Once again there were some very close and competitive games in January. Unfortunately due to illness and injury there were several uncontested fixtures last month, which can’t be helped, but apart from that the remaining matches from the 70 scheduled fixtures were played out successfully.

League 1 had a repetitive look about it with Stevie Linklater winning all his matches comfortably to finish with maximum points with Robbie Stanger and Bruce Moar trailing behind him on seven and six points respectively. Iain Wilkie and Davy Cooper make the drop down to League 2 next month.

Brian Moar won promotion for the second month in a row with maximum points to move back up to League 1 for the first time since October. Brian was made to work hard for his win against Derek Farmer though. With the score locked at 6-6 the shaft broke on one of Derek’s darts and despite his best efforts to remove the broken shaft he ended up having to change his darts. Brian took advantage of Derek’s misfortune and eventually beat him 9-8. Hard luck for Derek but he can take consolation in the fact that he scored the Singles League’s first ever 11 darter. Lee MacPherson and Ali Flett both won two matches and lost two so it went down to leg difference to see who joined Brian in League 1 and it was Lee who won the second promotion spot by the margin of one leg. At the bottom Derek, despite his heroics against Brian, drops to League 3 again. He is joined by James Flett who has the consolation of getting the League’s highest checkout this season with a 157 in his 9-7 win over Ali Flett.

League 3 was very close with Martin Peace, Leigh Shearer and Ray Butcher all ending the month with three wins and one defeat so once again it came down to leg difference with Martin and Leigh just securing the top two spots. Ray retains his place in League 3 and it is Neil Tait and Cammy Scott that are relegated to League 4. It’s worth a mention that after being on the receiving end of three ton-plus checkouts in one match last month, it was Leigh Shearer’s turn to inflict the damage this month. He had 120, 103 & 100 checkouts in his 9-2 victory against Cammy Scott.

Young bucks Robert Gatt and Aaron Moar won the two promotion places in League 4 with Robert winning the head to head 9-5. Craig Moar consolidated his position with two wins and two defeats and remains in League 4. Dropping down to League 5 is Sean Chalmers. Unfortunately due to an injury Jean MacEwan had to withdraw from League 4 this month for the remainder of the season. Hope you make a speedy recovery Jean and look forward to seeing you back in the League next season.

In League 5 Neil Twatt left it to the very end of the month to win his last three games to top the league and return to League 4 with four wins and one loss. Joining Neil is Linda Harcus who, thanks to a very good 9-3 win over Neil, just edged out Colin Findlay and Noreen Bain on leg difference. Linda wins promotion into League 4 for the first time so good luck in February Linda! Colin and Noreen’s three wins apiece is good enough to keep them in League 5 and it is Darren Tait and Paul Davis that slips into the bottom league.

The form players in League 6 this month were Craig Rendall and Linda Ratter. Craig won all his matches, including a very close 9-8 win over Linda, to finish top of the league. Linda won her remaining four games to finish runner-up to Craig and win promotion for the very first time. Well done Linda and good luck next month!

There were 15 x 180’s scored by; Ali Flett 2, Martin Peace 2, Stevie Linklater, Robbie Stanger, Bruce Moar, Leigh Shearer, Davy Cooper, Iain Wilkie, Robert Gatt, Aaron Moar, Colin Findlay, Ray Butcher and Brian Moar. Also worthy of a mention is Linda Harcus who had 2 x 171’s (three treble nineteens).

There was also 23 ton plus checkouts from Iain Wilkie 135, 125, 120, 114 & 111, Leigh Shearer 120, 103 & 100, James Flett 157 & 110, Ali Flett 146 & 110, Ray Butcher 117 & 100, Robbie Stanger 113 & 101, Brian Moar 105 & 102, Martin Peace 118, Robert Gatt 118, Bruce Moar 114, Derek Farmer 112 and Stevie Linklater 100.