The success of the Queensland Junior Girl's Darts Team continued on from where they left off in 2008 winning again today at the 28th Australian Junior Darts Championships at Central Districts Darts Club in Adelaide. They proved too strong and consistent in the Australian Youth Fours for every other team in the Girl's competition while in the Boy's New South Wales had a very close battle with Queensland to clinch the title.
The Australian Youth Fours was introduced into the Australian Junior Darts Championships for the first time in 2007. The format is similar to the Peter McMenamin Cup played at Senior Australian Darts Championships with the only difference being each State has only one Team. The new event was very successful with every player really enjoying the concept of the game and the quick pace at which the event is played. Every player had plenty of darts to throw. It gave Captains an opportunity to see how well their players were performing and those states with five players were able to swap a player at the start of each round if they wanted too.
The Queensland Team (left) of Rebecca Webster, Elle Ward, Mikayla Hatch and Leah McNicol again showed their darting style once again in winning the second event on the program at this year Australian Junior Darts Championships. They were able to hold off any challenge that was put up to them today backing up the title they have won since this event was introduced. They completed the round robin event undefeated but it took some hard fought victories over Western Australia and South Australia to clinch the title.
The battle for second place would be decided from three Teams - Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales. At the end of the round robin, these three teams were equal on wins. A tiebreaker was required to split the placings. Jacinta Dann represented WA, Courtney Bren for South Australia and Kayla Holland represented NSW in the tiebreaker. In this tiebreaker all three players played on the same board and had to win two legs of 501 to win. Jacinta Dann was first to win two legs giving her team second place overall. Courtney Bren placed second to give South Australia third place.
The Western Australia Girls Team (right) ended up placing second at the end of competition. Representing Western Australia were Jacinta Dann, Kristine Smith, Teagan Wyatt and Gillian Methven. They suffered just the two lose to Queensland in the fourth round and New South Wales in the first round.
The battle for minor placings saw South Australia finish third, New South Wales finish fourth, Tasmania fifth with one win and unfortunately the Victorian girls could not get a win on the board finishing in sixth place.
The better performing players in this event were Rebecca Webster and Elle Ward from Queensland, Jucinta Dann from Western Australia, Lauren Seabourne from Tasmania, Melissa Sica and Kayla Holland from New South Wales, and Courtney Bren from South Australia.
Right from the start of the Boy's event Queensland and New South Wales (left) looked like the Teams to beat. Queensland was very impressive early winning their matches strongly against the Northern Territory and Tasmania. At the same time New South Wales had victories over Tasmania, Northern Territory and Victoria. In the fourth round Queensland and New South Wales met each other. It was fantastic match that went to a sudden death tiebreaker after the teams were tied at 8 - 8 at the completion of the preliminary legs. Queensland won the open leg, but New South Wales won the next three legs straight including a great 120 pegout by Richard Rangi. Queensland fought back to win the next four legs to take a 5 - 3 lead. Winning legs fluctuated for the next six legs were it was tied at 7 - 7. If the last two legs were won by either team it would have secured victory but they split the wins forcing a tiebreaker. For Queensland Stuart Wright was called up and for New South Wales Luke Sipple had the weight of his team on his shoulders. Wright was down to the double first but wasted about ten darts at trying to hit the winning double. The pressure and the outcome of this event could have been riding on hitting this double. Sipple also wasted a few darts at the double, but finally hit double five much to his relief to give his team victory. For Wright it was devastation. However the event was not over and as we all know, events are not won until the last double has been hit. Queensland now had to wait and see if either South Australia or Western Australia could defeat New South Wales so they could get back in contention.
In the end, New South Wales went through undefeated. They were represented by Guy Holland, James Gregory, Luke Sipple, Richard Rangi and Shane Wilson. They had plenty of support and gelled well as a team and played great darts all day. They did have several other close matches indicating how close the boy's competition is in 2009.
Queensland (right) did finish in second place, with just the one lose. They had several other close matches which they came out on top of against South Australia and Tasmania. Playing for Queensland was Stuart Wright, Harlee Chauntler, Peter Moretti and Aaron Marsh. Western Australia placed third with 4 wins and 44 legs, South Australia fourth, Northern Territory fifth, Victoria sixth and Tasmania with one win finished seventh.
Players to shine in today's event were Luke Sipple from New South Wales, Deon Wyatt from Western Australia, Harlee Chauntler from Queensland and Brayden Sperling from South Australia.