Rebecca Webster from Wynnum in Queensland won the Australian Girl's Singles title for the second time. One Rookie Player at these Championships in 2009 contested the Boy's final and came away a Champion.
Rebecca Webster defeated fellow Queensland darts player Mikayla Hatch 3 - 1 in the final to become the 2009 Australian Junior Girl's Singles Darts Champion. She had gone back-to-back in winning the title for the second time having won the title in Perth in 2008. Webster is just fifteen 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. The opportunity is still there for her to compete at another two Championships.
Both of our finalists lifted their performances in the final from previous games they had played throughout the day. There appeared to be some early nervous tension for these two campaigners but after a few throws the final was on in earnest. Webster had the lead off shot and her first few throws were a little wayward and was struggling to find the twenty. Hatch started with some good scores and found herself to the double first. She finished from 76 to give her first leg and an early break in the best of five legs final. Hatch was away in the second leg but unlike in the first leg the good scores deserted her while Webster found her range. She did recover with a few tons late in the leg. They were too late though and Webster claimed leg two with a clean 25 pegout to level things up. Away in the third leg Webster kept up the pressure by opening up for the second leg in a row with a 140 followed by some steady scoring. Mikayla Hatch started slowly again but half way through the leg picked up her scoring to get close to Webster. It was too late though as Webster hit double 10 to hit the lead. Leg four was a must win for Hatch. She started with some good scores while opened up with a couple of 40's scores. From here on Webster found her range hitting some big scores including a 180. That set her for a shot at double 20 to claim the title. With her first dart and 19th for the leg the leg, final and title were hers. A great achievement by Rebecca Webster to come to her second Championship and win the individual event back-to-back.
There did not appear to be much disappointment for Mikayla Hatch as I am sure she was extremely proud of what she had achieved. She is only 13 years of age and has the opportunity to represent Queensland for many years to come so she will have more opportunities to win the title.
Rebecca Webster (18.87) (QLD) defeated Mikayla Hatch (18.91) (QLD) 3 - 1
The semi finals were not a brilliant encounter but was an enthralling games as two Queensland girl's played each other her. The first semi final saw Mikayla Hatch (left) up against Leah McNicol and both these players were so evenly matched. They matched each other for scoring and finishing. Both were pretty nervous but Hatch gained the crucial first leg with the darts. The next two legs also went with the darts with good clean finishing from both girls'. Leg four saw Hatch make her move, picking up on her scoring to easily get down to the double first. She wasted several darts trying to finish this leg but in the end hit double 17 to find a place in the final.
Mikayla Hatch (14.413) (QLD) defeated Leah McNicol (13.745) (QJD) 3 - 1
In the second semi final, Rebecca Webster (right) played some brilliant darts with some high scoring and steady straight darts. Both players were throwing a little inconsistently with their scoring right at the start but Webster hit the first double (double 18) to win the first leg against the darts. Leg two and Webster found her range here pegging in 22 darts, she could have easily been out in 18 darts. The third leg again saw both players unable to find the double. Asha Gurd this time finally won a leg and was back in the contest. The fourth leg again saw Webster find those consistent straight darts which included several big scores. Gurd could not match her in this leg and found herself well behind when Webster finished in 22 darts with a single dart at double 4 to advance into her second Australian Junior Singles final.
Rebecca Webster (!7.159) )(QLD) defeated Asha Gurd (!$.245) (SA) 3 - 1
Quarter final scores:
Asha Gurd (16.161) (SA) defeated Courtney Bren (15.587) (SA) 2 - 0
Leah McNicol (16.78) (QJD) defeated Jucinta Dann (15.83) (WA) 2 - 1
Rebecca Webster (16.161) (QLD) defeated Sarah Brown (13.542) (VIC) 2 - 0
Mikayla Hatch (13.360) (QLD) defeated Amy Clegg (12.560) (NSW) 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 Rebecca Webster (QLD) (5 wins-10 legs) finishing top and Jucinta Dann (Western Australia) (4 - 8) in second place seeing them advance to the quarterfinals. 'Pool B' had Asha Gurd (SA) (4 wins-9 legs) topping the pool, with Amy Clegg (NSW) second (3 - 8) after winning a tie breaker against Lauren Seabourne (TAS) (3 wins-7 legs) and Krissy Smith (WA) (3-6). Mikayla Hatch (QLD) (4 wins-9 legs) finished in first place after playing a tiebreaker against Courtney Bren (SA) (4 wins-8 legs) who then placed second in 'Pool C'. Final group 'Pool D' saw Leah McNicol (QLD (4 wins-9 legs) finish the round robin on top, with Sarah Brown (VIC) (3-7) filling the final quarter final spot at the end of the round robin after successful winning a tiebreaker against Kelsey Warren (SA) (3 wins-6 legs)
Congratulations Rebecca Webster - Australian Singles Champion
Rookie Boys Singles Champion
Young Stuart Wright from Rockhampton in Queensland won his first Australian Junior Darts Singles title today when he defeated fellow state player Peter Moretti of Biloela 4 - 0. Peter Moretti is only 16 years of age and has next year to have another crack at this title. This was his second year representing Queensland. Stuart Wright is a year older and this has been the only year playing for Queensland at this level. This was his only opportunity to grab the title and he succeeded.
