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00:00Clare requires 40.
00:30Now then, today the Grand Prix of the Indoor League, men's darts.
00:41We've already seen the lasses in action on the treble board, now it's the turn of the fellas.
00:46They reckon about 10 million people play darts regularly in Britain, and we've got 16 of the best.
00:52More champions on show than at Crofts, more internationals than Don Revy's got at Ellen Road.
01:00Darties like Alan Evans of Wales, the Cochise of Match Play Arrows.
01:06Is that a 60? I think it is. My goodness, he's tremendous, isn't he?
01:10118!
01:11118!
01:14Tony Riddler of Wales, only 20 years old, but with the poise and coolness of a veteran.
01:19A lot further in front, because that's 60. It is at 120. I think it might be.
01:25I can say that again, folks.
01:30Bob White, the Scottish piper, who interrupted his work in Holland to come and top oil with the best.
01:37140!
01:40Ron Church, a lanky lobber from London, who gets through opponents as fast as he can so he can dash back to the bar.
01:46He had a chance, a very, very long odd chance, but he didn't go.
01:51And Tommy O'Regan, acknowledged by the top players as the top player.
01:55I think he must have heard me as well.
01:58140!
01:58140!
02:01Ever seen out like that before?
02:03There are just a few who will be aiming for a top prize of 150 quid.
02:07In a couple of ticks, we'll be featuring a first-round match between Ivor Hodgkinson,
02:11the reigning news of the world champion, and Frank Kroler from Lancashire.
02:14But first, a look at some other games we'll be concentrating on over the next few weeks.
02:21Table skittle.
02:23And table football with slow-motion action replay.
02:28A real sporting feast to get your teeth into.
02:31Now for our first men's darts match.
02:33It's between Ivor Hodgkinson from the Midlands, the 1973 News of the World champion,
02:38and Frank Kroler, a relative unknown from Manchester.
02:41Hodgkinson, in play now, won the first leg, but it's their best of three,
02:46and Dave Lanning's providing the chat.
02:48Flipped a little bit onto the right there.
02:4981!
02:5081 scored, though, very steady.
02:53This man does not make mistakes, and this man, Frank Kroler,
02:56the Lancashirean from Newton Heath, Manchester,
02:58still fighting, still battling, still fighting, still battling.
03:03140!
03:05140 there.
03:08He really is having a go.
03:11Oh, that was an unusual shot from the champion.
03:15It looks like 312s.
03:17Can't find the 20s this time.
03:1961!
03:20Could we see the champ being rattled by this phenomenal scoring from Kroler?
03:24100 and 140.
03:26So far in this second leg, terrific stuff.
03:29And he really is banging them in.
03:3160!
03:32So, Ivor Hodgkinson, with one leg under his belt, the usual darting physical phenomena.
03:40And just seeming to lose his touch.
03:42Shouldn't have said it.
03:43That's a 60.
03:4564!
03:4564.
03:46So unlucky.
03:47Tried to go for the double.
03:49Frank Kroler, now well in front.
03:51Nearly a ton up.
03:52Well, he came down there.
03:5992 score!
04:0192, and that's good darts.
04:02And he really is now, he needs 68.
04:04And Hodgkinson now is nearly 200 behind.
04:07Very unusual.
04:07He's missed again.
04:1430.
04:14The magic was 68.
04:1568 he wants.
04:17So he'll probably go 20, 16, double 16, I would think.
04:19He's missed the 20.
04:20He's going to come down.
04:21He must come down for an odd number.
04:24That really is a bit of a blow for him.
04:26Frank Kroler needed this one.
04:28He's got 18.
04:29That's the ball.
04:30Oh, unlucky.
04:32He wanted the ball.
04:32What did he get?
04:35Now he wants 37.
04:37So now Hodgkinson needing 2-2-4 and needing to pull out a really big score.
04:41An impressive score here.
04:42He's trying so hard.
04:4426.
04:44And got 26.
04:45There he was.
04:4637.
04:47So 37.
04:48Now, which way will he go?
04:50That looks, yes, it looks like 1-5.
