Spectators were treated to a high-standard final which featured some quality darts and high finishes, including a magnificent top-of-the-shop 170 finish for Ray Dore of the Ammies, and a classy 152 from Connor Wigley of the Victoria.
The match got underway with Matt Jepson (71.97 with 10 ton plus scores) giving The Victoria the lead with a close 3-2 win over Karl Cooper (73.70 with 9 ton plus scores). The first four legs were shared with Matt hitting legs of 24 and 19 darts, and Karl responding with 17 and 19 dart legs. The deciding leg went the way of Jeppo Jr, with a neat 20-dart finish to put the Vic’ in the lead.
In game two, it was the turn of the senior Jepson and Cooper representatives to face off, with the Ammies Don Cooper (20,23,23) showing his lad how it’s done with a 3-2 victory against the evergreen Terry Jepson who will feel unlucky after hitting legs of 19 and 16 darts to force the deciding leg.
Game three on paper was set to be a barnstormer, with Adam Watson facing Tony Fogarty, Adam unbeaten all season, and Tony with only two losses – both against the Ammies. Adam had other ideas however continuing his fine form with an easy 3-0 victory with legs of 16, 20, and 18 darts, a maximum 180, and a 130 kill to top it off, finishing the game with a highly respectable 83.5 average.
In the battle of the team captains, Victoria’s Connor Wigley made a fine start to game four, winning the first leg against Pete Watson in 21 darts with a fine 152 finish. Pete’s class shone through from then on, taking the next three legs without reply in 21,24,20 darts with 8 tons for a 69.56 average against Connor’s 62.61 with two tons.
With the score at 3-1 to the Ammies, game 5 was do-or-die time for the Vic, with Joe O’Shea up against Ray Dore. Both players hit four ton plus scores each, however, it was Ray who pulled ahead and took a 3-1 win, helped along with a wonderful 170 checkout, ensuring the KO Cup stays with the Ammies for another year.
With the cup already won, the remaining Ammies players may have had reason to take the foot off the gas a little, but desperate to keep the score respectable, The Vic pulled one back in game six, as Dave Stanley overcame Paul Devine by 3 legs to 2 hitting a 180 along the way.
The final game between Sean Edwards and Scott Livingstone added some further respite for the Vic with Sean easing to a 3-1 win (25,24,21) over his South Manchester Superleague teammate.