PONTYPRIDD DARTS PRESENTATION NIGHT
2016 SUMMER SEASON PRESENTATION EVENING
THE Pontypridd and District Darts League last Friday held the Presentation Evening, to celebrate the successes of the 2016 Summer Season.
A packed Broadway Social Club in Treforest also witnessed a thrilling conclusion to the season, when Division One Champions Merlin Hotel C played Division Two champions Royal Oak in the final of the Champion of Champions.
First up was the fourplayer team game, which saw a nervous start from both sides.
Ken Potter of the Merlin hit a ton, in answer to David Palmer’s 99 for the Royal Oak, with David also hitting the winning double with his second attempt at double 5, to put the Royal Oak one up.
This was followed by the first of the two Pairs games, in which Mike McCarthy kept the Royal Oak in contention hitting 140 and 100, but steady scoring from the Merlin’s Terry Dimond and Martin Ashton, including a ton from Martin, kept them just in front, with Martin cleaning out 32 with his first dart to level the match at one each.
The Royal Oak was quickest out the blocks in the second pairs game with some solid scoring, David was joined by Julian Llewellyn who hit a ton, but the Merlin pair replied well with Ken scoring three tons and partner Alan Keetch hitting 140.
But the Oak pair took the game when David hit tops with his third dart, giving his side a slender 2-1 lead going into the decisive singles.
The players were drawn randomly to decide the or- der of play for the best-ofthree legs singles games, with the first match drawing Merlin player Graham Keetch against David from the Oak.
Both players scored a ton in the first leg, before David hit 139 to set up an out shot of 42, which he took out with his second dart on double 16.
The second leg saw steady scoring throughout, but David took the game hitting a magnificent three dart 111 out shot on tops, putting the Oak in control now leading 3-1.
The next singles paired Martin against Julian. Martin’s sole ton in the first leg was not enough to stop Julian, who hit two tons and 135 on his way to take the leg on 36 in 17 darts.
Martin was up against it in the second leg, with nothing less than victory keeping his side alive in the match.
Julian kicked off with 121 but Martin showed his metal replying with a 140 and 100, taking the leg on tops to level the game.
The deciding leg of this singles game started nervously before Julian banged in a 140 to give him some breathing space, allowing him to set up tops which he hit to take the game and the match for his side, the Royal Oak claiming the crown Champion of Champions with a 4-1 victory.
The presentation of trophies to celebrate the achievements of the season followed the completion of the final.
This started with the introduction of the newlyappointed fixtures secretary Andrew Bennett, followed by a presentation to Andrew’s predecessor Peter Woodruff, to thank him for his contribution over the previous eight years.
Division Five champions were Llantwit Sports Club B, finishing 19 points clear of the Carpenters Arms who claimed the runner-up spot. Mark Lloyd of the Victoria Inn hit the division’s highest out with 138.
Treforest Football Club took the Division Four title, with the Trallwn Club claiming runners-up spot by a single point, following a final night victory over closet challengers Kiss Shot Bar. The Hollybush player Huw Padgett claimed the highest out with his 148 out shot.
Division Three was dominated by both Glyncoch RFC teams, with their C side claiming the crown over their B side. Gareth Partridge completed the clean sweep of divisional trophies with the Glyncoch RFC B player also claiming the highest out with his 141.
Runners-up to the Royal Oak in Division Two were the Ty Mawr Inn B side, whose player Keirion Carter claimed the highest out across all five divisions, taking out 167 during a season where he also amassed 13 maximums.
Division One runners- up were Rhydyfelin RFC B, who took the Merlin side to a play-off to decide the title, after both sides finished the season tied on 75 points, themselves just two clear of the Ty Mawr Inn A side in third. Daniel Salmon claimed the division’s highest out, with the Ynysybwl RFC A player hitting 160 in the season.