04:54Now it's a double 5.
04:56Is it a double 5?
04:57It is a double 5.
04:58Referee Jack Price.
04:59So he now needs 27.
05:0127.
05:02He has 11.
05:03He needs two 6s.
05:04And he just can't do it.
05:05Sorry, he needed 2 8s there.
05:0916.
05:09He wanted 2 8s.
05:12So now Hodgkinson living on borrowed time, one feels, but living handsomely on it too.
05:18100.
05:19100.
05:19And he's down to 98.
05:20And now Frank Kroler with the opportunity looking at him right on the face.
05:24He needs 2 8s.
05:25And that'll know.
05:26He's gone back level.
05:27So Frank Kroler makes it one apiece.
05:32And all to throw for as we pick up game 3.
05:34So Ivor Hodgkinson, the reigning champion from Nottingham, getting the vital first darts away in the third and decisive leg.
05:4220.
05:4540.
05:4760.
05:48Steady enough.
05:49Frank Kroler.
05:51He licked the champ in the last leg playing beautiful dance.
05:5420.
05:55Oh, 80.
05:58Terrific stuff.
06:00100.
06:00100.
06:03Hodgkinson, the champion, with his back to the wall.
06:07But this man loves a challenge.
06:0820.
06:11Is that a 40 or is it a treble?
06:13I can't quite see.
06:1460.
06:14It's only 1.
06:15It's 60 scores.
06:16So that's two 60s.
06:17Kroler open with a ton.
06:19The ton up boy from Newton Heath.
06:21Lost his touch there.
06:24That's a 5.
06:24That's 25.
06:26That's 45 scored.
06:30So now breaths are beginning to be held at indoor league.
06:34Because now the pressure is beginning to build up.
06:40You can almost taste it.
06:4245 for Ivor Hodgkinson.
06:44Not the sort of darts from the champion.
06:45But never mind.
06:46It's still a long way to go.
06:48And Frank Kroler from Newton Heath has not lost his cool.
06:5360.
06:5460 scored.
06:55So that puts him.
06:56Yes, that just puts him in the lead.
06:58That puts him in the lead by some 30 or 40 on the scoreboard.
07:00You can see it for yourself.
07:01So Hodgkinson really has got to find a big score from somewhere.
07:0745.
07:0845.
07:09And that's not good enough.
07:11So are we going to have some drama?
07:12Are we going to have sensations?
07:13Frank Kroler, meantime, gallops on like a runaway rocking horse.
07:2095.
07:2295.
07:22And that's good stuff.
07:23And now he's building up a lead.
07:24He's at nearly 100 in front now.
07:26So Hodgkinson has got to show his style, his skill, his amazing grace on the dartboard.
07:33And he hasn't done it this time.
07:34Just in time.
07:3885.
07:39There is exactly five in it.
07:41Plus these that Frank Kroler from Manchester scores.
07:46Oh, this is too much.
07:47100.
07:49Too much.
07:49That's terrific.
07:50And now Frank Kroler is really in a strong position because he only needs 61.
07:54Hodgkinson with the pressure on.
07:55Are we going to get a sensation?
07:56Oh, he's replied beautifully.
08:04He wants 61.
08:08He wants 61.
08:09Which way will he go?
08:10That's 25.
08:15291.
08:16Yes, it's out.
08:17Oh, what a terrific shot.
08:20He went 25-18, 290 wanted.
08:22And Frank Kroler from Manchester has beaten the champion.
08:26And that's the first major sensation of this indoor league.
08:29The champ goes out.
08:31Kroler's opened it wide open.
08:33Tremendous finish.
08:34Tremendous starts.
08:35And we wonder what's going to happen next.
08:38There's nothing people like better than to see a favourite beaten.
08:41Hodgkinson joins the ranks of the also thrown.
08:44Kroler finds himself with a lot of followers.
08:46We'll take a break now in part two, table skittles, American pool and table football.
08:51I'll say that.
09:15Heyo, they play table skittles a lot in Barnsley and Staffordshire.
09:19It needs a lot of skill, but the rules are simple.
