By David Nagel
The stage is set for an epic finals series in the South West Gippsland Dart League (SWGDL) after the home and away series came to an end in spectacular style on Tuesday night.
Across all teams, a remarkable 1,614 tons were thrown this season, along with 22 180s and five pegs of over 100.
With top-team Snipers sitting idle with the bye, the big match up in round 13 took place between Predators and Cheers – who battled it out for second place on the ladder.
And it is Predators who will take a huge boost into week one of the finals after an impressive 11-4 victory over Cheers.
The win was set up by a fantastic team performance, with Jordan Gray and Nathan Button once again leading the way.
Gray threw four tons, to finish third in the SWGDL with 52 for the season, while Button connected with his third 180 for the season on another magnificent night of action.
Cheers will now to turn its form around, having lost its last two games heading into finals.
Liam Edwards and Ant fought a good fight for Cheers, matching Gray with four tons each on the night.
Just Social has held on to fourth spot, and will take on Snipers in week one of finals, despite an 8-7 loss to Mud Rats.
Michael Tuck led the way for Mud Rats with a superb seven tons, while Terry King threw four of those for Just Social.
Mud Rats will be tough to beat in the Don Brown Memorial Shield, played between teams that finished from fifth to eighth on the ladder.
In other round 13 match ups, Dart Vaders defeated AAA Dartz 9-6, while Dart Devils did exactly the same thing in a final round win over 26ers.
Dart Attack finished off its season strongly with an 8-7 victory over Gembrook, while Generals ended the home and away rounds in tenth place after a 10-5 conquest of Bullseyes.
All finals will take place at the Nar Nar Goon Hotel over the next three Tuesday nights.
SWGDL SUMMARY – ROUND 13
• RESULTS
Dart Vaders 9 def AAA Dartz 6, Predators 11 def Cheers 4, Dart Devils 9 def 26ers 6, Mud Rats 8 def Just Social 7, Generals 10 def Bullseyes 5, Dart Attack 8 def Gembrook 7. Bye: Snipers.
• LADDER
Snipers 44, Predators 44, Cheers 40, Just Social 32, Mud Rats 32, Dart Devils 24, AAA Dartz 20, Dart Vaders 20, 26ers 16, Garfield Generals 16, Dart Attack 12, Gembrook 8, Bullseyes 4.
• MOST TONS
Dean Gibbs (Snipers) 78, Liam Edwards (Cheers) 64, Jordan Gray (Predators) 52, Chris Richardson (Snipers) 49, Michael M (AAA Dartz) 47.
• MOST 180s
Liam Edwards (Cheers) 4, Chris Richardson (Snipers) 3, Nathan B (Predators) 3, Michael Tuck (Mud Rats) 2, Shane Barnett (Cheers) 2, Bill Richardson (Snipers) 2, Terry Griffin (Dart Attack), Scott Dale (Mud Rats), Steve P (Predators), Jordan Gray (Predators), Terry King (Just Social), Ant (Cheers).
• TOP PEG OUTS
Bill Richardson (Snipers) 157, Ant (Cheers) 134, Ricki Beath (Just Social) 110, Fred Dewart (Dart Vaders) 101, Jordan Gray (Predators) 101.
• FIXTURE – FINALS WEEK 1
PREMIERSHIP CUP
Snipers (1) v Just Social (4)
Predators (2) v Cheers (3)
DON BROWN MEMORIAL SHIELD
Mud Rats (5) v Dart Vaders (8)
Dart Devils (6) v AAA Dartz (7)
