Louttit Singles, winner Stevie Linklater is presented with the cup by Graeme Loutitt, with runner-up Robbie Stanger.
With it all to play for in the hunt for a place in this season's intercounty trip to Shetland, 36 players toed the oche for the Louttit Cup, the penultimate ranking points competition of the season.
The atmosphere was full of nervous anticipation as a few of the early favourites crashed out. Young Ross MacPherson claimed yet another big scalp as he added three points to his tally to narrowly cling on to his place in the current top 9.
By this stage of the season there are no easy games in these competitions, but both Robbie Stanger and Stevie Linklater had to battle through some tough draws to reach the semi-finals. Both players progressed to the final with 4-0 wins, Robbie dispatching Ian Findlay while Stevie slayed Gary Wilson.
The final between two lifelong friends was a great spectacle for the onlooker, containing a little bit of everything that makes up a brilliant match. Stevie started the brighter of the two, but his finishing let him down as Robbie produced a 117 checkout to take the first leg. Stevie hit back in the second but his finishing once again deserted him as Robbie seemed to grow in stature, taking the third, fourth and fifth legs for a commanding 4-1 lead.
Lesser players would have capitulated at this point, but Stevie rolled back the clock, shook off the shackles of his advancing years and proved to everyone why he is rightly regarded as one of the best players to ever the play the sport in Orkney. The sixth leg saw Robbie hit his second 180 of the match but it went virtually unnoticed as Stevie piled in back to back maximums on his way to a 15 dart leg. Stevie took advantage of having the throw in the seventh, and tied the match in the eighth as Robbie began to falter with his ability to seek out the trebles. Nerves were clearly present in the final leg, as it took 24 darts to reach its conclusion, with Stevie checking out 56 to clinch his first ranking points trophy since he won the Pitstop Cup way back in November 2016.
In league action, the race to the 'A' league title had a twist this week as the Exiles could only manage a draw against the Orkney Golf Club. They remain top but only four points clear of Untouchables who still hold two games in hand.
The Wanderers, never having been off top spot all season, took a huge step closer to clinching the 'B' league trophy with an emphatic win over Murray Arms. The real fight is the four-way battle for the remaining two promotion slots. Bilco Boys, Sands and The Toonies remain as they were as all three won their matches by the same scoreline, but Quoyburray were made to sweat by the Rough 'n' Rowdy lads as they only just pinched the win at the end to maintain their chance to reach the big time.
180s were scored by: Gary Wilson, Gordy Rendall, Graham Firth, Alan Findlay, Graeme Reid, John Garson, Aidan Halleran, David Shearer, Ross MacPherson, Keiran Doherty, Ally Linklater, James Flett, Kenny Gunn, Leigh Shearer, Ian Linklater, Brett Dickinson (two), Kevin Gray (two), Wayne Monkman (two), Bruce Moar (two), Brian Moar (two), Martin Peace (two), Keith Brumpton (two), Stevie Garner (three), Ian Findlay (three), Stevie Linklater (five) and Robbie Stanger (six). Additional scores of 171 were registered by Robbie Stanger and 177 for Kevin Gray, Ian Linklater and Stevie Linklater.
High Checkouts: Stevie Linklater 101, Graeme Reid 108, Ian Findlay 110, Andrew Moar 113, Gordy Rendall 114, Jim Brown 115, Kevin Peace 116, Brian Moar 116, Alan Findlay 116, Keith Brumpton 117, Neil Tait 133, Ian Linklater 152, Richie Ballantyne 156, Paul Foubister (101, 120) and Robbie Stanger (117, 130, 130).
Short Legs: Robbie Norquoy/Jim Brown 15, Kevin Gray/Wayne Monkman 15, Kevin Peace/Gordy Rendall 15, Bruce Moar/Stevie Linklater 15, James Flett 15, Ian Linklater 15, Michael Muir 15, Erland Ritch 14, Robbie Stanger/Billy Ward 13, Kevin Gray 13, Stevie Linklater (15, 15) and Robbie Stanger (13, 15).
Results:
'A' League:
Untouchables 12, Ale Stars 0
Exiles 6, OGC 6
Tankerness 10, Muppets 2
Legion 9, Sanday 3
'B' League:
The Toonies 10, Quoyburray 'B' 2
Vikings 8, EMYFC 4
Shandy Bass 2, Bilco Boys 10
Quoyburray 7, Rough 'n' Rowdy 5
Sands 10, Young Loons 2
Wanderers 12, Murray Arms 0
Louttit Cup Final: Stevie Linklater 5, Robbie Stanger 4
Fixtures:
'A' League:
Tankerness v Ale Stars
Sanday v OGC
Legion v Muppets
Exiles v Untouchables
'B' League:
The Toonies v Bilco Boys
Vikings v Quoyburray
Shandy Bass v Rough 'n' Rowdy
Sands v EMYFC
Wanderers v Quoyburray 'B'
Murray Arms v Young Loons
Friday, February 28, Mixed Doubles, Legion, 7.30pm
Friday, March 7, 'B' League Singles ('B' ranking), Masonic, 7.30pm