09:22You get three chances to knock down nine pins.
09:24Scatter them the first go, and you've still another two shots.
09:27So you can notch up 27 every time you approach a table.
09:31The winner's the first to reach 101.
09:33In action are Dennis Jones of Barnsley and William Woolwich of Staffordshire,
09:37the most experienced player in the competition.
09:40Who's going to miss that one?
09:40Let's watch it rain.
09:43Good night, Nurse.
09:44So a spare for William Woolwich, and all these will count.
09:51And Dennis Jones' opponent really must now be on his knees making little incantations for a miracle.
09:58That's another fine.
09:59Another eight.
10:0016 scored.
10:01Get the idea?
10:02Woolwich there knocked nine down in two attempts.
10:05Then hit another seven with his third.
10:06So he scores 16.
10:10Well, now we have Dennis Jones really needing to do something extra special,
10:16and that certainly is not it.
10:19So he's got this inside five.
10:21Oh, they won't go for you, Den.
10:23The skittle tried to hop about and knock him down.
10:26That's a nice shot.
10:27But he really needed a spare now.
10:30So the cool, calm, and collected style of William Woolwich now.
10:37In front.
10:39In front, looking a little bit.
10:4223 required.
10:45You want 78.
10:48Well, the sheer and naked drama of table skittles, folks.
10:52I think he wants 23.
10:55And so he needs a spare, really.
10:56It's a lovely shot again.
10:58Isn't it beautiful to watch?
11:00He just needs the outside one.
11:01The back one here.
11:03Bonk.
11:03That's that one down.
11:07And really, Bill Woolwich from the Stoke District League
11:11really seems to have this table here at Indoor League weighed up.
11:14Absolutely steady.
11:16His ball, when he throws it, is well wide.
11:19That's 18.
11:20That's the best shot we've seen so far.
11:22And he really is getting it all weighed up.
11:25Dennis Jones.
11:26Your score is 68.
11:28Sorry, not 78.
11:30Dennis Jones is 68.
11:32William Woolwich, 96.
11:33So Dennis Jones now in a very unenviable position.
11:37His opponent needs five, and he really is struggling.
11:40And I think he has given up the ghost.
11:42The fish and chip merchant from Staincross is getting a battering at the moment.
11:46Dennis Jones, 73.
11:47William Woolwich, 96.
11:50So 96, his score.
11:53He now needs five in the hole to go forward into the semifinals.
11:57Five needed.
11:58Now, which way would he get them?
12:00Well, he's going to go round wide.
12:03Now, he's coming in tight.
12:04That's four.
12:05Now, he needs one, and I don't think he's going to miss that.
12:07Because all he has inside...
12:11Oh, he's just done it.
12:12Just done it.
12:13That's lovely stuff.
12:14And very impressive stuff from William Woolwich from Staincross, who goes forward into the semifinals.
12:19So experience tells, as Woolwich, who's been skittling for 40-odd years, wins easily.
12:25Now over to American Pool, the game you've probably only seen on the Hollywood movies until we pinch it off the Yanks.
12:31In action, John Virgo, an international from Lancashire, and New Yorkshire champion, John Ashcroft, who plays with the Kiwi's dad under down to him.
12:39Virgo's on the table.
12:40Virgo sizing things up.
12:43He can play any ball he wishes.
12:46He's decided on the solid into the end pocket.
12:49Virgo, one up on the solids.
12:51Making it 2-0.
12:58So Virgo, Johnny Virgo, up on John Ashcroft, 2-0.
13:03Into the end pocket.
13:05He's made it 3-0.
13:08Johnny Virgo must be happy about this.
13:12Another into the end pocket.
13:15And he's made it cleanly.
13:17Cleanly and confidently.
13:194-0.
13:21Virgo studying things, taking his time.
13:29Johnny Virgo from Rochdale is now leading.
13:35Two balls off his black.
13:425-0 for Johnny Virgo from Rochdale, England international.
13:45No, it was a hard shot.
13:51He didn't have much on that.
13:53Good potting by Virgo, but he lost one of those with a foul shot.
