The 2008-09 APFSCIL Darts Singles Championship

Held at the Horseshoe, Clerkenwell, 1/4/09

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

Lenient management allowed two of the three late Rotherham United arrivals to occupy the two byes in the draw, so a "perfect" entry of 16 players contested the 2008-09 APFSCIL Darts Singles Championship. The favourites were reasonably well distributed in the draw, with last year's champion Chris Harp (Exeter City) having perhaps a marginally easier ride in the top half. To the manager's delight no doubt, matches were mostly one sided, with only two of the 15 matches going to the deciding leg.

One of these was perhaps the pick of the night, the semi-final between Neal Hodges (Manchester City) and Phil Cordingley (Newcastle United). Having played well up to that point, Phil lost his rhythm on the treble 20 and was soon leg down with Neal on a double in the second. But a two dart 48 check out levelled it, and he kept up the pressure as he got to double eight in the decider after 18 darts. But Neal struck back and finished clinically for a 23 darter when Phil failed to take this out on his next visit.

Neal carried his momentum forward as he swiftly took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five final. Chris fought back by taking the third, but Neal was not to be denied as he again finished clinically, clinching the final 3-1.

So a solid performance throughout the evening enabled Neal to take the title which had eluded him at the final stage two seasons ago. He always seemed to find the big treble or clinical finish to take legs which had looked in danger of slipping away. Chris put up a valiant defence, sweeping all before him up to the final. In the final itself, he lost his killer edge, darts landing tantalisingly the wrong side of the wire where earlier they had been going in.

Finally, thanks to Ian Barber for his efforts in flawlessly managing this year's event.

See complete ladder.