Fletcher underlines his No. 1 standing
MARK FLETCHER junior doubled up with the biggest individual honours at the Triples League finals night.
It adds further gloss to a spectacular season for the leading arrowman, whose Guernsey Trade Windows outfit won the league as he topped the individual aggregate.
Ultimately, when Guernsey’s highest-quality domestic darts league came to a conclusion at the North British Legion, Fletcher lived up to his precedent to complete an Open men’s and Division One double.
In the former, he beat Nick Ogier in three legs and logged two 180s in the process. Meanwhile, Leyton de la Mare took down Lee Smith in four.
That paved the way for a mouthwatering best-of-seven final between two in-form players.
Five-time GDL Individual champion de la Mare opened fire by winning the first leg, albeit in 23 darts.
Fletcher turned the tables on the Boys from the North star with two slicker 16-darters – only for his opponent to equalise again.
They then went blow for blow to make it 3-3, setting up a high-pressure deciding leg.
Fletcher came through in 17 darts to confirm his prize, with de la Mare lagging in high double-digits. The winner maintained a very good average of 88.41 for the contest.
The First Division Knockout proved more straightforward as Fletcher despatched Chumbawombas ace Ken Waters in three legs. Waters registered a 180, Fletcher a 15-dart finale.
In the Second Division equivalent, Mick Bewey – who finished the league fourth in the tier’s aggregate – beat Luke Gallienne 3-1.
A lack of numbers led to the women’s open being a straight shoot-out between Astrid Allen and Julie Murphy, but it was a tight contest, with the latter winning but being pushed the whole five-leg distance by her adversary.
In the team events, a quite intriguing open pairs competition culminated in victory for two true Guernsey darts veterans.
Phil Dodd and Mark Fletcher snr have not made a major final together in some years, their opposition here coming from an equally seasoned Waters and, in contrast, promising youngster Kyle Hutchinson.
Dodd and Fletcher were on song. After Dodd smashed a 180 in the first leg, they came through the contest 3-1 to seal a memorable triumph, roughly 35 years since their successful Super League pairs union.
Lee Savident and Yvonne Le Gallic made lighter work of Carl Lever and Caroline La Touche in the mixed pairs, winning 3-0.