13:57Now Ashcroft, on the stripe-coloured balls, needing to sing three more before he can try and hold the black.
14:03He's got the lead, 5-4.
14:06Ashcroft has got position, too, right into the end.
14:09Obviously, two players of high class.
14:13He's now ahead, 6-4.
14:15No, he has one ball to go before he gets on the black.
14:18Looks as though he's playing it to the end.
14:24And he's made it.
14:26Ashcroft is on the black.
14:27Not good position, but he's got to nominate a pocket.
14:32Ashcroft has really come back, having been behind in the early stages.
14:36Ashcroft playing the black.
14:37The referee announced it, but we didn't get it from here.
14:43What pocket is Ashcroft playing this black?
14:47This is the vital moment, both for Virgo and Ashcroft.
14:51Ashcroft playing the black, bottom left-hand pocket.
14:54Bottom left-hand pocket is the decision.
14:57That's where it has to go.
15:01And he's bringing it back.
15:02He's bringing it.
15:03Oh, a regular cliffhanger.
15:09How close can you get?
15:10Now, what's Johnny Virgo going to do with that?
15:14What is he going to do?
15:15The black's a sitter, and yet he can't afford to touch it.
15:19Just what is he going to do?
15:22This is on the horns of a dilemma here, all right, for sure.
15:26He'd best go for his balls and let the black take care of itself.
15:31He's lost the game.
15:33Just what we expected.
15:34Foul stroke by Virgo.
15:36John Ashcroft wins.
15:38Ashcroft.
15:40A foul shot from Virgo gives Ashcroft the first frame.
15:43Virgo hit back to the win the second, so now it's the decider,
15:47with Ashcroft leading by two balls to one.
15:49Well, he's pulled himself out of a shot there.
15:51That's a good one for Ashcroft, and gives him a 3-1 lead.
15:55Ashcroft, the Yorkshire champion, now playing 3-1 in the lead.
16:00Johnny Virgo from Rochdale, trailing now 4-1.
16:06At this stage, Ashcroft looking very good indeed.
16:10Both players play in good position.
16:22Played a safety, and pretty nearly lost a shot.
16:25But he's keeping Virgo away from that side pocket.
16:30He's not giving Virgo much to shoot at here.
16:32And leading Ashcroft now comes to the table, 4-1 ahead.
16:44Long shot down the table.
16:46Into the end pocket to make it 5-1.
16:53Yorkshire's hopes are high now.
16:55There's no doubt about it.
16:56Ashcroft seems to be heading for victory.
16:59But in pool, you never know.
17:01Those balls can come back on the table, and don't forget that bogey 8-ball.
17:06He has a ball over the side pocket.
17:07He's turned it down.
17:08He's going for one at the end, and play position to the middle for sure.
17:13He should come back up.
17:17He's thinking of position.
17:206-1.
17:216-1.
17:23And now he's back to the side pocket for his 7th ball, and then to the black.
17:29He's looking hard at the black.
17:31Sizing it up.
17:33Sizing it up.
17:35He can play on.
17:40No.
17:40Back comes Virgo now, in a desperate position, trailing 6-1.
17:466 to go to the black.
17:47A very difficult position for Johnny Virgo.
17:49He's made it.
17:516-2.
17:52Now comes across the table for an easy shot, and then should get back onto that ball that's
17:57been eluding him.
18:00Score is now 6-3.
18:05Virgo getting back into the game.
18:076-4.
18:11Now can he make this ball?
18:14Yes, he has.
18:14It's been lying there a long time.
18:16He's now made it 6-5.
18:18Virgo is definitely back in the game.
18:21Into the end pocket.
18:22Will he make it?
18:24He should with a man of his caliber.
18:25Hung, he played it rather hard.
18:29Ashcroft now trailing where he's been leading.
18:32He's got to get rid of those two balls in order to get on the black for victory.
18:36Don't forget they have one game apiece.
18:38The winner goes into the finals.
18:41Beautiful shot to the end here.
18:43Worthy of a Yorkshire champion.
