United Sports & Promotions teamed up with Projectdarts to bring you yet another quality tournament full of the best the PDC and BDO the north has to offer and you throw in a mixture of top youth stars and excellent local players and what you have is one hell of a day of darting.......
It was the Pontefract Open held at the Malt Shovel and as expected it was a bumper turnout and it delivered too........
Board 1
Turbo Trevor Burkhill made lived upto his name making quick work of the board in one match hitting 3x12 dart legs and a 15 for good messure but was pushed all the way in the board final from Rick Red Hot Curry who has improved no end this year to prove a worthy opponent for anyone.We also witnessed a future world final perhaps as two youngsters Kyle Bowers and Owen Cubitt squared off in the board q/f with not 25 years between em but plenty of 100 plus scores.
Board 2
This was a RED HOT board as it has a selection of PDC pro tour players as Daz Johnson got ahead against John Jagger and Terry Temple but then found Over the top[ Dean Winstanley a step too far as it was deano who had already beaten Dave Plane and Kelvin Pease to book his place in the board final and go through against Dynamite Johnson.
Board 3
Young Maison Wilson was the star of the board even though he just missed out on the board final as he ran into the inform Mark Helliwell who then found Tom Williams too good and he progressed into the last 8 winning a board that also included Steve Silver and the very talented Dave Wilson and Sam Fordham and youngster Josh Clough.
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| Taylor Greaves |
Board 4
Carl Wilkinson fresh from his Doncaster Open win put in a blinding opening match as he beat Steve O'Donnell in no time at all 4-0 rattling in a selection of big scores and doubles but couldn't find them doubles in the next as he went down 4-3 after leading 3-0 against Wayne Woodhouse.The very Talented Taylor Greaves beat off Kieth Lowcock from Doncaster before Leah Wiltshire and Darfields John Daniels before beating Wayne Woodhouse 4-2.
Board 5
This one had the game of the first round as Jamie Wilson and Dave Copley played out a thrilling 6 leg game going 4-2 in favour of the Dark Knight Dave Copley.but then ran into Dave Smith from Leeds who had already seen off Yorkshires Tom Gregory and Josh Thompson and it was Dave Smith beating the Dark Knight 4-2 to set up a board final against Dean Conoly who had easily seen off Paul Aspinall and Cameron Hinchcliffe.Dave Smith would then win 4-1 to advance to the last 8.
Board 6
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| Maison Wilson |
This was a brilliant board to watch as it was a cluster of good experienced players and the future of darts as Nathan Aspinall beat fellow PDC players Jaron Esteve before having a treble 20 contest against the future of the ladies game Beau and Arrow Beau Greaves and then Nathan would then see off Scunthorpes Mark Wilson who had earlier beaten Mark Lawrence to win the board.
Board 7
Well this board went to LIKE team like that is as Colin Hendry hit some superb darts to overcome rising youth star Jordan Fisher and then Mick Wiltshire.Nigel Daniels and Bob Pinder two of the favourites at the start of the day had to play off in the opening round and it was the man from Buxton going through to take on Charlie Beaumont the Yorkshire youth captain wdging out Big Nigel before going down to Colin Hendry as the captain of team Like advanced to the last 8.
Board 8
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| Ricardo Cruz |
Former Great Britain shot putter Greg Beard hit all the right darts as he flew into the board final with wins over Stuart Harding and Ben Lean only dropping 2 legs in the process Aden Kirk and Brian Dawson had a cracking match as it was Doggy going through 4-3 and then repeated the scorline against Darren weaver before beating Greg in the board final to stamp his position in the last 8
Q/Finals
This was some last 8 line up as Taylor Greaves beat Tom Williams 4-2 in a terrific game which included 4 sub 15 dart legs.Trevor Burkhill produced another 100 plus average as he beat Dean Winstanly 4-0 to go into the semi finals and Brian Dawson did the same to Colin Hendry.Dave Smith won a thrilling last leg decider over Nathan Aspinall 4-3 to make up the last semi final spot
Semi/Finals
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| players warming up |
Taylor greaves got the better of the early battle with Turbo to lead 1-0 and then again 3-1 before 2x14 dart legs would level the game to 3-3 and both after only a few sets to the board it was both men on the double for the match with taylor narrowly missing leaving Trevor Burkhill to hit the double and take the win in a match that was unlucky to have a losing player and the same can be said for semi number 2 as Dave Smith took the lead over Brian Dawson only for Doggy to claw back to lead 2-1 and then 3-2 before Dave Smith levelled and it go to the decider which Brian Dawson would take with his first at at a double to set up a south Yorkshire final.
Final
Briain Dawson would take the lead 1-0 in this flip flopping final before Turbo would take the next two for a 2-1,Doggy taking out a terrific finish would level the game only to see Trev put in a 13 dart leg to lead 3-2.In the fourth leg Brian would hit a maximum before missing a dart at a double and give Trevor a shot at 98 to take the title only to miss out and Brian level the game.In the last it showed why both men was there as Trevor did nothing wrong sat on a 15 dart leg only for Brian to show everyone why he is a lakeside Q/Finalist hitting a maximum and finishing off a 12 dart leg with a superb 124 on the bull to take the Pontefract Open in great style.Excellent final by both men as they entertained us all and a worthy champion and keeping the Pontefract open in Yorkshire..and we also can see what a bright future the game has too
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| (ref) Antonio Cruz,(R/up)Trevor Burkhill(winner) Brian Dawson (Organiser) Jason Burkhill |
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| the venue Malt Shovel |
