Pictured from left: Runner up Iain Wilkie, with committee member Stevie Linklater who presents the B Singles Cup to Jamie Drever.
Another week rolled past in the Williamsons Butchers sponsored 'A' league and a huge change at the top with the way results panned out. Untouchables were knocked from their perch by defending champions the Legion, before the Legion all but had their hopes dashed with a midweek draw against the Exiles. The Exiles did well to dust themselves down to earn that draw following a defeat on Monday to Sanday, who now sit top for the first time in months, but only by one point. Untouchables play Sanday this week in what will be a crunch tie, but remaining fixtures will still play a part in deciding which of the two lift the coveted trophy. Elsewhere Golf Club demolished the Bilco Boys, who have played far better darts this season than results have shown.
Change at the top was the order of the day in the 'B' league too, with Muppets beating fellow title hopefuls Tankerness in their match. But the big shock came with the Shandy Bass dismantling the Murray Arms, who a few weeks ago looked odds on to go up but now sit third. Sands sit fourth and still have a slim chance of promotion but they'd need other results to go their way in addition to gaining maximum points from the run in.
A great entry of 34 descended on the Masonic on Friday evening, all keen to capture the 'B' League Singles cup and, maybe more importantly for some, points towards the 'B' county team.
The draw threw up some really close encounters and there were some good darts thrown, as well as some understandably nervy ones. Jamie Drever has been the standout player in the 'B' league this season, not afraid to take on any of the teams higher up the league, and has made a main ranking competition final as well, so it was no surprise that he battled his way to the semi-finals. He would face up to Keith Holland, who has hit the ground running since signing this year, and it is no surprise that the upturn in the Shandy Bass teams performance coincided with his arrival. Their match went the distance but Jamie just had that extra bit of quality in the finishing department to win through.
Iain Wilkie used to be a regular in the main county team before circumstances dictated that he lay down the tungsten for a few years. He has rekindled some of his old form and was another who would have been considered in the running at the start of the night. He would face Lee MacPherson, who has also won consistently in the league, but it was Iain who triumphed, albeit by the narrowest margin.
The final was a close affair, with Jamie and Iain going leg for leg to begin with, tied for legs at 3-3. Jamie managed to find that bit extra, taking the 7th leg before breaking Iain's throw to win the next leg and in doing so securing his third 'B' League Singles Title.
The 'B' ranking points table has been updated on the Orkney Darts Facebook page but will not be finalised until after the main League Singles on March 17, as points from it will still count towards the 'B' totals.
This weekend sees the flagship Open competition of the KDDL season, the J.W.Gray and co. Tennent's Kirkwall Open take place in the Masonic on Saturday. With a £500 first prize, as well as cash prizes down the quarter finals and for the furthest 'B' League player and furthest lady, there should be plenty of incentive for people to enter. There will be the usual prize board and raffle on the day, with food available at the kitchen hatch. There will also be a money in, money out competition on the Friday night for those keen for a throw.
180s were scored by: Erland Ritch, Kenny Gunn, Keith Brumpton, Iain Wilkie, Keith Bain, Keith
Holland, Brian Stevenson, Lee MacPherson, Dennis Watt, Paul Foubister (two), Stevie Linklater (two), Billy Ward (two), Ian Findlay (two), Liam Drever (two), Erlend Lennie (two), George Low (two), Wayne Monkman (three) and Kevin Gray (four). Derek Firth, John Garson and John Thomson each had a score of 171 as well.
High Checkouts: Allan Brown 100, Keith Brumpton 104, Keith Bain 110, Erlend Lennie 112, Brett Dickinson 113, Kenny Gunn 114, David Mowat 115, John Garson 116, Bruce Moar 120, Gary Wilson 120, Robbie Stanger 125, Brian Moar 134, Paul Foubister 138, Kevin Peace 156, Davy Henderson 164, Ally Linklater (101, 110), Ian Linklater (105, 115) and Dennis Watt (128, 140).
Results:
'A' League:
Untouchables 5, Legion 7
Exiles 4, Sanday 8
Bilco Boys 1, OGC 11
Exiles 6, Legion 6
'B' League:
Shandy Bass 8, Murray Arms 4
Shapinsay 6, Quoyburray 6
Skippers 3, Young Loons 9
Tankerness 4, Muppets 8
Vikings 8, Young Loons 4
'B' League Singles Final: Jamie Drever 5, Iain Wilkie 3
Fixtures:
'A' League: Untouchables v Bilco Boys
Exiles v OGC
Legion v Sanday
'B' League:
Shandy Bass v Shapinsay
Vikings v Quoyburray
Skippers v Sands
Tankerness v Murray Arms
Muppets v Young Loons
Friday March 3, Pre-Kirkwall Open Competition, Masonic, 7.30pm
Saturday March 4, Tennent's Kirkwall Open, Masonic, 1.30pm
Friday March 10, League Mixed Doubles, Legion, 7.30pm
Friday March 17, League Singles (Ranking), Masonic, 7.30pm