By David Nagel
It’s the battle we’ve all been waiting for since the start of the season with Snipers and Cheers set for a blockbuster round-12 match up to decide who finishes top of the ladder in the South West Gippsland Dart League.
Snipers and Cheers are currently level on 40 points each, but Cheers have a game in hand with Snipers having a bye in round 13…the final round of the season.
That denies Snipers the chance to accumulate any points on the final night of competition, meaning they must defeat Cheers this week to keep their minor premiership chances alive.
If Cheers gets the choccies, they guarantee top place and put the top-two chances of Snipers in jeopardy.
A strong finish from third-placed Predators could seen Snipers relegated to third after sitting top of the ladder for a large portion of the season.
A top-two position is critical; earning a double chance when finals come around in two weeks’ time.
It’s a great way to finish a season that got even more exciting in round 11 last week…with some wonderful darts being thrown.
Liam Edwards from Cheers became the first player to throw four 180s this season in a dominant 13-2 victory over Dart Devils.
Edwards was magnificent, throwing six tons on the night to make it 55 in 10 rounds.
Shane Barnett also threw three toms for Cheers, while Doug Amos provided a rare highlight for the Devils with a classy 68 peg out, while also hunting down four triple-figure scores.
Jordan Gray experienced the thrill of his first 180 for the season as third-placed Predators continued their winning run with a 10-5 victory over Bullseyes.
The Predators are a real threat to the top two, having now won nine games on the trot.
Gray certainly had his eye in on the night, throwing down six tons, while Chris Burke was the star for Bullseyes; hitting an 85 peg out!
Just Social kept its top-four hopes alive with a rock-solid 11-4 win over Generals.
Socials lost their form a while back, but have now bounced back with two impressive wins to draw level with fourth-placed Mud Rats on 28 points.
Socials and Mud Rats should win their round 12 games this week – against Dart Attack and AAA Dartz respectively – setting up a final-round shootout to decide who finishes fourth.
Some wonderful action took place at the bottom of the SWGDL ladder as well, with Dart Attack and Gembrook both scoring their second wins of the season.
Dart Attack made it back-to-back wins with an 8-7 win over AAA Dartz, while Gembrook broke a three-game losing streak to climb off the bottom of the ladder.
Nugget had a great night for Gembrook, who now sit one game clear of Bullseyes.
And Snipers warmed up for this week’s huge clash with Cheers with an impressive 12-3 win over Dart Vaders.
Dean Gibbs and Chris Richardson continued their stellar form for Snipers, throwing five tons each, to tune up in fine style.
Fourth-placed Mud Rats had the bye.
SWGDL SUMMARY – ROUND 11
RESULTS
Gembrook 9 def 26ers 6, Cheers 13 def Dart Devils 2, Snipers 12 def Dart Vaders 3, Predators 10 def Bullseyes 5, Dart Attack 8 def AAA Dartz 7, Just Social 11 def Generals 4. Bye: Mud Rats.
LADDER
Snipers 40, Cheers 40, Predators 36, Mud Rats 28, Just Social 28, Dart Devils 20, AAA Dartz 16, Dart Vaders 16, 26ers 12, Garfield Generals 8, Dart Attack 8, Gembrook 8, Bullseyes 4.
FIXTURE – R12
Cheers (2) v Snipers (1), Dart Devils (6) v Predators (3), Mud Rats (4) v AAA Dartz (7), 26ers (9) v Bullseyes (13), Just Social (5) v Dart Attack (11), Generals (10) v Gembrook (12). Bye: Dart Vaders (8).
MOST TONS
Dean Gibbs (Snipers) 71, Liam Edwards (Cheers) 55, Chris Richardson (Snipers) 47, Jordan Gray (Predators) 43, Michael M (AAA Dartz) 38.
MOST 180s
Liam Edwards (Cheers) 4, Chris Richardson (Snipers) 3, Michael Tuck (Mud Rats) 2, Shane Barnett (Cheers) 2, Nathan B (Predators) 2, Bill Richardson (Snipers), Terry Griffin (Dart Attack), Scott Dale (Mud Rats), Steve P (Predators), Jordan Gray (Predators), Terry King.
TOP PEG OUTS
Bill Richardson (Snipers) 157, Ant (Cheers) 134, Ricki Beath (Just Social) 110, Fred Dewart (Dart Vaders) 101, Jordan Gray (Predators) 101.
