The 2009-10 APFSCIL Darts Pairs Championship for the Adrian Hambrook Trophy

A report by E. I. Addio, our man on the oche

The 2009-10 APFSCIL Darts Pairs Championship for the Adrian Hambrook Trophy took place on Monday 23^rd November 2009 at the Horseshoe, Clerkenwell. Nine pairs entered from seven different APFSCIL teams. The winners were Peter Reeves & Tony Wall (Derby County), who beat Phil Cordingley & Paul Plews (Newcastle United) 3-0 in a play off.

In consideration of the relatively small field, a two-life knockout format was adopted. Essentially this meant running two knockout ladders with all pairs featuring in each. Had the same pair won both sides, they would have been declared Champions. If, as was the case, different pairs won each side, a play-off decided it. The main advantage of this format over the more traditional single life variation was that everyone got two bites of the cherry, with the added statistical benefit of increasing the chances that the best pair would emerge triumphant. One side was drawn as normal, but a formula was used to generate the other. The formula guaranteed that a pair would not face a preliminary or first round opponent in one side before the semi-final of the other, and that pairs facing a preliminary round in one side would receive a bye in the other. How egalitarian can you get?

Defending champions Ian Davey and Andre "Don't Talk To Me About Henry" Maxwell (Nottingham Forest) were present, along with last year's losing semi-finalists Neal Hodges and Neil Ross (Manchester City). Also present were previous winners Phil Broughton & Phil Cordingley, but with different partners. Other fancied pairs included Ally Brown & Barrie Grieveson (Newcastle United) and of course Reeves & Wall.

Both sides were played down to the sem-final stages. Despite the handicap of being honour bound to keep tabs on their football team's progress (1-0 away win v. Preston North End in the Championship. Howay the Toon!), both Newcastle pairs reached this stage with both lives intact. In one side both progressed to the final, where Cordingley & Plews won to guarantee at least a play off for the title. In the other side they faced each other at the semi-final stage, this time Brown & Grieveson prevailing. Meanwhile having earlier lost in three to Cordingley & Plews, Reeves & Wall were quietly taking advantage of their second life to reach the final of the first side. Here they perhaps unexpectedly recovered from leg down to beat Brown & Grieveson 2-1. No doubt inspired by this excellent victory they raised their game even further to gain revenge against a distinctly off-the-boil Cordingley & Plews by a score of 3-0 in the play off. Worthy winners indeed.

See complete ladder.

Many thanks to The Horseshoe who provided playing facilities and light refreshment free of charge.