South Ronaldsay v Firth

A strong South Ronaldsay team played host to Firth in the first of the ODA Parish Cup quarter finals in the Murray Arms. With the doubles tied at 1-1, South Ronaldsay took a slender 2-1 lead into the singles thanks to a 2-0 win from the experienced pairing of Derek Ward Snr and Michael Montgomery in the third doubles. Firth fought back with singles wins from Firth skipper Brian Moar and his brother Steven before South Ronaldsay won the final three singles of the first half courtesy of Keith Bain, Pete Mathieson and Aaron Edwardson to lead 6-3 at half time.

Into the second half and Firth won the first two doubles to reduce the deficit to 6-5 before Ward Snr and Montgomery won their second doubles match to put South Ronaldsay two clear at 7-5 with just the singles to go. Brian Moar, Steven Moar and Stewart Gray won their singles for Firth as did Pete Mathieson for South Ronaldsay to make the score 8-8 with two games to play. Last up for South Ronaldsay were Derek Ward Snr and Michael Montgomery and they both won two straight respectively over Gary Aim and Erland Pirie to put South Ronaldsay into the semi finals for the first time. The only score of note was a 180 from Brian Moar.

South Ronaldsay: Keith Bain, Derek Ward Jnr, Pete Mathieson, Aaron Edwardson, Derek Ward Snr, Michael Montgomery.
Firth: Brian Moar, Stewart Gray, Steven Moar, Chris Seator, Gary Aim, Erland Pirie.

Stronsay v Birsay

Birsay defied the gales on Saturday 26th November to make the trip out to Stronsay for the second Parish Cup quarter final and with the visitors appearing to be travel weary the home team took full advantage and raced into a 7-2 lead at half time. Stuart Kirkness and Ronnie Breck won the first doubles of the second half to give Birsay a faint glimmer of hope but it wasn’t to last.

By now Orkney Ferries had cancelled all their sailings and the Birsay team were facing a night on Stronsay, however, Loganair came to the rescue as they stopped off on their way in from North Ronaldsay to pick up the Birsay boys. Stronsay won all the remaining games and with the score at 13-3 and the Loganair waiting on the airstrip the Birsay team abandoned the oche and set off for home. Well done to the Birsay lads for fulfilling their fixture in such adverse weather conditions.

There was a 180 from Jim Holland and Birsay’s Jon Ross had a 103 checkout on his Birsay debut.

Stronsay: Ian Stevenson, Richard Groat, William Caithness, Damien Stout, Mike Holland, Jim Holland, Adrian Miller.
Birsay: Robbie Norquoy, Ronnie Breck, John Norquoy, Jon Ross, Gary Johnston, Stuart Kirkness.

Sanday v Holm

Once again the wind affected the quarter finals as Sanday’s Alan Gray got stranded on Sanday. Apart from Alan both teams were at full strength and a very close game was in prospect.

Kevin Skea and Michael Muir Snr got Sanday off to a great start with a 2-0 win over Freddie Tait and Leigh Shearer before father and son pairing Robbie and Sean Stanger drew the tie level at 1-1 with a 2-1 win over Sanday skipper Ivan Leslie and Gary Brown. Holm then took the lead when the experienced pairing of Bruce Moar and Billy Ward beat Sanday’s young pretenders Michael Muir Jnr and Michael Moodie 2-0. Holm captain Bruce Moar then extended Holm’s lead with a solid 2-1 win over Kevin Skea before Sanday came roaring back with wins for Ivan Leslie, Moodie and Muir Jnr over Ward, Shearer and Brian Stevenson to make the score 4-3 to Sanday. Robbie Stanger drew Holm level with a 2-0 win over Michael Muir Snr before Holm’s Freddie Tait held his nerve to win 2-0 against Gary Brown and give his side a 5-4 lead at half time.

Moar and Ward won the first doubles of the second half to stretch Holm’s lead before Leslie and Brown pulled one back for Sanday and then Muir Jnr and Moodie beat the Stangers to square the tie at 6-6. Robbie Stanger and Ivan Leslie won the first two singles matches over Skea and Stevenson respectively to keep the match level at 7-7. Next up for Holm was skipper Moar who just edged it 2-1 against Moodie thanks to a bull finish in the second leg and he was followed by Ward who beat Muir Jnr by the same 2-1 scoreline to make it 9-7 to Holm. Holm now only needed one to win and it was steady Freddie Tait who secured the match with an excellent 2-1 win over Muir Snr. Gary Brown won the last game for Sanday to make the final score 10-8 to Holm.

After the match a delighted Freddie said,”I was some chuffed to have done the job for Holm tonight!”

Bruce Moar had a 180 and a 120 checkout. Ivan Leslie had 102 and Robbie Stanger had 101 checkouts.
Sanday: Kevin Skea, Michael Muir Snr, Ivan Leslie, Gary Brown, Michael Muir Jnr, Michael Moodie.
Holm: Freddie Tait, Leigh Shearer, Robbie Stanger, Sean Stanger, Bruce Moar, Billy Ward, Brian Stevenson.

St.Ola v Shapinsay

Due to the weather the first ever postponed fixture in the ODA Parish Cup, St.Ola v Shapinsay, took place the following Sunday on the 4th December in the St.Ola Hotel. With the doubles score at 1-1 St.Ola pair George Grieve and Derek Manson beat Callum Miller and Graham Rendall 2-0 to give St.Ola a 2-1 lead. St.Ola captain Mark Louttit stretched their lead further with a 2-1 win over Graham Rendall before his Shapinsay counterpart Kevin Gray also won 2-1 over Wayne Monkman to make it 3-2. Craig Taylor beat Shapinsay’s Gordon Rendall 2-1 and Ian Eunson had a very good 2-0 win over the ageless St.Ola stalwart Jimmy Miller to maintain a one game advantage to St.Ola. In the final two singles before the break Billy Eunson and Callum Miller both secured 2-0 wins for Shapinsay over George Grieve and Derek Manson to put Shapinsay in at half time 5-4 in front.

Both teams changed personnel at half time and after the doubles the score was 6-6 with Grieve and Jamie Robertson winning the last doubles 2-1 over Billy Eunson and Gordon Rendall. The next four singles were shared with Manson and Grieve winning for St.Ola and Gray and Gordon Rendall, who avenged his first half loss to Taylor, winning for Shapinsay to keep the scoreline level at 8-8 with only two singles to go. St.Ola had the ever reliable Jimmy Miller and Jamie Robertson to come whilst Shapinsay had the experienced pairing of Callum Miller and Billy Eunson so the game was really in the balance. For Shapinsay it was not to be though as Jimmy and Jamie both won to give St.Ola a narrow 10-8 victory. Kevin Gray had the only score of note with a 180 in a 14 dart leg.

St.Ola: Wayne Monkman, Craig Taylor, Jimmy Miller, Mark Louttit, George Grieve, Derek Manson, Jamie Robertson.
Shapinsay: Gordon Rendall, Billy Eunson, Kevin Gray, Ian Eunson, Callum Miller, Graham Rendall, Colin Leslie, John Dunnett.