Horseshoe defend their league title

Dig-dong battle against The Post

Defending champions The Horseshoe retained their title at the Airdrie and District darts league’s nine-man team event.

They triumphed 5-3 over The Post in a see-saw final to what was the league’s last team event of 2018, featuring a dozen competing outfits.

Played over the course of a busy evening at Airdrie working mens’ club, the tournament’s quickfire format sees participating teams play nine individual legs, with the first to reach five moving on to the next round.

The Horseshoe reached the decider by beating Bank Club, Wilson Arms and The Eagle; while the Post’s path involved seeing off the challenges of The Clansman and The Swan, the latter proving to be a tough and close contest.

A 20-darter from hotshot William Borland put The Horseshoe into the lead, as he won the first leg of the final against Paul Cushen.

Post player Martin Moulds then levelled the match, however, continuing his recent good form by beating experienced opponent Graham Anderson, finishing well to win in 21 darts to do his teammates proud and level the match.

It saw Post build on that win to move into a 3-1 lead, thanks to district champion Dougie Pairman and then Gary Stone – now ranked 19th by the British Darts Organisation – each registering 16-dart wins.

The pressure was on for Horseshoe, who then had to win four of the remaining five legs to retain the trophy.

Derek Cunningham reduced the deficit with victory over Peter McKenzie, and Frank Quinn levelled the score at 3-3 with an 18-dart win as both teams continued to entertain with good play.

Horseshoe then ensured that the trophy would return to Coatdyke for a second year as Scott Bailey beat Post captain Kenny Campbell in 19 darts; and George Lindsay secured the win with a 21-darter.

League representative Gordon Hunter told the Advertiser: “There are some terrific players in both teams and it was the two best sides who reached the final.

“Horseshoe have some excellent players in the side; The Post have some smashing players and are an up- and- coming team who contributed to a fine match.

“The nine-man team format has been running for many years and it’s exciting as the quickfire format means everybody has a good chance of progressing.”

Airdrie and district’s darts players have now returned their attention to league action, with a full fixture list in store for this Monday. Monday’s fixtures: Barnyard v The Eagle Horseshoe v The Post Workmen’s B v Clansman Bank Club v Boarshead West End v Wilson Arms Workmen’s A v The Swan