First to win title twice

Paul Gallacher, of the Castle and Falcon Archers, reigned supreme at the Premier Singles’ Play-Offs in the Newark and District Double Board Darts League.

Gallacher, the champion in 2004 and runner-up last season, became the first player to win the title twice as the play-offs brought the curtain down on the sixth Premiership season.

Players who finished in the top eight qualified for the event, at the Castle and Falcon, with the seedings decided by the final league placings.

In the opening match Tom Cutts, seeded six, took on Steve Radforth, who, despite finishing just outside the qualification places, filled in as a last-minute replacement for Shane Gallacher.

Both players scored well but it was Cutts’ finishing that was the difference, as he checked out on 66, 70 and 60 to win 3-0.

Next up was defending champion Mick Pitchford, seeded two, against seventh seed and 2005 champion Phil Moore.

Pitchford started in terrific form and took the opening two legs with 48 checkouts, but his form dipped in the third giving Moore chances to cut the deficit.

Moore, though, was unable to find the double and Pitchford fired in a 80 finish to win 3-0.

The third quarter-final was between Phil Binns, seeded four, and the fifth seed and runner-up in 2003, Simon Cobb.

Cobb — the only player to have qualified for the quarter-finals every year since the Premiership began — was in determined mood to get to the semi-finals for the first time in five years and won 3-0 in another high-scoring duel.

The final quarter-final brought together the top seed, Gallacher, and the eighth seed Mick McMackin, competing in his first Premiership season.

Gallacher comfortably took the opening leg.

McMackin was given a glimmer of hope in the second after Gallacher missed chances but he was unable to take the opportunity and Gallacher eased to a 3-0 win.

The high standard of play was continued, if not bettered, in the semi-finals.

The opener saw Pitchford comfortably take the first leg before Cutts once again found his lethal finishing touch with checkouts of 60, 96 and 76 to give him a 3-1 lead.

In the fifth leg Cutts just missed a 91 checkout, which would have sealed the match, but it was Pitchford who sunk a 52 finish to cut the deficit to 3-2.

In the final leg both players had chances but it was Cutts who held his nerve to win 4-2.

The second semi-final saw Gallacher take the opener before Cobb responded by taking the next.

The next two legs went to Gallacher, despite Cobb having chances. Crucially he failed to take the opportunity.

Gallacher wrapped up the tie 4-1 with a clinical 76 finish to end another quality match.

In the final Gallacher won the opening leg before Cutts again found his superb finishing form with a 95 checkout to level at 1-1.

The next two legs were close but it was Gallacher who secured them to lead 3-1.

The terrific darts continued in the next but this time it was Gallacher who found the high finish when he moved to within one of victory with a checkout of 68.

In the sixth and final leg Gallacher finished on double 16 to win 5-1 and take the title.