Exciting Darts at Finals Night

A fantastic night of local darts was enjoyed by many of the league’s players and supporters when the 2009-2010 Finals Night was held at the West Club, Cowick Street, on Friday, May 14^th.

Everyone was welcomed by the league chairman, Tony Grabham, who took the opportunity to thank everyone who had helped to produce such an enjoyable season, especially Rose and Laurie Parkhouse, and the committee.

The evening was brilliantly MC’d by Andy Maddicks and our thanks go to the two match markers, Micky Finn and Phil Reed.

The first competition on the programme was the Team Champions’ Cup and the first semi-finalists up were Don Clarke, from Legion, versus Nick Whitehart from Willeys A. Nick took the first leg with Don fighting back to take the second, the third leg was a tight affair with Don taking it after Nick had six darts at double top to claim the game.

Second semi was between South’s Micky Eaton and Jubilee A’s John Breban. In a two-leg game Micky came out on top after John had starting trouble.

Later in the evening in the final, Don won the first leg going out on double one, but it was Micky Eaton who pulled back to win the second and then the third legs to earn the Champion of Champions crown.

Captain’s Cup was the next competition to be decided. Unfortunately Andy Coles, St Thomas B, was unable to be there due to family commitments, which meant that Paul Godbeer, West A had a walk over.

The other semi was between West C’s John Seviour and Willeys B’s Ronnie Webb. Ronnie pocketed the first leg and John snatched the second. In a thrilling third leg John started on 120 but Ronnie came down with John and clinched the game going out on double nine to book his place in the final. In the final between Paul Godbeer and Ronnie Webb, Ronnie pulled out all the stops and although Paul had an 85 start Ronnie went out on 80, 5-25-bull! In the second leg it was Ronnie on top form again having an 11-dart leg, starting with 120 and going out on 52.

It was the pairs up next with Jason Blatchford and Don Burwood, from Jubilee A, taking on South’s Martin Bevan and Keith Carpenter. The South pairing took the first leg with Jason and Don battling back to take the second. In the all-important third Jubilee won the bull and started first but Martin recorded a 152 start to enable the South pair to catch up. In a scrappy game it was Jason and Don who won through to book their place in the final.

The second semi saw another Jubilee A pair, Aidan Mann and Chris Tucker, take to the stage. Up there to fight it out with them was Scott Foggin and his partner Jamie Ripping from Labour B. In an entertaining game which went two legs it was Scott and Jamie who triumphed to earn their place in the final.

The final was a tight game between Scott and Jamie and Jason and Don which went three legs with the Jubilee pair of Don and Jason eventually coming out worthy winners.

The final competition of the evening to be decided was the individuals. It was contested by Chris Holladay, from Jubilee A, Danny Case, from Labour B, John Breban, also Jubilee A and Mal Curran, St Thomas C.

First semi- saw Chris and John go hammer and tongs at it, in a fast and furious game it was John who prevailed, 2-0, to reach the final. Second semi- saw Daniel Case, Labour B, take on St Thomas’ Mal Curran. Danny played well to put one over on a below-par Mal to earn his game against John in the final.

In a great final, John got to a double first in the first leg going out on double eight. Dan came back strongly in the second leg and shot out on double two. The third leg saw Dan win the bull and start first with John close behind. John overhauled Dan to get to the double first to shoot out and take the leg, the game and this season’s individual championship.

2009-10 Trophies, Winners, and Runners-up

Charlie Knight Triples, for the Cowick Barton Cup: runners-up, Chris Palfrey, Micky Eaton and Martyn Bevan, South; winners, Liam Goyne, Dillon Battishill and Rob Mucklow, St Thomas C.

1001 Plate, the George Godfrey Cup for runners-up, West C; the Reg Bealey Cup for the winners, Whipton Labour Club B.

Knock-out Cup, the Bedford Cup for the runners-up, West B; the Bass Cup for the winners, South.

Division Two, runners-up, Alphington Royal British Legion; winners, Topsham FC.

Division One, runners-up, GWR South; winners, GWR West B.

Team Champions, the Whitbread Trophy, losing semi-finalists, Nick Whitehart, Willeys A and John Breban, Jubilee A; runner-up, Don Clarke, Legion; winner, Micky Eaton, South.

Captains’ Cup, the Burns Anderson Cup, losing semi-finalists, Andy Coles, St Thomas B and Jim Seviour, West C; runner-up, Paul Godbeer, West A; winner, Ronnie Webb, Willeys B.

Pairs, losing semi-finalists, Martyn Bevan and Keith Carpenter, South, and Chris Tucker and Aidan Mann, Jubilee A; runners-up, Scott Foggin and Jamie Ripping, Labour B; winners, Don Burwood and Jason Blatchford, Jubilee A.