Division 1 pair Gary Blackwood and Gary Bryant of BRSA Wanderers tasted glory in the Bognor Friday Night Summer Darts League Divisional Pairs Knockouts.
As the season nears its end, the knockouts took place at the Newtown Social Club. And for the third year on the trot, there was an excellent turnout with 82 players taking part.
Division 1 saw 12 pairs on the oche. The first semi-final saw last years champions, Lee Franklin and Dave Owens (Friary ‘Z’) lose to last year’s Division 2 Pairs champions Blackwood and Bryant. The second semi-final saw Mark Walker and Nathan Warren (BRSA Wanderers) beat Tony Phillips and Andy Stubbs (Hunston Hares).
The Division 1 final saw the first leg taken by Blackwood and Bryant in 18 darts after three tons on the trot, despite a ton and three scores in the 80s from Walker and Warren. The second leg was closer with Walker and Warren in the lead, but with 128 left, Blackwood stepped up and hit two treble 18s, followed by double 10, taking the win, making Blackwood and Bryant Division 1 Pairs Champions.
Division 2 saw 15 pairs step up, and the only 180 of the night come from Andy Chant (Aldwick Legion), but Chant & Dave Bourne lost out to Ben Todd & Mick Isles (BRSA Ravens) in the first semi-final. The second semi-final saw Richard Pennells & Stuart Gray (QE2 Galleon) beat Karl & Dave Wingate (Friary ‘D’).
The Division 2 final saw one ton from each team, but Todd and Isles had first shot at a double. They missed the double, but had multiple tries as Pennells & Gray also struggled. Eventually with both teams needing double 1 it was Pennells who took the leg.
The second leg saw Pennells and Gray forge ahead whilst Todd and Isles had scoring trouble. Steady scoring from Gray with 60, 85, 60 and 64 gave Pennells a shot, and in two darts the leg was won, making Pennells and Gray Division 2 Pairs Champions.
Division 3 saw 14 pairs take to the oche. The first semi-final saw Simon Edwards and Michael Hoare (Richmond ‘B’) beat Simon McDougall and Linda Burley (Newtown ‘C’). The second semi-final saw Steve and Dan Middleton (Newtown ‘C’) beat Dave Coupland and Martin Grainger (Royal Oak).
The Division 3 final saw a ton from Dan Middleton and a 125 from Edwards, but both teams had double trouble. Eventually Steve Middleton hit double 12 to take the first leg. The second leg saw the better darts come from Edwards and Hoare.
With 152 left Hoare stepped up, hitting treble 19, and another treble 19, but the last dart was just inside the double 19. With the Middleton’s caught up and on their own double, it was now time for Edwards to hit double 8, which he did, taking the game to the last leg.
The last leg saw tons from Edwards and Steve Middleton, but Edwards and Hoare were scoring steadily. After going all the way and leaving double 1, Edwards only needed his first dart to take the win, making himself and Hoare Division 3 Pairs Champions.
