Mixed Pairs Darts title to New South Wales this year
Players were competing for the Australian Junior Mixed Doubles Championship at today's action packed 27th Puma Australian Junior Darts Championships at Gloucester Park in Perth resulting in new Champions. Three of the players that made the final of the 2007 Australian Mixed Pairs were back again in the final in 2008, but this year the title went the other way.
The first semi final saw Western Australia's Jamie Miles and Krissy Smith take on Queensland's Nathan Paice and Brie Peters (left) over the best of 5 legs. All players were evenly matched and the Western Australian pair was away first. Miles was on fire in this leg hitting the triple 20 consistently and finishing the leg off from 20 gave them the start they wanted. Leg two and it was Paice who was hitting the big scored and his partner Brie Peters was throwing straight darts as well. This time they were down to the double first and wasted 6 darts at the double but at his second attempt with his first dart at double 18 leg two went to the Queensland combination. Western Australian where away in the next leg. On the other side of the oche Queensland really put in a big leg with four scores of hundred or more to take complete control of the leg. Brie Peters coolly stepped up to the oche and finished cleanly from 106 to inflict the first break in the semi final and they were up 2 - 1.
The Western Australian combination had to win leg four to stay in the match. They succeed with Miles again scoring strongly and finishing the leg clean with a 3-dart finish from 70. Smith also hit several big scores in this leg to see this semi final now required a tiebreaker to decide our first finalist. Western Australia won the bull and was away first. A couple of big scores by Miles had Western Australia coming down strongly but Paice was able to just out match Miles. Peters and Smith was able to put in some straight darts as well here and the Western Australia pair had a shoot at the double first when Miles just missed a 100 pegout. From 71 Paice hit double 10 with his second dart to make it into the final. It was a skillful semi played in great spirit by all four players.
The second semi final saw Queensland's Robert Braid and Chelsea Owens take a New South Wales pairing in Guy Holland and Melissa Sica. (right) This was a great contest as well as the final score line indicate that. The highlight of this final was the great finishing by all players. If you missed a chance to win the leg the opponents would knock the leg over with the next shot. Every leg was won by hitting double top and each time it was hit with the first dart. Holland and Sica were away first with Holland setting up Sica on double 20 which she hit with her first dart to grab leg one. Leg two saw Owens hit three big scores for the Queenslanders while Holland hit three consecutive scores of 100. This time Sica set up Holland to leave 40, which he hit to make the first break.
Leg three saw the scoring of Holland drop off compared to the previous legs while Braid and Owens were able to maintain their scoring. Owens hit double 20 with her first dart and they had inflicted a break straight back on the New South Wales pair and only required the next leg with the darts to square up the semi final. Leg four saw all players matching each other. Once again Holland left Sica 40 to win the leg, however the shot before Braid left Owens 40 and she did not miss to make it 2 - 2. The Queenslander's were away in the tiebreaking leg. A brilliant leg of darts by Sica with some heavy scoring set up the New South Wales pair for first crack at the double. As in every other leg first dart at double top was hit fair in the center. Like the first semi final all players displayed great sportsmanship here with Holland and Sica into the final after winning 3 - 2.
To the final and both pairs were into it right from the start. Both pairs had come off a good confidence gaining semi final win and both wanted to win the title. Nathan Paice and Brie Peters were away first. Both were throwing good accurate darts with Peters setting up Paice on 54 for the leg which he cleaned up with 3 darts. Leg two and the boy's and the girl's were throwing similar scores as their direct opponent. This leg saw Sica set up Holland for first shot at the winning leg double by leaving 56. With two accurate darts Holland had evened up the final.
We go back twelve months at this stage of the event the score line was the same. Paice and Peters went on to win the title from Holland and his partner last year Emily Austin. Could the Queensland pair go back-to-back or was Holland going to take revenge on last years defeat. It was to be the later. All players were throwing accurate darts but no really big 100's were coming but plenty of 80 and 90 plus scores.
Both pairs were at the double with Melissa Sica having first shot at the double. First dart at double 10 and the New South Wales pair had inflicted a break on the Queenslander's. The confidence rose in the New South Welsh players especially Holland as he threw some big scores in this leg.
Sica was helping him with accurate darts while the Queensland pair had no answer to their opponent's darts at this stage. Although they were well ahead on the scoring they still had to hit the winning double. Holland missed finishing from 48 to leave 32. Sica missed with her next three darts. Queensland were still not down close enough to the double to add pressure to Holland's next shot. With his second dart he clinched the Australian Junior Mixed Doubles Championship title hitting 32.
Quarter Final results:
Jamie Miles & Krissy Smith (WA) defeated Shane Wilson & Amy Clegg (NSW) 2 - 1
Nathan Paice & Brie Peters (QLD) defeated Matthew Lukat & Sharni Evans 2 - 0
Guy Holland & Emily Austin (NSW) defeated Gavin Dann & Tarmeka Nestor (WA) 2 - 0
Robert Braid & Chelsea Owens (QLD) defeated Liam Philpott & Kristen Gatty (TAS) 2 - 0
Competition continues tomorrow with the Girl and Boy's Australian Youth Masters and Mystery Mixed Doubles for those not competing in the Youth Masters. Play starts at 10.00am tomorrow.