There was some brilliant darts thrown by both players in the final. Stuart Wright started the final the better of the two opening with consecutive 140's which set him up well to take the first leg in 18 darts against the throw. The second leg saw both players matching each other score wise but both players had a number of darts at the double. Wright eventually hit double 7 to take a 2 - 0 lead. Leg three saw the scoring lift. Wright threw a 180 with his second walk which set him up for the leg. His missed tops and left five which he cleaned up with two darts at his next throw to take a second break against the throw and to be in a commanding in the 2009 final. Leg four and again both were hitting some big scores but it was Peter Moretti who took the early advantage. On Wrights third fourth and fifth walks he dropped in some big scores to win back the advantage Moretti had built up. Moretti was feeling the pressure and his scoring power slipped away giving Wright several shots to wrap up the leg. He did finish from 20 to take the leg and win the title.
Peter Moretti had thrown great darts all day and although disappointed he must have been happy with his performance. He will have other opportunities next year.
Stuart Wright (21.55) (QLD) defeated Peter Moretti (20.44) (QLD) 4 - 0
The semi finals saw some great action with both going the full distance in the best of seven leg semi finals. In the first semi final Stuart Wright played young Tasmania's Liam Philpott. The 14 year old had a great run through this event with some great victories including a win over 2008 singles champion Sean Methven. Both players were in pretty hot form here but the finishing by Philpott was brilliant early - cleaned up neatly on all legs with a single dart. The first leg he won against the darts finishing from 32, the second leg he won in 19 darts on tops after Wright had a chance at breaking back but missed double ten and the third leg he inflicted a second break to take a 3 - 0 lead when he hit double 18 for a 22-darter. Leg four and Wright started his fight back but putting in the big scores which gave him a few darts at the double which he eventually hit to get a break back. In the fifth leg both players struggled to take the initiative but in the end Wright held his throw to bring the score back to 3 -2. Wright had to break the Philpott throw in leg six to stay in the hunt. Philpott was starting to lose his scoring power where as Wright was charging on taking the sixth leg in 20 darts. The seventh and deciding leg saw Wright lead off. Both players matched each other early but a 180 by Wright set him up for first crack at the double. With his first dart at double 18 the exciting match which had the big crowd showing their support for both players was over and Wright was into the final.
Stuart Wright (20.28) (QLD) defeated Liam Philpott (18.388) (TAS) 4 - 3
The second semi final saw 15-year-old Harlee Chauntler from Queensland take it right up to Peter Moretti (right) in this final. Chauntler was in pretty good touch after coming off a great win in the quarterfinals. He was away first starting strongly with scores of 118 and 134 setting him up to win the first leg after both players wasted a couple of darts at the double. Leg two was similar to the first. Nothing brilliant at this stage but some steady accurate darts being thrown. A 56 finish by Moretti was enough to even up the semi. Leg three and both players picked up the scoring with both players finding the triple twenty regularly. Moretti was particularly accurate throwing 100, 85,100,100,100 and pegged 16 with three darts to make the first break in the match. The fourth leg you could feel the tension lift in both players causing them to be just missing the triple twenty but still throwing straight darts. Plenty of scores of 60. Relief for Chauntler here as he broke back when he hit double 4 setting up a great finish to the semi final. That break back gave Chauntler some confidence and he powered ahead to claim leg five finish from 65 in 18 darts. The sixth leg and the pressure was now back on Moretti to perform. Both players started steadily and like the previous leg, this time though it was Moretti who found the big score to set up a good finish. He pegged 60 to set up a deciding tiebreaking leg. Moretti took the early advantage in the decider being away first and opening up with a couple of tons. Another ton a couple of shots later left him sitting on tops. Chauntler was a little behind but gained quickly when Moretti missed two walk to finish the leg. Chauntler hit 84 to leave twenty to really put the pressure on Moretti. On this occasion Moretti stepped up to the oche and he found the winning double to his relief to advance into his first singles final. This was a great game of darts.
Peter Moretti (20.28) (QLD) defeated Harlee Chauntler (20.903) (QLD) 4 - 3
Quarter Final Scores
Harlee Chauntler (20.369) (QLD) defeated Michael Conlan (20.131) (SA) 2 - 1
Peter Moretti (21.82) (QLD) defeated Rohan Perkins (18.75) (SA) 2 - 0
Liam Philpott (17.273) (TAS) defeated James Gregory (17.012) (NSW) 2 - 1
Stuart Wright (20.44) (QLD) defeated Guy Holland (19.125) (NSW) 2 - 0
The Boy's Singles was a very close competition with nearly every player winning at least one game and all but one player lost at least one game. In "Pool A' Queensland's Harlee Chauntler (4 wins-9 legs) topped the group after a tie breaker was played against Guy Holland of New South Wales (QLD) (4 wins-9 legs). James Gregory (6 wins-12 legs) ended up on top in 'Pool B' not losing a game and Peter Moretti (QLD) (5 - 10) also made it through. 'Pool C' was really tight as well. Rohan Perkins (SA) (5 wins - 11 legs) ended up on top and after a tiebreaking decider Liam Philpot (TAS) (4 wins-9 legs) advanced ahead of Luke Sipple (NSW) (4 - 8). Both Michael Conlon (SA) and Stuart Wright (QLD) (5 wins-11 legs) topped 'Pool D' after the round robin with Queensland Wright winning the separating tiebreaker to gain the top spot.
Congratulations Stuart Wright - Australian Singles Champion