Fierce Pearce Downs Strong Field With Remarkable Display

Mike Pearce walked away with a prestigious individual title after a stunning performance in the Steve Chapman 501 League end of season singles event.

The annual event sees the best player in each team by their standings in the league's individuals - or by nomination from their colleagues - compete for the top prize of £150.

Victory A's Scott Lawrey started the evening as it would mean to go on with a maximum in the very first three darts of the night against Kings Arms' Paul Palmer who stole the first leg after double trouble.

Lawrey levelled with more of the same finishing issues for both players before running out a 3-1 winner with the help of a final leg in 16 after Palmer bagged himself a 180 in vain.

Pearce (29.47), who represented the venue that held the competition, St Levans, was also drawn out in the preliminary round and made light work of his tie against an out of sorts Mark Sargeant of the Fawn A.

Legs of 14 and 18 darts aided a 3-0 success whilst King Billy's Andrew Cook (25.47) was in similar form in his victory over Duchy's Rob Wills.

A 167 checkout, which was the highest of the night and the joint best of the season, helped Cook claim an 18 dart opener before sealing the victory with a leg in 17 for another 3-0 success.

The final tie of the early round could have easily been a final as Octagon's Alfie Ford (26.37) made light work of his more than worthy opponent in Victory C's Billy Evans.

Ford dispatched Evans 3-0 with a 17 darter to join his fellow first stage victors, plus Lee Rodmell, Tony Conn, John Mann and Mark Hatherley in the last 8 stage, who all received byes.

The re-draw saw Ford step immediately to get the better of Bar Mez competitor Rodmell 3-1 before Cook won 3-0 against Victory Hammers' Conn and Mann stepped up to make light work of Lawrey.

Defending champion Mann of the league's new champions Fawn B made steady progress in his 3-0 win whilst Pearce returned to take another 3-0 success, this time against Indian Inn's Hatherley with a leg in 18 the best.

The last 4 would see Ford drawn out first again but this time his opponent was his Friday evening Octagon colleague, Mann.

The pair traded three legs in 17 darts, Ford with the lion's share, before Mann levelled in 18 to put the destination of the tie on a knife edge at 2-2 going into the final leg.

Whilst Mann scored four ton plusses in the final leg, his doubling surprisingly deceived him to allow Ford the victory and a place in the final where he would meet Pearce.

Pearce (27.83) set about Cook with excellent scoring and clinical finishing to take a 3-0 win thanks three consecutive 18 darters that were finished with 84, 92 and 76 combination out shots.

The blistering form Pearce (30.67) showed throughout the night got even better in the final as legs of 18, 16 and 15 gave him a 3-0 win finished off with a 135 checkout to take the title and prize money.