By Marcus Uhe
Snipers have shocked the field of the South West Gippsland Dart League with a stunning upset win over Just Social with ramifications that will reverberate throughout the local Darts scene.
With shades of Australia II in the 1983 America’s Cup, a monster eight-ton haul from Tim saw the Snipers topple the all-conquering Just Social 8-7 in their first loss of the Summer season with just one round remaining before finals.
Consistent player ‘4×4’ threw six tons and a 180 for the defending champions, but Wolf went ton-less, leaving too much for the numbers man to do on his own.
Should Just Social lose next week against Mud Rats and Snipers defeat Gembrook, or both win but Snipers make crucial percentage gains, Snipers could snatch the top seed in the finals beginning the following week.
At the other end of the table, Hoodies broke through for a maiden win of the campaign, downing Fore in a nail-biter 8-7.
The loss sees the Hoodies climb off the bottom of the table to be replaced by Fore, and give the Hoodies a good chance to avoid consecutive wooden spoons.
Elsewhere, the jockeying in the middle of the table continues for the lower rungs in the finals.
Losses by 26ers to Paky One, and Mud Rats to Rebels, saw Gembrook break clear of the logjam of sides on 16 points, thanks to its win over Bullseyes 11-4.
Gembrook is now in the box seat to secure fifth place and qualify for the postseason, a game clear of 26ers (sixth) Mud Rats (seventh) and Rebels (eighth), but with a tough contest against Snipers in the final round of the season next week, it may be forced to rely on its superior percentage.
Results R10: Snipers 8 v Just Social 7, Gembrook 11 v Bullseyes 4, Rebels 10 v Mud Rats 5, Paky One 10 v 26ers 5, Hoodies 8 v Fore 7.
Ladder: Just Social 32, Snipers 32, Warriors 28, Paky One 28, Gembrook 20, 26ers 16, Mud Rats 16, Rebels 16, Bullseyes 8, Hoodies 4, Fore 0.
Fixture: Gembrook (5) v Snipers (2), Rebels (8) v Hoodies (10), Just Social (1) v Mud Rats (7), Bullseyes (9) v Fore (11), Warriors (3) v 26ers (6). Paky One – Bye.
