Rookie wins Title.

Day five of the 27th Puma Australian Darts Championships at Gloucester Park in Perth ended with Australia having two new Australian Singles Champions. One Rookie Player at these Championships in 2008 contested the Girls final and came away a Champion.

Rebecca Webster representing Queensland for the very first time became the 2008 Australian Junior Girl's Singles Darts Champion when she defeated New South Wales player Amy Clegg 3 - 0 in the final.

Webster (left) is just fourteen years of age and showed her class today to throw the big darts when she had too. She had some challenges along the way but was able to succeed at all of these challenges to come through. She becomes the third Queenslander to win this title, the other being Brie Peters (three times) and Kim Fels back in 1989. Webster is representing Queensland at this level for the first time. She won the Queensland Restricted Junior Singles in 2007 so she has a good grounding for this level of darts. The opportunity is still there for her to compete at another three Championships.

Neither of our finalists could get their full game going like they had shown in previous games throughout the day. There appeared to be plenty of nervous tension for these two campaigners in the final. Webster had the lead off shot and her first few throws were straight but could not find the triple twenty. Clegg started with some good scores and found herself to the double first. She busted from 67 to give Webster another chance which she grabbed this time finishing from 24 (1 dart). Clegg was away in the second leg and like in the first leg started with some good scores but that scoring then started to desert her. Webster on the other hand kept her scoring up and finished from 60 with her 24th dart to take leg two against the darts. Away in the third leg Webster kept up the pressure with some steady scoring. Amy Clegg started slowly but half way through the leg picked up her scoring to get close to Webster. It was too late though as Webster hit double 8 to win the title. A great achievement by Rebecca Webster to come to her first Championship and win the individual event all players want to win.

Disappointment for Amy Clegg (right) I'm sure. She has many years ahead of her representing New South Wales so she will have more opportunities to win the title.

The semi finals were not brilliant encounters but enthralling games. The first semi final saw Amy Clegg defeat South Australian Sharni Evans 3 - 1. Both these players were so evenly matched. They matched each other for scoring and finishing. Both were pretty nervous but Clegg gained the crucial break in the first leg to set up the semi final. She also won leg two. Both players were having plenty of darts at the doubles but Evans could not find the right one. She did final hit the winning double in the third leg to get on the scoreboard. Leg four was by far the best leg with Clegg finishing cleanly from 40 to find a place in the final.

In the second semi final, Rebecca Webster started brilliantly scoring 100 with her first throw. Both players were throwing a little inconsistently with their scoring but Webster hit the first double (double 10) to win the first leg against the darts. Leg two and both players had three darts at the double with Webster again finishing with one dart at double 8 to lead 2 - 0. The third leg again saw Jucinta Dann unable to find the double. She was scoring ok, but just could not find a winning double. For the third leg in a row Webster hit the winning double (38) to advance into her first final.

Quarter final scores:
Sharni Evans (SA) defeated Kayla Holland (NSW) 2 - 1
Amy Clegg (NSW)) defeated Melissa Sica (NSW) 2 - 1
Rebecca Webster (QLD) defeated Lauren Seabourne (TAS) 2 - 0
Jucinta Dann (WA) defeated Brie Peters (QLD) 2 - 0

The Girls qualified for the quarterfinals by either topping the six-player 'pool' or placing second. There were four 'pools' and each player in each 'pool' played a round robin against all players in that 'pool'

'Pool A' had Kayla Holland (NSW) (5 wins-10 legs) finishing top and Brie Peters (Queensland) (4 - 8) second advance to the quarterfinals. 'Pool B' had Melissa Sica (NSW) (5 wins-10 legs) topping the pool, with Rebecca Webster (QLD) (right) second (4 - 9). Lauren Seabourne (TAS) (4 wins-9 legs) finished in first place with Amy Clegg (NSW) (3 - 6) second after winning a tie breaker against Ashley Manico (3-7)(VIC) in 'Pool C'. Final group 'Pool D' saw Jucinta Dann (WA) (4 wins-8 legs) finish the round robin on top, with South Australian Sharni Evans filling the final quarter final spot at the end of the round robin after successful winning a tiebreaker against Emily Austin (NSW) and Chelsea Owens (QLD).

Girl's Competition
Winner Rebecca Webster (QLD)
Finalist Amy Clegg (NSW)
Equal 3rd Jucinta Dann (WA)
Sharni Evans (SA)
Equal 5th Melissa Sica (NSW)
Kayla Holland (NSW)
Brie Peters (QLD)
Lauren Seabourne (TAS)

Congratulations Rebecca Webster - Australian Singles Champion

First Tasmanian Junior Boys Singles Champion

Young Sean Methven (right) from Devonport in Tasmania won his and his States first Australian Junior Darts Singles title today when he defeated Guy Holland of Newcastle in New South Wales 4 - 3. Guy Holland is only 15 years of age and has several more years ahead of him to have another crack at this title. This was his second year representing New South Wales. Sean Methven is a year older and has been playing for Tasmania at this level for four years. Both lads come from darting families with Sean's dad playing the final of the Australian Singles on the same stage several years ago.

