Darts

RONNIE BAXTER came within a whisker of hitting a magical nine-darter at the New Inn on Saturday.

The Rocket' was playing in the final of the Dave Cummins Memorial Trophy, a special event organised by landlord Alun Rossiter in memory of the former Wiltshire men's county team manager, affectionately known as Smiler', who was only 48 when he died of cancer last October.

Former Swindon and Cirencester-based Baxter, 46, and the highest world-ranked player in the field at 17 was facing fellow PDC player Mick Savvery in the fourth leg of the final when he nearly produced a perfect set of arrows.

Baxter opened with double top and two treble 20s and followed it with 177 - two more 60s and treble 19 to leave 164.

The seventh dart hit the 60 again and the eighth arrowed straight into the treble 18 to leave 50. But unfortunately his ninth dart just missed the bull landing in the 25 instead.

Two more darts saw Baxter out in 11 darts for a superb leg. He was in awesome form and went on to whitewash Savvery, who is now based in Swindon, 5-0 in the final.

Baxter, who travelled down from his native Lancashire where he now resides, said; "I played well and I was pleased with my form.

"I knew Dave very well and he helped me with my moves around the area so I was happy to travel down and play in this special tournament in his memory."

Rossiter added: "Dave would have been very pleased with the quality. Everyone was willing Ronnie on to get the nine-darter, he was so close.'' A total of 55 players, a mixture of PDC, county and local players took part in the tournament.

The semi-finals saw Baxter beat local Ian Greenaway 4-2 while Savvery accounted for Chris Daglish, who is plying his trade on the PDC circuit now, by the same score.

Thirty four players took part in the blind pairs, won by Darrell Townsend and his partner Ian Blood, who beat Keith White and Richie Jones 2-0 in the final.

Trophies and prize money - £150 to Baxter and £70 to Savvery - were presented by New Inn landlord and Swindon Robins team manager Alun Rossiter.

RESULTS SINGLES Last 16 (best of five legs double in and out): Dan Butler beat Dennis Smith 3-2; Matt Aubrey beat Dave Palmer 3-1; Chris Daglish beat S McNeil 3-0; Mick Savvery beat Mick Cummins 3-1; Ian Greenaway beat Paul Cook 3-2; Ronnie Baxter beat Craig Lloyd 3-0; Steve Willard beat Darrell Townsend 3-1; Tony Clark beat Adam Payne 3-0.

Quarter-finals (best of five legs): Baxter beat Butler 3-0; Greenaway beat Aubrey 3-0; Savvery beat Clark 3-2; Daglish beat Willard 3-2.

Semi-finals (best of seven legs): Baxter beat Greenaway 4-4; Savvey beat Daglish 4-2.

3rd/4th play-off (best of three legs): Daglish beat Greenaway 2-1 Final (best of nine legs): Baxter beat Savvery 5-0.

BLIND PAIRS Semi-finals (best of three legs): Darrell Townsend & Ian Blood beat Ian Daglish & Tony Clark 2-0; Keith White & Richie Jones beat Terry Williamson & Steve Holmes 2-0.

Final (best of three legs): Townsend/Blood beat White/Jones 2-0.


  • ANOTHER special tournament in memory of Cummins is to be held on Easter Saturday at the Rodbourne Cheney Working Men's Club.
    Organised by Mark Thomson, the current Wiltshire team captain and steward of the Cheney club, the Dave Cummins Cup will be staged on Saturday, March 22, from 1pm with £750 in prize money guaranteed.
    A disco runs afterwards until midnight with all profits from the day going to the Prospect Hospice.
    "I wanted to do something in memory of Dave," said Thomson.
    "It is proposed to make the tournament an annual event and we will be getting a perpetual trophy for it as a fitting tribute to him.
    "He is a big loss to Wiltshire and the local Swindon darts leagues.
    "He was a good friend to everyone and always a happy person with a smile on his face."
    The memorial tournament will be limited to 128 entrants on a first come, first served basis.
    Entry fee is £10 with £500 going to the winner, £150 to the runner-up while the two losing semi-finalists will collect £50 - all prize money is guaranteed by Thomson.
    Entries can be made on the day but to avoid disappointment early entry is recommended.
    Players interested in competing should ring Thomson on 01793 535313.