The first ODA Parish Cup semi final took place last Saturday afternoon when St.Ola played host to South Ronaldsay. Both teams were making their first appearance in a semi final and both captains, Mark Louttit for St.Ola and Derek Ward Jnr for South Ronaldsay, had their full strength teams.

St.Ola couldn’t have started better winning all three doubles and when Roy Foubister beat Aaron Edwardson in the first singles things were already starting to look bleak for South Ronaldsay. South Ronaldsay skipper Derek Ward Jnr stopped the rot though with a good 2-1 win over Ray Butcher and his old man Derek Snr followed his lead with an excellent 2-0 win over Wayne Monkman before Moose Montgomery beat Craig Taylor to continue the comeback to make the score 4-3 to St.Ola. St.Ola captain Mark Louttit beat Pete Mathieson to put his team back on the winning trail again before Keith Bain beat Jimmy Miller to make the half time score 5-4 in St.Ola’s favour.

St.Ola made a couple of changes at half time by introducing George Grieve at first doubles to partner Ray Butcher and included Derek Manson in the singles. George made an impact straight away by helping his partner win their doubles and they were followed in victory by Louttit and Miller to give St.Ola a 7-4 lead.

South Ronaldsay rallied again with Moose and Ward Snr winning the last doubles to reduce St.Ola’s lead to 7-5 but it wasn’t to last long. St.Ola got off to a flyer in the second series of singles and gave themselves an unassailable lead when Monkman and Manson both won their respective games 2-0 to make the score 9-5. Ward Snr and Keith Bain won the next two games for South Ronaldsay to reduce the deficit to 9-7 but that was as near as they would get. St.Ola darts legend Jimmy Miller secured the winning double as he has done so many times over the years to put St.Ola into the final for the first time with a winning score of 10-7. The only scores of note came from Roy Foubister and Derek Ward Jnr who had a 180 each.

A strong St.Ola team just kept their noses in front after a very close first half and their experience probably helped them to victory in the second half. Mark Louttit, St.Ola’s victorious captain thanked the St.Ola Hotel for hosting the match and said it was the best game his team have played with a brilliant atmosphere. St.Ola will now play the winners of Stronsay v Holm in the final.

South Ronaldsay, with a good mix of experience and youth, put up a good fight but losing five of the six doubles matches just left too much to claw back in the singles but they’ll gain from the experience and be back next year.

St.Ola: Mark Louttit, Craig Taylor, Ray Butcher, Jimmy Miller, Wayne Monkman, Roy Foubister, George Grieve, Derek Manson.
South Ronaldsay: Keith Bain, Derek Ward Jnr, Pete Mathieson, Aaron Edwardson, Derek Ward Snr, Michael Montgomery.

The other semi final between Stronsay and Holm will take place in the Stronsay Hotel on Friday 17th February. Due to the ferry refit schedule Holm are travelling out on the Friday, staying overnight, and returning home on the Saturday morning so home advantage may be crucial for Stronsay. With Holm looking to get to their third final in a row and Stronsay taking part in their first semi both teams are looking forward to a good match and a good night in the Stronsay Hotel with the winners going on to play St.Ola in the final in the Quoyburray Inn.