Cup sponsor and league president Craig Taylor, left, presents winner Kevin Gray with the Taylor Singles Cup with alongside him is runner-up Leigh Shearer.
This years ranking points competitions to select the team to play Shetland are beginning to draw to a close with the penultimate competition, The Taylor Singles, being played in the Legion last Friday night.
The ranking points tables are tight, and the standard on show was simply breathtaking all night long, despite the obvious nervous tension in the air. By quarter-final time many of this years form players were still involved.
Leigh Shearer squeezed by Robbie Stanger, whilst Derek Firth narrowly defeated Ryan Tulloch, with both virtually cementing their place in the team. Bruce Moar added some much needed points to his tally but failed to get the better of Kevin Gray, whilst Ivan Leslie finally stopped the rampaging Kevin Sarling from the 'B' League.
Leigh secured yet another final berth with a 4-1 win over Derek, despite Derek having a blistering start. The other semi-final was a slightly more dour affair, but eventually Kevin pipped Ivan, also 4-1.
Kevin and Leigh had between them been involved in 4 of the 5 finals this season, so it was little surprise that they were contesting this one as well.
Leigh played reasonably well in the final, as his 72.4 average suggests but Kevin was in sensational form and got better and better as the match progressed.
Leigh managed to reduce the deficit after three legs to 2-1 but that was as close as he would get. With Kevin averaging over 90 for much of the match (finishing with 87.3) he stepped up a gear after Leigh hit his double, taking the fourth leg in fourteen darts and the fifth in a superb 11 darts, much applauded by the onlooking crowd.
Leigh had chances in the sixth leg but spurned them, only for Kevin to retain the cup with a 110 checkout.
The young talent of Orkney get their chance to shine on Friday in the Legion, as the Under 30's Open singles is played.
The place was rocking last year with the jukebox pumping and some really good darts on show, more of which will be expected this time around.
180s were hit by: Trevor Shearer, Ian Findlay, Simon Parry, Jim Hamilton, Fraser Laird, Davy Henderson, Jamie Rendall, Brian Stevenson, Kevin Sarling, Leigh Shearer, Derek Firth, Ryan Tulloch (two), Martin Peace (two), Keith Brumpton (two), Billy Ward (two), Ivan Leslie (two), Gary Wilson (two), Neil Tait (two), Robert Hutchison (three), Brett Dickinson (three), Robbie Stanger (four) and Kevin Gray (six). Ryan Wilkie had a 177.
Ton plus checkouts were scored by: Ian Linklater 100, Ryan Wilkie 100, Keith Brumpton 102, Brian Moar 105, Kevin Sarling 107, Andrew Moar 108, Jamie Rendall 108, Erlend Lennie 110, Kevin Gray 110, Andrew Clouston 116, Ian Munro 119, Nicol Gray 120, Stuart Thomson 125, Ryan Tulloch 170, Stevie Linklater 100, 101, Robert Hutchison 100, 118, Robbie Stanger 114, 115, Davy Henderson 115, 116, Jamie Drever 119, 120, Derek Firth 105, 116, 116 and Leigh Shearer 111, 126, 126.
Results
Taylor Singles Final
Kevin Gray 5, Leigh Shearer 1
'A' League
Untouchables 'A' 3, Legion 9; Warriors 7, Wanderers 5; Untouchables 9, Legion Arrows 3;
OGC 5, Commodores 7; Bilco Boys 3, Sanday 9; Nomads 8, Quoyburray 'B' 4.
'B' League
Sands 1, Tigers 11; Quoyburray 10, Vikings 2; Sanday 'B' 2, Tankerness 10; Murray Arms 3, Tigers 9.
Fixtures
Friday February 15, Under 30's open singles, Legion, names by 7.30pm
'A' League
Untouchables v Legion; OGC v Wanderers; Commodores v Legion Arrows; Warriors v Sanday; Untouchables 'A' v Quoyburray 'B'; Nomads v Bilco Boys.
'B' League
Sanday 'B' v Tigers; Shapinsay v Vikings; Muppets v Tankerness; Quoyburray v Young Loons; Sands v Murray Arms; RBL2 v Exiles.
Friday February 22, League Doubles, Legion, names by 7.30pm