There was not a big entry for the second-last team cup of the season. Only eight teams came forward for the Speirs Cup six A and two B teams and,of course, the two B teams clashed in the first round, with Sanday winning and they went on to reach the final by beating A League Quoyburray B, found the Legion to hot to handle in the final, going down 4-1. But, well done, for getting there.
What a turn out there was for the brand new E. R. & T. Craigie Singles, the first of the new year ranking events. Forty-eight turned up a the Quoyburray. All the top players were there and a lot of B players, which is a very good sign for the future.
As the draw turned out, none of the top players clashed in the early rounds,but by quarter-final time, only A players were left, three from the Legion, two from Untouchables, one from Wanderers and one from the Golf Club. And it was Bruce Moar from the Golf Club who made it to the final to meet Ivan Leslie from the Legion, who was playing great darts. In the final, Ivan won 4-1, but is was far from one-sided, only clinical finishing made it look so, as Bruce proved a worthy opponent.
The current top ranking table standings are: Ivan Leslie (Legion) 33 points; Kevin Gray (Legion) 24; Brian Moar (Wanderers) 22; Derek Firth (Legion) 22; Ian Wilkie (Untouchables) 19; Stevie Linklater (Untouchables) 19; Bruce Moar (Golf Club) 19; Robbie Stanger (Untouchables) 17; Billy Ward (Commodore) 17; Ian Linklater (Untouchables) 15; Wayne Monkman (Untouchables A) 10; Roy Foubister (Untouchables A) 9. Lots of other players have points, ranging from six to three.
The next ranking event is on Friday, February 4, with another new cup, the Pit Stop Singles which is an open cup, so any players in Orkney an enter, but only registered players will receive points. It is being played in the Orkney Golf Club, with names in by 7.30pm.
There were 180s from Paul Foubister, Michael Moodie, Ross Donaldson, Roy Foubister, Ian Wilkie, Alan Gray, Fraser Laird, Bruce Moar, Stevie Linklater, Ian Linklater and two from Kevin Gray.
There were high checkouts of 101 from Ivan Leslie, 104 from Willie Bremner, 111 from David Kirkpatrick, 112 from Paddy Kirkpatrick, 115 from Martin Peace, 116 from Derek Firth, 136 from Brian Moar and a big 160 from Bruce Moar, but it doesn¹t beat Ross Donaldson’s table-topping 167.
Both A and B Leagues get under way on Monday. Topping the A League are the Legion, three points ahead of the Untouchables and undefeated. Bottom are RBL2 with no points. Heading the B League are Sanday, three points ahead of the Fanooks. No other team is near. Bottom are Sands 2 on two
points.
All scorecards are to be left in the Royal British Legion by 12 noon on Saturday.
Tickets for the presentation Do on April 23, in the Masonic Club, are now on sale from the secretary Jim Scollie. A very limited number of tickets are available, as Shetland will be here this year, with the annual games taking place in the Royal British Legion, ladies on Thursday, April 21, and men on
Friday, April 22.
RESULTS
SPEIRS CUP
Final Legion 4, Sanday 1.
E. R. & T. CRAIGIE CUP
Ivan Leslie 4, Bruce Moar 1.
FIXTURES
Monday, January 31
WILLIAMSON’S OA¹ LEAGUE
RBL2 v Untouchables A; Quoyburray v Legion; OGC v Wanderers B; Wanderers
v Quoyburray B; Meadowbank v Untouchables. No game: Commodore.
WILLIAMSON’S B LEAGUE
Likely Lads v Shore 2 Tankerness v Bilco Boys; Fanooks v Deerness; Sands
v Sanday; Shore v Murray Arms. No game Sands 2.
Friday, February 4
PIT STOP CUP
In the Golf Club at 7.30pm.