On Tuesday 12th March we had the R.A.O.B. sponsored open pairs competition played on 4 boards and a good turnout of 18 pairs . In the first round we had a huge upset with the pairing of Geoff Howland and Andy Hudgeon going out to the pairing of Alan Kinrade and Simon Halls (who was over on holiday) and a sure title contender was gone. Other notable loses in the first round were the veterans Malla Callow, Wooka Kennish, Dave Madden and Charlie Cover . Also in the first round the title holders of house pairs Jamie Kelly and Tye Jones had a big scare against Gavin Dunnigan and Mark Curphey scraping through 2-1 but only after Dunnigan missed 38 to take them out.
The quarter finals were all close games with some great arrows thrown, no more so than in the game between Dave Faragher and Dan Callow who defeated Paul Arthur and Chris McConnell, with no fewer than 6 tons being hit in the first leg alone, 3 by Faragher but back came Arthur and McConnell with Arthur hitting 177 and 139 in successive throws for the pair to be on a double after 11 darts, but if you can’t hit your double you won’t win and so was the case and they went out 2-0. The first round stand-outs Kinrade and Halls were to then fall at the quarters stage to the very impressive pairing of Phil Teare and Jay Radcliffe. Their fellow teammates of Lon Chambers and Stevie Radcliffe were to fall short against the solid pair of Simon McCuish and Jason Smith. So there was only one slot left in the semi-final, and what a cracker of a game to fill it with, Kelly and Jones up against the Stanley's Richie Howland and Chris Higgins. This one going the way of Kelly and Jones.
The first semi-final saw Faragher/Callow take on Teare/Radcliffe . Unfortunately the Plough pairing ran out of steam and the Mitre boys were through to their first final. In the second semi it was the Plough against the Stanley and this wasn’t to disappoint either as it swapped and changed but the Plough boys Kelly and Jones went through to their second final in as many pairs comps.
With the final sitting nice and poised at 1-1 , Phil “the power“ Teare and Jay Radcliffe took control and ran out worthy winners 3-1 and a great celebration as the week before they had been emptied 2-0 in their leg game with what they described 'as double trouble'.
Thanks to everyone who turned up to make it another great night. Special thanks to Nana Quayle for the great food and it was lovely to see you out even if I didn’t get much of a chance for a chat.
Don’t forget the house individual and presentation night is this Friday 15th March in the Mitre function room, comp starts at approx 8pm.
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