18:45Beautiful shot from Johnny Ashcroft.
18:47He's brought the house down.
18:50He's brought the house down.
18:54And he's won the game.
18:56He's won the game.
18:57He's won the game.
19:00Yorkshire's Ashcroft wins that Butter the Rose result by his dad's kid.
19:04He'll be up against Ray Edmonds in the final.
19:06The reigning world amateur snooker champion.
19:09Now table football.
19:10Featuring the reigning indoor league champions.
19:13John Kropach and Frank Boket of Doncaster.
19:16Bryce and Scott playing red and white stripes.
19:19On my left Kropach and Boket playing blue and yellow.
19:24The favourites for this competition.
19:27John Kropach and his friend and partner Boket.
19:32Both of Rotherham.
19:34Reigning indoor league champions.
19:35They're playing in the yellow jerseys against Bryce and Scott who are in stripes.
19:43That's Bryce and Scott from Taunton in Somerset.
19:49And there's goal number one for Kropach and Boket.
19:55John Kropach and Frank Boket.
19:57Very experienced pair.
19:58They're moving it up.
19:59Bam!
20:00Tremendous shot.
20:02But it came back very quickly.
20:03The beauty of this game is that it can come back so quickly from the defence.
20:08You can hit a goal from anywhere on the table.
20:10At the moment possession with Kropach and Boket.
20:12Moving it from side to side.
20:13And then suddenly they'll let fly with a shot.
20:15And the shots can come from the back too.
20:17Now it's Bryce and Scott.
20:20It's with the Kropach and Boket defence.
20:25Gently moving it from side to side.
20:26Looking for an opening.
20:27You can see the wrist moving all the time.
20:30As the defence moves across the cover.
20:31As the attack moves from side to side.
20:34To try to find just a glimmer of light to fire the ball through.
20:37And that's 1-1.
20:37There you see the speed at which a goal can be scored.
20:42It's 1-1.
20:42Bryce and Scott.
20:43Geoffrey Bryce and Geoffrey Scott.
20:51It's Geoffrey Bryce of the stripes who is in the attack position.
20:57And Geoffrey Scott who is in the defence position.
20:59It's Scott that's having to move across now and watch the attack.
21:04Keep the game going.
21:07From John Kropax who is the attack man from the favourites.
21:11There you saw again a shot right from the back.
21:13And just held by the goalkeeper for Bryce and Scott.
21:24Now it's the pale jerseys.
21:27The yellow jerseys.
21:28A Kropach and Boket.
21:29Now the defence.
21:30The red striped defence.
21:32Of Bryce and Scott.
21:34And tight close game.
21:36There Bryce and Scott.
21:37The Taunton Somerset pair.
21:38And there.
21:40Rather gentle shot which caught the goalkeeper out.
21:42And that's Kropax and Boket.
21:43From Rotherham.
21:442-1 up.
21:45There they are.
21:47This game not a fast game.
21:48It can be played at an exhilarating speed.
21:50It can be played as this one is.
21:53With skillful tactical play.
21:55With the men and the ball being moved gently from side to side.
21:58It rolled in.
21:59That's 2-2.
22:00So there you saw the emphasis need not be on powerful shots.
22:04They can creep in almost from anywhere.
22:07There you see the wrist movement.
22:09And it is wrist movement.
22:10There are some tight wrists at the end of this.
22:11That's the attack of Bryce and Scott.
22:13But it's very quickly moving from one end to the other.
22:15Now it's with Kropax and Boket at the plain jerseys.
22:18Again the movement from side to side.
22:19Looking for an opening.
22:20The defence of Geoffrey Scott.
22:22Trying to stop John Kropax.
22:23And a shot from the back.
22:24A surprise shot.
22:25Makes it 3-2.
22:27First to six in this best of eleven quarterfinal.
22:31And it's pretty close.
22:32It's 3-2 for Kropax and Boket of Rotherham.
22:35Who are now in defence.
22:36And a long one.
22:37Trying.
22:37And another one.
22:38Just saved by the Bryce and Scott goalkeeper.
22:40With the front men of Kropax and Boket.
