THE Pirates Summer League has been a great success and culminated in a terrific night of passion and some great darts games to boot with everyone involved enjoying the finale to the first campaign.

First game of the night saw Alan Oliver and Neil Thomas take on Anthony Adams and John Nowland in the best of 7 leg semifinal of the Pairs.

Alan won the first and his partner won the second, to give them the early advantage, but back came John and Anthony, with John’s timely 100 finish to square the game 2-2, after the round of singles.

The Pairs then went to the decider, and Alan, with a first time strike took it to earn their place in the final 4-3.

Alan hit 2x100, 121, 125, Neil 125, 121, and 140, whilst Anthony hit his usual 2x100, 125, 137, and 140, with John also scoring 2x100 to go with the ton checkout.

The Mutineers then took centre stage, with both games being played at the same time, involving Paul Cox versus Paul Green, and timeless Russ Edwards taking on pre-tournament favourite Neil Thomas. The two Pauls couldn’t be split and it took a last leg decider to separate them.

Both hit tons along the way, and PG with another ton finish looked to have the edge.

However, back came PC, and with a flourish took the last to book his place in the final.

Neil went 1 down but rallied to lead 2-1 over Russ, but the experience kicked in, and with a flurry of doubling out and a maximum along the way, his first of the season, Russ took the 3 legs on the spin to win 4-2.

The Pairs finalists were then drawn, seeing Mark Stevens partner Alan Oliver, and Lee Lewis partner defending Pairs champ Neil Thomas.

Another cagey, close, nip and tuck game saw both pairs endeavour to beat each other up.

At 3-3 something had to give.

Lee and Neil started the last leg brightly, but, back came Alan and Mark to pip them to take the title 4-3. This was the second leg of Mark’s ambitions of a clean sweep, triple crown, as he was also in the Elite final against Anthony, later on.

Before that the was the matter of the Mutineers final, with close teammates Russ and Paul Cox going for the spoils.

Another epic encounter saw Paul seemingly take the advantage on more than one occasion, as he led 2-1 and 3-2, in the best of 7 final, only to see Russ give a masterclass, in match play, taking the final 2 legs, to win 4-3. Paul 2x140, 120 and a ton, Russ 3x100, 140. Great game mateys.

The Elite final, the main final for the overall champion, saw a terrific display of scoring and finishing. Mark Stevens took the first leg on the bull, and then scored 3x100, 135, 121, 2x140 with 18 and 16 dart legs included to establish a 4-0 lead in the best of 9 final.

Anthony played his part hitting 2x100, 121, 2x125, 2x140, but he couldn’t find his usual checkout standard in these legs.

He pulled a leg back, in the fifth, with scores of 135 and 117, in a 16 darter, but it was too little too late, as, with the darts, Mark wrapped up the title on double x4, 5-1.

This meant Mark completed a very successful season winning all 3 titles on offer, after just scrapping into the four-man shootout after a difficult league campaign. Well done.

The Ladies champion is Kate Pridham after she beat a very out of sorts Tracy Goddard in the semi-final and took no time at all in beating an extremely ill Tracy Williams in the final, week done for making up the numbers and get well quickly please. Awesome Kate.

Highest out was established in week 3, with James Johnstone setting the bar at 150.

Some close calls over the remaining weeks but it stayed at the pinnacle.

Anthony Adams hit 15 180s, to take the maximum crown.

Reminder to all, registration is now open for the Winter Singles League.

Contact Sparkle or another ‘Pirate’ ASAP if you are taking part.

Everybody welcome.