The first week of action in the Kirkwall and District darts leagues showed that many of the players had shaken of the rustiness from the summer, with some great darts on show. 'A' league debutants Ale Stars had their first taste of the big time, with Kevin Gray putting them to the sword with some stellar scoring and finishing in the Legion's 10-2 win. Also making their top tier debut were Tankerness, who fared considerably better as they started their campaign against current Orkney team champions Sanday and earned themselves a draw. Having lost their best player Damian Stout to Sanday, the Muppets were expected to struggle this season and they were whitewashed by the Exiles who have been on fire in the cup competitions. The final match between the Golf Club and Untouchables was postponed.
With 3 promotion spaces up for grabs in the 'B' league, competition will be fierce with at least seven of the twelve teams in with a realistic chance, on paper at least. Newly reformed Wanderers wasted no time in setting a marker for the campaign, whitewashing Shandy Bass in a dominant display. The Toonies narrowly missed the cut last time out and they began by bullying newcomers Rough 'n' Rowdy 11-1. A similar fate befell other new boys East Mainland Young Farmers Club against Quoyburray B, who like Wanderers, were reforming for the first time since the Covid break. With plenty potential amongst the new teams, it will be interesting to see how they develop as they gain experience. Sands will be another team in the promotion mixer and they also won 11-1 against Vikings, bettering the 10-2 win that Quoyburray had over Murray Arms. The game of the week saw relegated Bilco Boys clashing with the steadily improving Young Loons, with Bilco just edging it 7-5.
The first of this season's ranking points competitions takes place in the Orkney Golf Club next Friday evening (October 25). Points accumulated over the 7 main ranking competitions determine who gets selected for the intercounty trip to Shetland at the end of the season. They also count towards the 'B' points system for 'B' league players for their representative match against our friends from the North, being added together with points from the 3 'B' ranking points competitions.
180s were scored by: Ian Findlay, Paul Foubister, George Low, Shane Rendall, David Shearer, Ross McQuillan, Michael Montgomery, Brian Moar, Keith Brumpton, Kieran Doherty, Ivan Rendall and Kevin Gray (four). Raymond Foubister recorded a score of 171.
High Checkouts: Brian Moar 100, Karl Scott 100, Ryan Tulloch 100, Nicol Gray 102, Erlend Eunson 104, Paul Foubister 108, Davy Henderson 111, Des Gillespie 113, Iain Wilkie 122, Andrew Moar 122, Erlend Lennie 126, Erland Ritch 127, Ian Findlay 131, Kevin Gray 131 and Jamie Tulloch 142.
Short Legs: Erland Ritch 14 and Kevin Gray (12, 14, 15, 15).
Results:
'A' League: Ale Stars 2, Legion 10
Muppets 0, Exiles 12
Sanday 6, Tankerness 6
'B' League: The Toonies 11, Rough 'n' Rowdy 1
Vikings 1, Sands 11
Shandy Bass 0, Wanderers 12
Quoyburray 10, Murray Arms 2
Bilco Boys 7, Young Loons 5
EMYFC 1, Quoyburray B 11
Fixtures:
'A' League: Ale Stars v Exiles
OGC v Tankerness
Muppets v Sanday
Untouchables v Legion
'B' League: The Toonies v Wanderers
Vikings v Murray Arms
Shandy Bass v Young Loons
Quoyburray v Quoyburray B
Bilco Boys v EMYFC
Sands v Rough 'n' Rowdy
Friday October 25, Pitstop Singles (Ranking), Orkney Golf Club, names for 7.30pm