on top half finish
Staffordshire missed out on a top-half finish in the BDO British Inter-Counties Championship Division Two despite winning their final fixture.
The county darters came away from Sussex with a 22-17 win but finished two points shy of fifth-placed Northamptonshire,
Two days of play began at the oche of the Club Cue Leisure Centre in Worthing for the curtain call of the league season.
But it was Sussex who came out on top 4-2 in the women's B affairs. Becky King top scored for the hosts, with 15.79 in a 3-2 defeat of Dawn Schonau (14.96).
Ann Price got 16.43 for the visitors in another 3-2 affair, beating Bridget Guilford (16.19). Terry Selman also recorded a 3-0 whitewash over the home side's Rhonda Wilson-West (14.28).
Staffordshire hit back by erasing the deficit and going ahead 11-7 up after the men's B meeting, a 9-3 success ending the first day of play.
Jamie Dunsdon led the way with 29.38 in a 3-1 victory over Lee Jennings (25.58), while Joe Davis starred for Sussex with an impressive 30.49 for a 3-1 verdict over Lee Ratcliffe (24.72).
Players returned to the venue for day two with the home line-up taking the women's A clashes, mirroring the 4-2 score-line from the female B ties.
Trish Kidd excelled for Sussex with 21.93 in a 3-1 vanquishing of Susan Sherratt (19.08). Roz Harry (17.10) replied for a 3-2 result over Crystal Woodrow (16.86).
It still left the hosts' hopes riding on the men's A finale, where the two sides could only play out a 6-6 draw. Play was upgraded to a best-of-seven format.
Staffordshire's Martin Wheawall racked up the highest average of the weekend, notching 30.82 in a 4-1 victory over Adrian Gray (29.07).
Sussex's Joe Davis had 25.68 reversing the score-line against Stuart Livesley (24.65). Staffordshire prevailed 19-17, gaining three extra points as the winning county.
