Friday evening saw the Legion play host to the annual East v West matches played between representatives from the Kirkwall and District Darts League (KDDL) and the West Mainland Darts Association (WMDA).
With the WMDA having seen a resurgence in the number of players participating in their competitions this year, and some very decent stats being posted, a closer encounter than has been seen previously was expected from both sides.
Taking this potential threat seriously, the East lined up with their full team which will take on Shetland in Lerwick in just over a week's time in the annual intercounty match, which is a first for many a year.
The customary jokes regarding the players on both sides who were representing the opposite region from which they are normally associated with were dispensed early on in proceedings and the match began in a very relaxed spirit.
It looked as though the West were going to start strong as Mal Reid went 2-0 up on Stevie Garner. However, Mal missed one dart at a double to win 3-1 and, as fate would have it, that would be the only singles match in which a West player had a dart to win their individual game. Stevie put in back to back 16 dart legs to clinch the first point 3-2. Gary Wilson and Erland Ritch both won 3-0 against John Munson and Erlend Pirie respectively, whilst Brian Moar came from a leg behind to beat Davie Scott 3-1. As the matches went the way of the East, the West seemed to lose their composure and Kevin Gray and Wayne Monkman both won without dropping a leg to Derry Sinclair and Gary Chalmers to put the East 6-0 ahead in the match.
Recently crowned WMDA singles champion Andrew Seator showed flashes of his recent hot streak against Jamie Drever, but couldn't prevent Jamie powering to a 3-1 win. Ian Findlay beat Dale Groundwater 3-1 before Bruce Moar put in a scintillating display, beating Sinclair Craigie 3-0 with back to back 13 dart legs. Stevie Linklater put Gary Aim to bed with a 113 finish in a 3-0 win which put the East 10-0 ahead, and one away from victory.
Brett Dickinson was pushed all the way in a 5 leg thriller by Christopher Seator, with Brett triumphing 3-2 but not before East captain for the night, Ian Linklater, sealed the 11-0 victory for the East with a 3-0 win over Robbie Brass.
Although officially over, both teams decided to play out the doubles as it was not even 9pm at this point. The East rattled off another 5 victories but the West had some joy as Davie Scott hit a 180, and Erlend Pirie a 100 checkout in a consolation 3-1 win over Brian Moar and Erland Ritch to finalise the unofficial score at 17-1 to the East, a far cry from the close result nearly everyone had expected.
The 'B' game was a much tighter affair with the West winning the first singles courtesy of John Norquoy, and then Jim Hamilton got the West back on level terms after James Flett and Josh Alexander had hit back for the East. Keith Brumpton and Kieren Doherty put the East 4-2 up before Ross Hewison beat East 'B' captain Martin Peace to keep the West within one game at 4-3.
Young Ross MacPherson has been the revelation of the season in the KDDL and extended the East's lead, followed by the less young Davy Henderson following suit. Craig Drury finished off the singles with a victory for the West, which made the score 8-4 to the East, but the West could have been all square had Owen Young and Mark Harcus hit one more double each against Andy Green and Ally Linklater.
With the match still very much up for grabs, a few wins for the West would have seen them right back in the tie, but unfortunately it was not to be for them. Ryan Tulloch and James Flett put the East 9-4 ahead, with Josh Alexander and Alan Findlay winning the penultimate game, leaving it to Keith Brumpton and Kieren Doherty to wrap up an 11-4 win for the East 'B'.
Again it was decided to play out the remaining doubles matches and Ross Hewison and Trevor Johnston clawed one back for the West before Davy Henderson and Andy Green retaliated, with Ally Linklater and Ross McQuillan wrapping up the evenings play to make the unofficial score 13-5 to East 'B'.
West captain Gary Chalmers thanked the East for their hospitality, wished them luck for the match against Shetland and swore they would put up a bigger fight next year. With more keen young players coming into their fold, nobody would bet against them doing just that on their home patch.
180s were scored by: Josh Alexander, Erland Ritch, Andrew Seator, Ian Findlay, Ian Linklater, David Scott, Jamie Drever (two) and Bruce Moar (two). Ross Wood registered a score of 177.
High Checkouts: Erlend Pirie 100, Brett Dickinson 100, Wayne Monkman 120 and Stevie Linklater (100, 113).
Short Legs: Kevin Gray/Wayne Monkman 15, Brett Dickinson 15, Wayne Monkman 15, Ian Findlay 14, Kevin Gray 14, Bruce Moar/Stevie Linklater 12 and Bruce Moar (13, 13).
Results:
East 11, West 0
East 'B' 11, West 'B' 4
Fixtures:
Friday April 18, Shetland v KDDL Orkney, Lerwick Legion, 7pm
Saturday April 25, 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, 7p