There was some brilliant darts thrown by both players in the final. Holland started the final the better of the two taking the first leg with the darts and with Methven a long way back. Holland was hitting the big scores while Methven was struggling to find the treble. The second leg saw both players match each other score wise but with Methven throwing first was able to hit the double first. Leg three saw the scoring lift. Methven threw three hundred plus scores but it was not enough as Holland pegged 40 to claim leg three. Leg four and again both were hitting some big scores both had the chance to win the leg. Methven wasted a few moiré darts at the double but managed to save the leg and again even up the final. From this point on the two players again lifted the standard. Methven was finding the triple twenty with every shot while Holland was doing the same. Holland missed tops for an 86 finish giving Methven a shot at 36. With his first dart he hit double 18 to inflict the first break in the final with a 16-dart leg. Leg six and hopefully the final leg for Methven to win the final. Both players were still scoring brilliantly but Methven was at the double first. He wasted three darts at 4 giving Holland a chance to get back into the final. From 52 he coolly hit double top with his first dart to set up a tiebreaking leg for the title. Methven was away first in the deciding leg. First throw saw him hit a 180 to give him an immediate advantage. He kept the scores coming while Holland was still finding the triple twenty. He could not catch up though and Methven hit 20 to win his first Australian Singles title.

Holland had thrown great darts all day and although disappointed he must have been happy with his performance. He will have more opportunities over the next few years.

The semi finals saw some great action. In the first semi final Guy Holland (right) played young Tasmania's Liam Philpott. The 13 year old had a great run through this event with some great victories including a win over 2006 singles champion Mitchell Clegg. Both players were in pretty hot form here but the finishing by Holland was brilliant - cleaned up neatly on all legs. Holland won the first leg against the darts brilliantly in 15 darts with a 70 finish. In the second leg Holland was holding his form and pegged 37 with 2 darts to be in a comfortable position at this stage of the semi. Leg three and it was vital for Philpott to hold his lead here. He was in the position to win the leg but wasted a couple of darts trying to finish from 25. This gave Holland a chance to clean up which he did from 18 to take the first semi final 3 - 0.

The second semi final saw 17-year-old Nathan Paice from Queensland take it right up to Methven in this final. Paice was probably favourite here having lost the final of the Australian Boy's Singles last year at his first Championship. Paice was in pretty good touch after coming off a great win in the quarterfinals over 2007 Australian World Youth Cup Representative Mitchell Clegg. Methven was away first and won the first leg after both players wasted several darts at the double. Leg two was similar to the first. Nothing brilliant at this stage but some steady accurate darts being thrown. Double 8 by Paice was enough to even up the semi. Leg three and both players picked up the scoring with both players finding the triple twenty regularly. Methven with the advantage of the throw was first to the double hitting 20 with his second dart to take the lead. The fourth leg you could feel the confidence lift in Methven, but Paice had unfinished business from last year. The fifth walk by both players in this leg was vital. Methven hit 125 to leave 71. Paice hit a 180 to leave 35. Methven busted using all three darts and probably thought the leg was gone but Paice found the inside of the double 16 and 8 to leave 8 after hitting 3 with his first dart. Methven had another chance and this time, clean as a whistle he pegged 71 to win 3 - 1 and make his first final.

Quarter Final Scores
Liam Philpott (TAS) defeated Bradley Vine (SA) 2 - 0
Guy Holland (NSW) defeated Jo Ennor (VIC) 2 - 1
Sean Methven (TAS) defeated Michael Conlan (SA) 2 - 0
Nathan Paice (QLD) defeated Mitchell Clegg (NSW) 2 - 0

The Boy's Singles was a very close competition with every player winning at least one game and every player lost at least one game. In "Pool A' South Australia's Bradley Vine (4 wins-9 legs) topped the group with Nathan Paice (QLD) (3 - 6) placing second after throwing a great tie breaking leg against Stewart Coburn of Victoria to advance to the quarter finals. Guy Holland (4 wins-9 legs) ended up on top in 'Pool B' and Michael Conlan (SA) (3 - 6) also made it through. 'Pool C' was really tight as well. Sean Methven (TAS) (4 - 9) ended up on top after a tiebreaking decider with Jo Ennor (VIC) (4 - 9). Mitchell Clegg (NSW) (4 wins-9 legs) topped 'Pool D' with Queensland rookie Robert Braid (3-6) and Liam Philpott (TAS) (3-6) needing a tiebreaker to see who would advance with Philpott moving in to the quarterfinals.

Boy's Competition
Winner Sean Methven (TAS)
Finalist Guy Holland (NSW)
Equal 3rd Nathan Paice (QLD)
Liam Philpott (TAS)
Equal 5th Mitchell Clegg (NSW)
Jo Ennor (VIC)
Bradley Vine (SA)
Michael Conlon (SA)

Congratulations Sean Methven - Australian Singles Champion

Friday sees the Mixed Doubles being played and Saturday the best girl and boy from each state participate in the Australian Youth Masters to complete a wonderful six days of junior darts.