CUP NEWS
A poor turnout for the last team cup game for this season, only four of the twelve 'A' League teams came forward for the 301 challenge cup, even the defending champions, the Legion couldn't get a team.
There were some splendid darts played with some great finishing, up first was last year's beaten finalists, the Untouchables against the strong Golf Club and it ended in a three all draw so it was on to the dreaded play off which the Untouchables took to move into another final.
On the other board the Wanderers proved too strong for the Nomads and won 4-2 but it was a good show from the relegated Nomads. The final looked like going the way of the Wanderers as they led 3-2 but a great checkout of 141 from Ian Linklater took the game into the play off.
The Untouchables got off to the better start and led for most of the play off, not much in it at the 200 mark, the Untouchables were left 118 and up stepped Ian again and checked out to give the Untouchables the cup 4-3.
Other scores 180 from Aaron Mitchell and checkouts of a 109 Ian Wilkie and 130 from Brett Dickenson.
LEAGUE
After 204 league games and 21 cup competitions the 2015/16 KDDL Orkney league season kindly sponsored by Williamsons Wholesale Butchers has finally drawn to a close.
At the start of the season John Hamilton formed a new team in the B league and fittingly named them the Warriors.
On Tuesday night of last week they fought their way to a 9-3 victory over the Masonic and in doing so lifted the B league trophy for the season, pipping Quoyburray B by three points. The B league itself has been hugely competitive this season with very little between most teams and lots of very close games resulted from this.
Eddie Drever joined the Warriors having never played league darts before and as well as winning the B league singles cup, he was also the standout player in the league topping both the singles and doubles won charts with an impressive 28 wins from 31 games individually and 30/32 as part of a doubles pairing.
Raymie Rendall added to the Warriors firepower by finishing second in the singles chart with 25/28 and Quoyburray B captain Graham Reid completed the top 3 on 21/24.
82 maximums were recorded by B league players with Colin Kirkpatrick coming out on top with 8. Even more impressively, there were 90 high checkouts recorded by B league players, the top finish being 160 by Davy Henderson who also finished joint top of the most ton-plus checkouts with Robbie Norquoy on 7.
The Orkney Golf Club completed their A league campaign with two successive draws against league champs the Legion and then third placed Sanday.
In total 513 180s were hit in the KDDL this season, up from 497 last year and once again Kevin Gray came out on top with 40.
Additionally, 340 ton-plus checkouts were recorded (up from 323 the previous year) including two 170s which came from Brett Dickinson and then Martin Peace.
Ian Linklater produced two marvellous finishes to win the 301 challenge cup for the Untouchables on Friday night and in doing so he shared the trophy for the most high checkouts with Brian Moar on 12. Last season Kevin Gray and Brian Moar tied in first place for the highest win percentage in the A league and this season they once again occupied the top two berths, with Kevin magnificently winning 41/44 games to top the pile. Brian won 39/44 with Ivan Leslie coming in third with 37/42.
This Friday the KDDL Orkney side travel up to the Lerwick Legion to face their Shetland Darts Association counterparts in what is the pinnacle match of each league season. There will undoubtedly be lots of excitement, plenty of nerves and hopefully a lot of smiling boys in red shirts come the close of play. The following day the open Anniversary Shield competition is also held in the Lerwick Legion.
Whilst the league season has ended, there are still a couple of charity events to be played over the coming weeks.
Friday 29th April sees the Charity doubles being played in the Kirkwall Masonic and the following week it is the turn of the Tattie Bogle Charity Doubles in the Legion.
180s this week were hit by: Derek Firth, Jim Brown, Michael Moodie, Alan Gray, Ivan Leslie, Stevie Linklater and Aaron Mitchell.
Ton-plus checkouts came from: Liam Drever 100, Bruce Moar 105, Ian Wilkie 109, Derek Firth 110, Neil Croy 114, Eddie Drever 114, Gordon Rendall 116, Wayne Monkman 116, Garry Peace 120, Brett Dickinson 130, Kevin Gray 156, Michael Moodie 160 and Ian Linklater 141 & 118.
Results
A league: Legion 6 v 6 OGC, OGC 6 v 6 Sanday.
B League: Warriors 9 v 3 Masonic
Fixtures
Friday 22nd April, Shetland v KDDL Orkney, Lerwick Legion
Friday 29th April, Charity doubles, Masonic, names by 7.30pm
Friday 6th May, Tattie Bogle charity doubles, Legion, Names by 7.30pm