Matthews, McFall retain Simpson Pairs

The Ballymena, Harryville and District Darts League held the annual Simpson Pairs competitions on Friday night.
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Thank you to all who took part; and huge thanks to The Coach Bar, Ballymena for the use of their premises for a fantastic night of darts.

DIVISION ONE

A total of 23 pairs took part, playing on 4 boards. Board 1’s final saw Leonard McKeegan Jnr and Gabe Kerr defeat Davy Martin and Ashley Rainey.

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On Board 2, John Elder and Geoff Wylie defeated Alan Bamford and Geoff McIlveen in an all Drifters match. Board 3 witnessed Ryan Gault and Rodney McAleese beaten by Jarlath McGarry and Paddy Coyles. Board 4 saw Geoffrey Matthews and David McFall defeating Leonard McKeegan Snr and Pearse McGarry.

The semi-finals split the Drifters and Greenhills pairs up; Elder and Wylie defeated McKeegan and Kerr 3-0 to reach the final.

The other semi-final saw a repeat of last year’s final, with the exact same outcome. McGarry and Coyles led 2-0, before Geoffrey Matthews hit a 124 checkout to kick the Drifters team back into life and they went on to win 3-2.

An exciting an entertaining final went down to the final leg. At 1-1, needing 331 Geoffrey hit a 180, replied by John with a 180 from 301.

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The pressure and standard were both rising and David McFall coolly checked out 151 to win the leg in 12 darts.

At 2-2, the game was finely balanced until David McFall turned up the pressure with 180 to leave 60. A fantastic match, well done Geoffrey and David; retaining the title with a 3-2 victory.

DIVISION TWO

The Division Two event attracted 30 pairs.

Final of Board 1 saw Norman Kerr and Brian Hanna beat Graeme Leitch and Herbie Balmer. On Board 2, David McConaghie and Paul Rock defeated Frank McDowell and Alan Young.

Board 3 saw last years runners’ up John and Chris Greer defeat Rab Lynn and Roy Gilchrist. Board 4 saw Danny Balmer and Pete Stewart defeat Davy Logan and Derek Connor.

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In the semi-finals, McConaghie and Rock overcame Kerr and Hanna 2-0.

In an all Spinning Mill matchup, John and Chris Greer reached their second successive final with a 2-1 win over Balmer and Stewart.

The final went to the deciding leg, courtesy of a 102 checkout in leg 2 from McConaghie.

However, this didn’t have any affect on the Greers as John started the final leg with successive 100s to help win the final 2-1.