The first month of this season’s singles league is now complete with all but four of the fifty two scheduled games being played. All the Leagues were very close with most only being decided right at the end of the month.

In League 1 Stevie Linklater and Robbie Stanger were tied on points at the top with three wins apiece but Stevie just claimed the top spot by one leg. In the battle of the Moars, Brian just edged out Bruce 9-8 to finish in third place and retain his place in the top league. Bruce and Iain Wilkie finished in the bottom two places with Bruce taking fourth on leg difference thanks to a 9-2 win in their respective match.

League 2 was the closest of all leagues this month. Michael Moodie returns to League 1 next month thanks to his three wins with his only defeat coming by way of a 9-8 reverse to Lee MacPherson. Michael Bain took second place and goes into League 1 for the first time albeit by the narrowest of margins over Derek Farmer and Lee Macpherson. With all three tied on two wins each and Michael and Derek level on leg difference Michael just squeezed Derek out by virtue of having scored one leg more over the month. Lee slips down to League 3 and is joined by Robert Gatt who claimed his solitary win in October by beating Michael Bain 9-8.

In League 3 Michael Muir Jnr got off to a flying start with 9-1 and 9-2 wins over Neil Tait and Craig Moar respectively and he was able to maintain that form to the end of the month, winning all his games to move up to League 2. Michael’s last day win over Ross Donaldson meant Leigh Shearer returns to League 2 for the first time since October last year with two wins and two defeats. Ross takes third place after just losing out to Leigh on leg difference. Craig and Neil, with a win apiece, both slip down a league next month with Neil finishing bottom despite beating Craig 9-5.

League 4 saw the experienced Neil Drever return to the Singles League for the first time in over two years and he was joined by the virgin quartet of Allan Brown, Henry Bateman, Michael Muir Snr and Ryan Tulloch. Unfortunately Neil didn’t fulfil three of his fixtures and he lost 9-4 to Michael Muir Snr so he’s relegated to League 5 after his first month back. Michael comfortably won all his other games too to ease himself up to League 3. Ryan beat Allan and Henry to take the second promotion place with Henry taking out Allan 9-7 to maintain his place in League 4. Allan joins Neil in the drop.

League newcomer Stuart Paterson won all his games in League 5 to move up although he was pushed hard to get his 9-8 win by Linda Ratter. For Linda that was as good as it got as she lost all her games to drop to League 6. Linda Harcus beat joins Stuart in League 4 after beating Linda Ratter 9-8 and Colin Findlay 9-4. Colin joins Linda Ratter in League 6.

Sean Chalmers rejoined the Singles League after an year out and wasted no time in moving up the leagues with three straight wins. Newbie Andrew Watson just pipped Hippy, another newcomer, to the second promotion place with Paul Davis propping up the rest of the League in bottom place.

There were 19 x 180’s, the lowest since January 2010, scored by; Stevie Linklater 4, Robbie Stanger 3, Iain Wilkie 2, Derek Farmer 2, Michael Moodie 2, Brian Moar, Leigh Shearer, Michael Muir Jnr, Michael Muir Snr, Bruce Moar and Lee MacPherson. There were also 21 ton plus checkouts from Stevie Linklater 136, 114, 110, 106, 100, Brian Moar 123, 110, 107, Robbie Stanger 120, 120, 107, Michael Bain 130, 111, Bruce Moar 111, 102, Neil Drever 124, Leigh Shearer 120, Iain Wilkie 119, Michael Moodie 110, Neil Tait 107 and Michael Muir Snr 101.

The November Leagues have been drawn up and are posted on the Legion notice boards. Check out the website for regular updates on the fixtures and stats.
http://www.spanglefish.com/orkneydartsassociation/
All players are reminded to contact (preferably by text or email) the League Organiser with the scores of their games as soon as possible.