Flying Horse a faller

Paisley and District Darts League players battled it out in the quarter-finals of the Hagg Trophy this week looking to bag a coveted spot in finals night.

The Flying Horse welcomed The New Saints and it was the visitors that got off to a flying start, rattling off the first two doubles games before Flying Horse won the last doubles match to stay in the tie.

In the singles games first out the blocks again were New Saints, with John Williamson winning his match 2-0. Mark Markle then got Flying Horse back on track with a 2-1 win to reduce the deficit to 3-2, before Alan Ferguson put The New Saints in the driving seat again at 4-2 with a fine 2-0 win.

John Peacock stepped up for the home side with a 2-1 win to take the score to 4-3, but the next game settled the match as Rab McTavish put New Saints into finals night with a 2-0 win.

Game two was at the Hagg Bar as defending champions Hagg Bar A took on neighbouring team Keystone B. After the doubles matches it looked like they had made the home advantage count as they led 3-0, with captain Evander Stevenson registering another 180 during the last doubles game.

Dean Fitch was first out the traps in the singles for the home team as he notched up a 2-1 win, hitting a 180 and a 15 dart leg in the match.

This gave Hagg Bar A a comfortable 4-0 lead, with Robert Stevenson putting his side through to the semi-finals with his own 2-1 victory.

The win means the first semi-final will be between The

New Saints and Hagg Bar A.

The third game of the night was at Court Bar as Pockets B took on pubmates Pockets A.

The A team came flying out the blocks in the tie to lead 3-0 after the doubles.

The first singles game saw Patrick McShane win 2-1 to put Pockets A just one game away from a finals night place. And the match was put beyond doubt by Brian Maley as he won 2-0 to give the A team a resounding 5-0 win.

The last match of the quarterfinals was at Gryffe Inn as Gryffe Inn A faced Midton Bowling Club. After the doubles the home team led 3-0 and looked to be on course to get through to the next stage.

But 2-1 wins from Josie Stevenson and Kenny May put Midton right back in the game at 3-2.

Gryffe would not be denied their shot at the Hagg Trophy, with wins from Bryan Hannah and Kevin Blaney securing a trip to the finals night as they ran out 5-2 winners.

They will face Pockets A in the second semi-final, with the winners of both semis facing each other the same night.

Finals night will be in the Hagg Bar on Monday, March 6.

Next week sees a return to league action for all teams.