For the second last ranking points event, the League Doubles, 20 pairs turned up. The same number as last year, and it ended the same as last year.
Most of the top players were there, so competition was fierce, with lots of players close points-wise. As always, there were some surprise results, with fancied pairs crashing out but, by the semi-final stage, most of the players involved were up near top of the table, and both semi-finals ended 3-2, with Wayne Monkman and Michael Moodie winning over the Legion Doubles champions, Brian Moar and Martin Peace.

In the other semi, the holders, Derek Firth and Kevin Gray, won over Michael Bain and Willie Bremner, and they continued their great form in the final, as they stormed to a 4-nil win, and it wasn't that Wayne and Michael played poorly, it was just that Derek and Kevin were very nearly unbeatable. I don't think there was a leg that took more than 15 darts, so it's on to the last ranking event tomorrow, Friday, with the League Singles.The top six players in the table are safe, but another eight players could still make the last three places, depending on results during the Singles.

Then it's on to the big one, the Kirkwall Open on Saturday, March 10, in the Masonic Club. There is over £1,000 in prize money, plus trophies, and there is the usual raffle, with dartboards, including a Rangers one, and all the usual prizes.
A lot of players are coming down from Shetland and from across The Firth. Last year, there were two players from Bournemouth.

The battle for the Williamson's 'A' title is nearly over, as the Legion moved ten points clear after a 9-3 win over Commodores, while their nearest challenger,  Untouchables, could only get a 6-all draw with Untouchables 'A'; the second time they have drawn this season.
The Wanderers, 10-2 winners over Sanday, are now only three points off second spot. Not far behind are the Golf Club, after beating Quoyburray 'B' 9-3, so it looks like Quoyburray 'B' could be heading for the 'B' League next year. The other Quoyburray team are still on the edge, after going down 8-4 to Meadowbank.
There was another 12-0 whitewash for RBLM, and on the receiving end was Tankerness.
In the Williamson's 'B' League, it's RBLM's fifth whitewash of the season, and one more win will put them out of reach of the rest.
The weather was the winner in the Shapinsay v Sands game, and there are no cards in from the Shore v Likely Lads.
The Murray Arms are closing in on the second stop, after beating Deerness 10-2, but don't write off the Shore '2', after beating the Bilco Boys 11-1.

There were 180s from Brian Sutherland, Andrew Rendall, Stevie Linklater, Keith Brumpton, Brian Moar, Robert Gatt, Allan Gray, Keith Bain, Neil Croy, Billy Ward, Leigh Shearer, Ivan Leslie, Sean Stanger, Derek Firth, Willie Bremner and two from Kevin Gray. That takes the total of 180s to 286 for the season.
Kevin Gray is on 25 high checkouts of a 100 from Edrian Skea. Robbie Stanger has two double tops, Ivan Leslie a 100 and 112, Alan Brown 104, Gordon Rendall 105, Kevin Gray 108, Neil Croy 114, Neil Drever and Bruce Moar 121, 120 and 133 from Michael Moodie, 144 Alan Gray, and 146 from Willie Bremner. David Kirkpatrick had a 113.
There will be a committee meeting on Wednesday, March 7, in the Masonic Hall at 8pm. All committee members are requested to attend, as the team to travel to Shetland will be selected.

FIXTURES
Monday, March 12: Knight Cup 'A' teams - Legion, 7.30pm.
Tuesday, March 13: Seatter Cup 'B' teams - Legion, 7.340pm.
Friday, March 16: Tom Notman Singles - Legion, 7.30pm.

Monday, March 5
Williamson's 'A' League
Meadowbank v Quoyburray B; Commodores v Sanday; Quoyburray v Untouchables; Untouchables 'A' v Legion; Wanderers v OGC.
Williamson's 'B' League
Tankerness v Likely Lads; Shapinsay v Murray Arms; Shore v Deerness; Bilco Boys v RBLM; Shore 2 v Sands.