League Singles winner Kevin Gray, league president Robbie Norquoy, runner-up Brain Moar.
A League winners, the Untouchables, from left, Billy Ward, Craig Taylor, Brett Dickinson (captain), Ian Linklater, Robbie Stanger.
This past week saw the conclusion of the domestic part of the KDDL season with both leagues and the ranking points competitions drawing to a close.
In the Williamsons Butchers 'B' league the Toonies won their final game to gain promotion via third place, behind Sands and Wanderers.
The Untouchables played back to back games against the Muppets, winning both to secure their second 'A' league title in three years. The Exiles drew with last years champions Sanday to finish runners up.
Then on Friday evening the League Singles took place in the Masonic, with players desperate to gain valuable ranking points to secure places in either the intercounty or 'B' intercounty teams.
The draw pitched many team-mates against each other in an extremely strange twist of fate. Some big names fell by the wayside early on but three players who desperately needed points clawed their way to the semi-final stages. One of those was Brett Dickinson who played superbly all night but lost out to Kevin Gray, who was a man on a mission to try and win his eight singles title. In the other semi Ian Linklater and Brian Moar had a great tussle, with Ian missing out by the width of the wire as Brian claimed victory by the odd leg in seven.
It is almost a given these days that if Kevin Gray reaches a final he will win it, as it is many years since he last lost in a ranking final. Having played all season in the 'B' league, Brian would have been seen as a massive underdog, but he started determinedly with a 13 dart leg before going 2-0 up. Kevin was now scoring heavily as well and a tremendous tussle ensued with both scoring tremendously. Kevin managed to capitalise on spurned opportunities to first equalise the match, and then went 4-2 up, hitting a 136 finish for a 15 dart leg in the process. With Kevin one leg away, Brian dug deep and reduced the deficit to 4-3 with a 15 dart leg of his own, which included a 180 and a 131 checkout. Brian made good use of the advantage of throw in the eight leg to draw level and set up a nail biting finale for the crowd who were watching on. Kevin started the leg magnificently with 140, 100 and 100 in his opening salvo. Brian managed to pop in a couple of 140s of his own but with Brian sitting on 54, Kevin took out 74 with two darts to win it. A great spectacle for those watching in the venue and via the livestream, and a fitting match to close the season. Brian had the higher average of the two, but Kevin used all of his experience to take his opportunities when they came along, and finds himself only two League singles wins behind Stevie Linklater's record of ten victories.
The KDDL Orkney team was then selected on Sunday by the top 9 in the rankings, plus non-playing team captain Craig Taylor, voting in three wildcards and four reserves, the first two of which travel up to Shetland with the team, which is as follows:
Craig Taylor (captain), Kevin Gray, Bruce Moar, Ian Findlay, Erland Ritch, Stevie Linklater, Wayne Monkman, Brett Dickinson, Ian Linklater, Brian Moar, Gary Wilson, Stevie Garner and Jamie Drever. 1st reserve: Erlend Lennie, 2nd: Leigh Shearer, 3rd: George Low, 4th: Ryan Tulloch
180s were scored by: Robbie Stanger, Steven Griffiths, Richard Polson, Kevin Peace, Stewart Gray, Ross McQuillan, Glen Foubister, Andrew Moar, Keith Holland, Ross Howe, Derek Ward Senior, Michael Montgomery, Alan Findlay, Adam Savage, Leigh Shearer, Michael Muir, Robbie Norquoy, Billy Ward, Jamie Marwick, Des Gillespie, Ian Linklater, Brett Dickinson, Gavin Linklater (two), Robbie Scott (two), Kevin Sarling (two), Josh Alexander (two), Jamie Drever
(two), Graham Firth (two), Wayne Monkman (two), Stevie Garner (two), Kevin Gray (three), Brian Moar (three) and Stevie Linklater (five). Kevin Gray also scored 174 whilst Brett Dickinson hit 177.
High Checkouts: Aaron Mitchell 100, James Flett 100, Derek Ward Senior 100, Ian Findlay 102, Craig Taylor 113, Davy Henderson 114, Kevin Sarling 115, Keith Bain 117, Jamie Drever 121, Bruce Moar 126, Brian Moar 131, Michael Montgomery 135, Gavin Linklater (100, 101), Billy Ward (100, 115), Ian Linklater (108, 135)Kevin Peace (111, 139), Erland Ritch (126, 148) and Kevin Gray (101, 102, 136).
Short Legs: Trevor Shearer/Graham Firth 15, Billy Ward/Robbie Stanger 15, Jack Kirkpatrick 15, Stevie Linklater 15, Bruce Moar 15, Robbie Stanger 14, Leigh Shearer 14, George Low 14, Martin Peace/Brian Moar 13, Ian Linklater 13, Brett Dickinson (15, 15), Kevin Gray (15, 15, 15) and Brian Moar (13, 14, 15).
Results:
'A' League:
Ale Stars 2, OGC 10
Untouchables 11, Muppets 1
Exiles 6, Sanday 6
Tankerness 1, Legion 11
OGC 11, Ale Stars 1
Muppets 0, Untouchables 12
'B' League:
Vikings 1, The Toonies 11
Shandy Bass 6, Sands 6
Quoyburray 2, Wanderers 10
Bilco Boys 10, Murray Arms 2
EMYFC 3, Young Loons 9
Rough 'n' Rowdy 9, Quoyburray 'B' 3
Vikings 0, Rough 'n' Rowdy 12
League singles semi-finals: Brian Moar 4, Ian Linklater 3
Kevin Gray 4, Brett Dickinson 2
Final: Kevin Gray (78.10) 5, Brian Moar (85.18) 4
Fixtures:
Friday March 28, Steven Flett Mixed Doubles, Legion, 7.30pm
Friday April 4, East v West, Kirkwall Legion, 7.30pm
Friday April 18, Shetland v KDDL Orkney, Lerwick Legion, 7pm
Saturday April 19, Anniversary Shield Lerwick Legion 1.30pm
Friday April 25, Orkney Championships, tbc, 7.30pm
Saturday May 3, KDDL Orkney 'B' v Shetland 'B', Masonic, 1.30pm
Saturday May 10, Presentation do incorporating Tattie Bogle Charity Shield, Masonic, 7pm