Robbie Norquoy presents Kevin Gray with the Jim Scollie Masters Cup after he beat Andy Green in the final.
The Jim Scollie Masters, the third of seven ranking competitions in the KDDL calendar, took place in the Legion on Friday evening and attracted 48 participants, the largest so far this season.
The draw produced the usual mix of big name clashes and opportunities for some of the lower league boys to make their mark. Derek Ward senior rolled back the years and surged towards the quarter-finals where he showed every ounce of his well known tenacity to take Brian Moar to the deciding leg, but that was where Derek's quest ended for the evening.
Elsewhere in the draw, Kevin Gray and Robbie Stanger, two of the top players at present, were making their usual charge through the field until they locked horns in the semi-final. Robbie arguably played the better of the two, but Kevin was taking his chances when Robbie couldn't, and it was Kevin who made it to yet another final.
It was however a 'B' league player who was the standout performer of the night. Andy Green saw off two past Orkney singles champions in Paul Foubister and Stevie Linklater, before dispatching another two intercounty regulars in Leigh Shearer and Brian Moar, throwing nothing but sub 18 dart legs in those last two matches.
With Kevin not having shown his best form, and Andy annihilating all before him, many wondered if the lower leaguer could maintain that level under the pressure of the final and the live-stream? It would be unfair to say Andy didn't perform, a 68 average proving that he played some decent darts, but he didn't look as fluid as in previous rounds and Kevin was almost unplayabl. He won out by 5 legs to 1, hitting two 180s, a 15 darter and a 12 darter, and averaging mid to high 80's all game before settling on a 85.31 average.
Thus Kevin retained his titled and Bruce Moar pulled one more statistic out of the bag. Whilst Kevin hasn't reached every final in recent years, of the last 25 ranking points competition finals that he has contested, he has won them all! A truly remarkable record, especially considering the level the local game is currently at.
The Legion hosts the first B/C ranking points competition of the season, the Albyn Video Games Shield. Points from the three competitions are gained in the same manner as for the main ranking competitions, and are added on to any main ranking points gained, leading to a points table from which the top 12 'B' and 'C' players are selected to represent KDDL Orkney in the 'B' intercounty match held in Lerwick in April next spring.
There are no scheduled league matches for next week which gives teams with games outstanding a chance to catch up. Please note that rearranged games should be cleared with the venue, as some are only planning to open when matches are scheduled.
Results:
'A' League:
OGC 6, Untouchables 6
Ale Stars 4, Exiles 8
Wanderers 6, Sanday 6
Legion 11, Tankerness 1
'B' League:
Quoyburray 9, Rough 'n' Rowdy 3
Bilco Boys 3, Sands 9
Quoyburray 'B' v Bellevue
Muppets 5, Young Loons 7
'C' League:
EMYFC 5, Exporters 7
Shandy Bass 9, Vikings 3
Nomads 7, Bull Hitters 5
Outcasts 8, Sands '2' 4
Jim Scollie Masters Final: Kevin Gray 5, Andy Green 1
180s were scored by: Trevor Shearer, Michael Muir, Brian Moar, Ian Findlay, Gordy Rendall, Ian Linklater, Geordie Harcus, Ross McQuillan, Graham Reid, Derek Firth, Graham Firth, Erland Ritch, Leigh Shearer, Glen Foubister (two), Andy Green (two), Aidan Robertson (two), Brett Dickinson (two), Bruce Moar (two), Stevie Linklater (three), Kevin Gray (four) and Robbie Stanger (six). Scores of 177 were also registered by Alan Gray and Kevin Gray.
High Checkouts: Billy Ward 100, Trevor Shearer 100, Stewart Gray 100, Ross MacPherson 101, Michael Muir 103, Richie Ballantyne 109, Ian Linklater 111, Martin Peace 117, Wayne Monkman 120, Leigh Shearer 120, Robbie Stanger 120, Brian Moar 136, Logan Peace 142, Sean Chalmers 102, 123 and Kevin Peace 112, 118.
Short Legs: Leigh Shearer/Ian Findlay 15, Kevin Peace 15, Jamie Marwick 15, Leigh Shearer 15, Trevor Shearer 15, Brian Moar/James Flett 14, Brett Dickinson 14, Stevie Garner 14, Stevie Linklater 14, Paul Foubister 13, Robbie Stanger 15, 15, 15 and Kevin Gray 15, 15, 15, 14, 13, 12.
Fixtures:
Friday November 21, Albyn Video Games Shield (B/C Ranking), Legion, 7.30pm