West Midlands debutants star for England
West Midlands darters featured for England at the annual BDO British International Championships as Scotland played host for the three-country event.
A trio of Black Country throwers represented England while Shifnal's Steven Ritchie also turned out for Scotland,
Four titles were on offer over a busy weekend at the Glenrothes Recreation and Social Club, with three of England's sides claiming victory.
Tipton's Jamie Hughes and debutant Shaun Carroll both featured in the men's tournament, with Ritchie taking his place in the home line-up. Wales took the honours overall.
England started out with an 8-4 defeat against the Welsh. Hughes, a World Championship semi-finalist, lost his game 4-2 to Wayne Warren, averaging 29.83 to his opponent's 29.64.
Bloxwich's Carroll, a county player for the West Midlands, made a successful bow with a 4-2 victory against Jim Williams, racking up 28.18 to his foe's 27.57.
Ritchie had figured in the Scots' 6-6 draw with Wales, but was seen off in the last leg by Warren. He'd got 28.88 to his adversary's 29.53.
Scotland and England then played out a 6-6 draw with Ritchie (26.24) defeated again, this time by a 4-1 margin to 2015 world champion Scott Mitchell (27.35).
Hughes (32.75) bounced back in style with a 4-1 success against Steven Mitchell (29.61), while Carroll (25.27) made it two wins from two with a 4-1 vanquishing of Craig Baxter (24.29).
Wolverhampton's Owen Maiden also made his debut for England's boys team and, like Carroll, came home from north of the border with a perfect record.
First the 15-year-old appeared in a 3-1 verdict over Wales, with play staged over a best-of-five format. He notched 27.23 in a 3-1 win over Cavan Phillips.
Then the Wednesfield teenager returned to the oche to take on Scot Nathan Girvan and again prevailed 3-1, with 21.71 to his opponent's 20.52 as England rolled over 3-1 for a second time.
They topped the boys chart with four points, leaving Scotland to pip Wales to second place on the tie break rule. England also won the girls and ladies competition.
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