A great week of cup games gave the players a rest from league business.
Three cups were played, all the best of three legs, 301 double start, just like the league used to be up until 1977.
The Knight Cup was first up for ‘A’ teams, and a good turnout of nine of the 11 teams took part.
Only the two teams already religated were absent — the Quoyburray and Meadowbank.
With the double start format, there is always the surprise results, but this time there were none, and reaching the final were the Legion and Commodores, with the Commodores coming out on top 4-2.
The following night, it was the turn of the ‘B’ boys, but a very poor entry of only six of the 12 teams bothered to compete.
The first big exit was Shapinsay, going down 4-1 to the Shore ‘2’, who were playing very good darts that took them to the final. Waiting there was the Legion Arrows, who had also played steady darts to get there.
But they had no answer to the Shore’s starting and finishing power, like captain Allan Brown’s 130 in the last game. A single 20, followed by treble 20 and then the bullseye, to make it 4-0 to Shore ‘2’.
Two down and one to go in a very busy week, and it was the Tom Notman Memorial Singles Cup and an excellent turn out of 35 came forward —more than double last year’s entry. But only two of the past players entered. They were Mally Johnston and Peter Johnston, but both fell at the first hurdle.
There were also lots of other surprise results but, by final time, it was two of the top ranking players bulling up and, in a very good final, Bruce Moar beat Robbie Stanger 2-1.
In a 301 double start game, not many 180s are scored, but there were five on this occasion, from Billy Ward, Steven Groat, Michael Muir Snr, and two from Robbie Stanger, who, along with Freddy Tait, had a seven-darter in their doubles game.
High-checkouts: 105 Robert Gatt; 112 Des Gillespie; 112 and 113 Robbie Stanger; 114 Michael Moodie; 115 Ollie Bethwaite; 119 Kevin Gray and Derek Ward Snrl 130 Allan Brown; 136 Aaron Mitchell; and 138 Callum Miller.
The next big event is the East v West, due to be played in the Stromness Golf Club on Friday, March 29. A bus will leave the Kirkwall Legion at 7pm, returning after the match.
Tankerness finally ended Sands chances of winning the William’s ‘B’ League, by beating them 7-5.
That result also means that Shapinsay will be promoted up to the Williamson’s ‘A’ League, either as champions or runners-up, as this year two teams will be promoted and, of course, two relegated, and that has already been settled.
If anyone knows the whareabouts of the ‘B’ League Wooden Spoon, please let the secretary know, or of they have it, return it to the secretary, Jim Scollie.
That is all for the leagues’ domestic cups for the season, but there is still three charity cups to play for, as well as the match versus Shetland.

Results
Williamson’s ‘B’ League
Sands 5, Tankerness 7.

Knight Cup (A) Final
Commoders beat Legion 4-2.

Seatter Cup (B) Final
Shore ‘2’ beat Legion Arrows 4-0.

Tom Notman Singles Cup Final
Bruce Moar beat Robbie Stanger 2-1.

Fixtures for Friday, March 29
East v West, Stromness Golf Club, 8pm.
(Bus leaves Kirkwall Legion 7pm)

Williamson’s ‘A’ League
Quoyburray v Untouchables ‘A’; Legion v Untouchables; Wanderers v Meadowbank; OGC v Sanday; Commodores v Quoyburray ‘B’; no game — RBLM.

Williamson’s ‘B’ League
Likely Lads v Bilco Boys; Sands ‘2’ v Tankerness; Murray Arms v Shapinsay; Sands v Legion Arrows; Deerness v Nomads; Shore v Shore ‘2’.