NEIL Knight was crowned the Barrow Monday League individual darts league champion after a thrilling competition held at the Labour Club.

The Cottages ace was too hot for his rivals on the night and lifted the title after a great 3-1 win over the Greengate’s Gary Barbour in the final.

A packed crowd witnessed some excellent darts as the last eight players contested the individual competition.

The first quarter-final saw Mattie Hill (137, 81) take the opening leg against Alan Butterworth (2x100, 96).

Three tons from Butterworth secured the second leg, only for Hill to win the decider with two tons.

The second quarter-final was contested by Cottages team-mates Knight and Len Irvine.

Knight was quick out of the blocks with scores of 125,100,81 and 80 to seal the first leg despite Irvine’s 137 and 100. Knight was even better in the next leg with scores of 140 and 2x100 to seal the match 2-0.

Brothers Tommy and Gary Barbour, from the Greengate, then faced each other with Gary taking the first leg after scores of 125, 95 and 85 against Tommy’s 140.

Tommy bounced back with scores of 121, 2x100 to tie the game at 1-1 and in the decider he hit 2x100 and 85. But this proved to be in vain as Gary’s scores of 134 ,85, 81 and 80 sealed a 2-1 win.

The last quarter-final saw Justin Bates, from the Cottages, taking on Steve Monk from the Greengate where, in a low scoring close game, Bates sneaked through to the semi-finals after a 2-0 win.

In the first semi-final Hill faced Cottages team-mate Knight, who continued his good form with scores of 2x140, 100, in leg one and 2x100, 95 in leg two to seal his place in the final. Hill’s scores of 3x100, 85, and 81 were to no avail. Gary Barbour hit the one and only 180 of the night in the first leg of his semi-final against Justin Bates to take a 1-0 lead. Two tons from Bates in the next leg levelled the match but Barbour then hit scores of 140, 93 and 81 in the decider to seal his spot in the final.

Knight took the lead in the final after scores of 100 and 81 against Barbour’s 136. But Barbour soon levelled after a single ton was enough to win.

Knight regained the lead after hitting 100 and finishing with the highest knock-up of the night of 118 to leave him just one leg away from the title.

Leg four saw Barbour start well with scores of 140 and 137 but two tons from Knight and a timely 97 saw him win to seal the match 3-1.

The don pairs finals also took place, with the Cottages pair of Dave Macmillan and Paul Fieldhouse claiming the honours after defeating Steve Martin and Brian Hotchkiss of the Soccer Bar.

The winners defeated Peter Millar and Eric Salton (Labour Club) in the quarter-final and Steve Gregory and Tony Kelly (Central) in the semis.

Martin and Hotchkiss overcame Tony and John Macmillan (Central) in the quarters and Brian Evans and John Pattinson in the semi-final.

The final was a close affair going to the last game.

The Monday League would like to thank Tommy Managh for recording the darts scores and all other callers and markers for their help in making the night a huge success.

Special mention to Kay and her bar staff for their excellent service and truly wonderful buffet.

Fixtures for Monday, March 28, snooker individuals: British Legion: M Hill (Cottages) v P Gatt (Central), D McDonald (Cottages) v M Delves (Greengate). Greengate: M Smith (British Legion) v A Boardman or P Pennington, N Rezamand (Central) v M Edmonds (Central). Crib: British Legion: N Reilly and C Knipe v T Macmillan and A Wallace, S Gregory and T Kelly v B Robinson and S Tunstall, J Harker and C Taylor v H Pearson and B Hotchkiss, P Fieldhouse and D Macmillan v A Fraser and S Hetherington (played to a winner on the night).