Evening Mail Darts: Line-up settled for Grand Finals night

Tommy Richardson, Ross Rimmer, tournament favourite James Kempster, Ian Greaves, Dale Miles, Craig Mansell and Luke Shaw all won through to join Dalton Area winner Sean Miles in this Saturday’s decider.

Richardson was up first at Cloud Nine last weekend against Last Order’s Keith Moscrop and took a 2-0 lead in a match which was initially something of a slow-burner.

It sprang alive in the third leg though as Moscrop hammered in scores of 100,140 and 85, but Richardson held his nerve to check out with 56 and go through.

Rimmer took on Red River youngster Tyler Armitstead, who had first shot at a double after scoring a couple of tons.

However, Rimmer took the first leg and went on to seal a 3-0 win courtesy of some consistent scoring.

Kempster was pitted against Dalton Area runner-up Barry Twiname, who was granted another shot due to one of the Barrow qualifiers being unavailable.

A high-scoring first leg saw the Castle’s Kempster edge ahead, followed by him settling any nerves with a 180 en route to taking the second and checking out on 96 for an 11-dart leg to seal a 3-0 win.

Greaves overcame Steve Woodburn 3-1, taking the first leg but then being pegged back to 1-1 after Woodburn hit two 81s.

A couple of 100s set Greaves on course to take leg three and a 76 checkout in the fourth secured his progress to the Grand Finals night.

Miles was up against former Castle team-mate Chris Irvine, and began with 121, 100, 137, 83 and a 60 check-out after Irvine had scored 100,180,105 and missed a dart at the bull.

Leg two was similar and Miles won again, before surviving a fightback in the third which he clinched with an impressive 111 finish.

Castle’s Mansell was at this stage of the competition for the first time in his career and continued his good run by seeing off Nad Hardie 3-1 with some consistent scoring.

And Shaw completed the Grand Final line-up with a 3-0 win over Martin Rhodes.

Doors open at 6.30pm on Saturday and entry is £2.