22:44They'll wait for the opening.
22:45And then hit it.
22:46Now it's with the.
22:47Yes it's still with Kropax and Boket.
22:48It's with their middle rank of five men.
22:50Pushed up beautifully.
22:51As the opening came to the three forwards.
22:53And ready for the shot.
22:53But it didn't.
22:55Didn't work that time.
22:56Now it's with the defence of Bryce and Scott.
22:57From Taunton of Souset.
22:59There they are.
23:00Wrapped expressions.
23:01Trying to get it through from the back.
23:03Back to the goalkeeper.
23:06And now the defence men.
23:07Bryce and Scott now trying to get back to three all.
23:19Their attack men.
23:19Now the defence of.
23:24Frank Boket.
23:27It's in the middle.
23:28The referee will have to put the ball in motion again.
23:30Dropping it on the centre line.
23:32There you have Boket and Kropax.
23:34And it's with them at the moment.
23:35Pushed up for their front rank.
23:36They're three to up.
23:38That this is.
23:39John Kropax.
23:41Moving it from side to side.
23:42He was wide.
23:42It's now with the defence of Jeffrey Bryce from Taunton.
23:46Trying to get it up into his middle and front.
23:49There after the equaliser.
23:50They tried it then.
23:51The shot wasn't powerful enough.
23:53There's good covering by Frank Boket.
23:55In goal.
23:57Now with the back line of.
24:00Bryce and Scott.
24:02Three to down.
24:02Tremendous shot.
24:064-2 for Kropax and Boket who are just easing away now.
24:10But quickly it's hit back.
24:12It's 4-3.
24:13That one came right from the back.
24:14So there's still nothing in this.
24:15It's in this best of 11.
24:16Kropax and Boket in possession.
24:18But they really can't sit back and relax.
24:21Because they've been in front most of the way.
24:23But Bryce and Scott constantly hitting back.
24:26They're only 4-3 down.
24:27It's Kropax and Boket leading.
24:28In the front right.
24:29Moving it across.
24:30Right across from side to side.
24:32Hoping that the defence of Geoffrey Scott will be moved out of position.
24:35And leave a glimmer of light to hit the ball.
24:37And there it went.
24:375-3.
24:385-3.
24:39So Frank Boket and John Kropax.
24:43One goal away from a place in the semi-final.
24:46And the Rotherham boys are the favourites.
24:47It's with their back line.
24:48And they can hit it from there.
24:49Moved up to the front.
24:52Still hovering around the goal area of Bryce and Scott.
24:56Now is this going to be the finish?
24:57Waiting for the opening.
24:58The goalkeeper in the defence line of Geoffrey Scott.
25:00Keeping it out.
25:01But again it's still with Boket.
25:03And Kropax.
25:04Kropax the attack man.
25:06A flick of the wrist.
25:07There it went.
25:08Selling a dummy with a middle man and hitting it with the outside.
25:11Now again you can't keep still in this game.
25:14You've got to keep the rods and the men moving from side to side.
25:16There's another shot.
25:17It really is desperate defence this from Bryce and Scott.
25:19But see how quickly defence can be turned into attack with that shot from the back.
25:23And now it's in the front.
25:24And it's off the field of play.
25:26So yes.
25:28Puffing and blowing there.
25:29The Bryson's got under tremendous pressure.
25:30But they're not out of it yet.
25:32It's 5-3-6.
25:34There it is.
25:34Suddenly a shot from the back.
25:36And the favourites John Kropax and Frank Boket of Rotherham go into the semi-final.
25:40So the joint favourites, Kropax and Boket, go into the semi-final.
25:45And that's it for this week.
25:47Next time it's the final of the American pool.
25:49Not between the Hustler and Minnesota Fats.
25:52But Yorkshire's John Ashcroft and Ray Edmonds, the world amateur snooker champion.
25:56We'll also have table football with slow motion action replay.
26:00And another top darts match.
26:02I'll see there.
26:02We'll see you next time.
26:32We'll see you next time.
26:34We'll see you next time.
26:34We'll see you next time.
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