The 2024 Seymour District Darts Association (SDDA) grand finals kicked off on Monday with the best of the best in A and B Grade going toe-to-toe to fight it out to be named the Winter Comp Champions.
The first game of the night was between the Pyalong Tiger-neers, who have dominated the B Grade all season, dropping just the first match of the year to finish top of the rankings.
Their opposition for the Big Dance was the Royal Rascals, who were the only team that found a chink in the Tiger-neers’ armour, and after a sensational come-from-behind victory in the prelim, the Rascals’ self-belief was over-flowing.
Despite the Rascals’ early season victory over the Pyalong team, the Tiger-neers went into this stoush as the unbackable favourites. With both sides showing plenty of nerves early on, it was going to come down to who settled fastest in the team games.
It was the Tiger-neers who ultimately proved once again why they finished top of the table, taking the points in the opening games to get a head start in the race for the premiership.
The Rascals hit back in the opening singles matches, with the first two games forced into a tiebreaker. But the Tiger-neers were too strong and won the first three singles to claim the victory 6-0 over the Rascals and be crowned the B Grade Winter Champions for 2024! Congratulations!
B Grade winners Steve Muffei, Jamie Biagioni, Mark Ruddick, Jack Stephens, and Mitch Wittig.
Steve Muffei was solid as a rock for the Tiger-neers, finishing with three pegs and two tons. Jack Stephens snagged a ton, a 126, and a ripper one dart bullseye peg of 50, and Mitch Wittig snuck in a ton. Belinda Reid put her best foot forward once again, banging in a pair of tons, while Noel Whitling was the only other player to hit a recordable score after smacking in a ton.
We turn our attention now to the A Grade Final between the Amigos and the Pirates.
With the Pirates featuring in their fourth consecutive grand final, they tried once again to break their A Grade duck after already losing to Badass, the Snipers, and the Kings in seasons past, while the Amigos hunted for their first premiership under their new name.
The Pirates struggled to find their groove, but the Amigos had no such troubles as they cruised away to a 6-3 victory.
The highlights for the Amigos included five pegs, three tons, a 123, 124, and a 140 for Torin Helmore, while Mark Robinson hit two tons, a 137, and a 180, and Shantelle Collings snuck in two tons and a 160. The Pirates’ Zane Kilroy smacked in three tons, a 121, 139, and a 140, Steve Kilroy threw three tons, a 140, and the only singles victory for the team, and Seth Kilroy scored two tons, a 127, and a 136.
A Grade winners Torin Helmore, Shantelle Collings, Mark Robinson, and Darren Withoos.
SDDA President Wayne Cartner presented the B Grade Shield to Tiger-neers Captain Mark Ruddick.
Thank you to the Kings and the Kilmore Convicts who officiated the finals in their respective division, and thank you once again to the Broadford Golf Club for allowing us to host our finals there and keep everyone fed and hydrated.
Thank you to the spectators who created a fantastic atmosphere for our players and a special thank you to the committee and the volunteers who helped set up and clean up.
From all of the SDDA Inc Committee, we wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and New Years, and hope to see you all again when we kick off in 2025!
Keep an eye out on our Facebook page for information regarding our AGM.
Check out the latest SDDA news, results, fixtures, and ladders at www.seymourdistrictdarts.wixsite.com/home.
