Division Four side Crown Rejects upset the odds to be crowned the ‘Champions of champions’
GENEROUS Briton Division Four side Crown Rejects beat the Blue Ball Division One Champions Spot On MP in a classic Shardlow Brewery ‘Champion of Champions’ Knockout Cup final in the show piece event of the winter 2017 season of the Loughborough & District Pubs and Clubs Darts League.
Held at the Top Railway Shepshed, the event gave the winners from all six divisions the opportunity to participate in the knockout competition, and all six teams took up the challenge.
The Crown Rejects beat Navigation Division Five winners Bottom Railway Leftovers 5-2, and Spot On MP beat Wanty’s Division Two and last season’s winners Three Crowns Ghostbusters 5-3 on the way to the final.
The final turned out to be a thrilling epic with the lead changing three times during the match. Spot One MP won the opening game, but the Crown bounced back with a 15 dart leg from Mark Martin, the Crown then won the third game to go 2-1 up before Steve Hopkins hit his fourteenth maximum of the season in an eighteen dart singles leg to draw level. The Spot On then won the first pairs game to retake the lead before Crown Captain Neil McHugh hit a maximum for his side as they won back to back legs. Spot On levelled the game at four apiece, but there was no denying the Crown their night of celebration as they matched the Spot On score for score in the decider and hit the double first to take the title. They become only the third side outside the top flight to win the knockout competition and the lowest ranked side ever to lift the trophy.
Steve Hopkins maximum during the final means that he shares the trophy for the most maximums in the season for Blue Ball Division One with Bottom Railway BA’s Andy Hibbert. With fourteen maximums each they set a new record surpassing last season’s high of eleven maximums. It is the third time Steve’s name has appeared on the trophy, and the third season in a row that Andy’s name has been engraved upon it.
The trophy for the most maximums scored in the season in the other five divisions was won by Peacock Rocker’s Sam Worthington with six.
The Presentation Night for the Winter 2017 Season including the 180 ‘9-dart’ throw off competition will take place on Friday 20th April at Fennel Street Club.
There are 91 Qualifiers for the 180 ‘9-Dart’ Throw off and anyone wishing to participate should register on the night starting prior to its start at 8.30 prompt. They are:- Darren Abel, Ben Ashurst, Stu Ashurst, Luke Askew, John Barker, Graham Barker, Rebecca Barrow, Daz Beasly, Julie Booth, Steve Bostock, Frank Bray, Stu Brookes, Pete Brookes, Harry Brown, Kev Bryan, Ben Bryans, Steve Burton, Graham Chattaway, Sam Chouhan, Daniel Clements, Andy Clough, Harold Cooper, Steve Cox, Dave Cox, Chris Dakin, Eric Davis, Sean Disney, Mickey Drew, Paul Edwards, Duane Etchells, Derek Fisher, Steve Folkes, Paul Fox, Duane Freer, James Gillman, Sarah Grant, Rich Greasley, Ant Greasley, Mitch Gregory, Derek Guess, Vicci Hallam, Anthony Harding, Steve Hardy, Tim Hardy, Lyndon Hextall, Andy Hibbert, Steve Hopkins, James Hoult, Paul Hutchins, Leon Jarram, Dan Jones, Gary Joynson, Martin Kirkby, Steve Lavelle, Arnie Marsden, Dave McGunniss, Neil McHugh, Chris Northage, Jay O’Brien, Pete Onions, Dave Ottewell, Rich Page, Pete Parks, Chris Peat, Ryan Page, Mike Pepper, Lee Pervin, Doug Porter, Michael Sciepanow, Vern Seaton, Jake Selby, Rich Selby, Ted Sentence, Mick Sloan, Dave Sloan, Mark Smith, Gaz Smith, Jim Smith, Tony Spencer, Stu Taylor, Ryan Thacker, Kev Thomas, Jim Toms, Malc Wagg, Daz Wagg, Mark Wagg, Kelly Walsh, Chris Wilson, Jay Wood, Richard Woolley, Sam Worthington