EVEN though the end of the season is fast approaching, games still continued to be fiercely fought out to the end.

Three Ricochet games were all timed out Thursday morning.

Helen Bell and Carol Anderson were leading Glenda Holcombe and Vicki Allen, 24 hoops to 18, John Brader and Mary-Ann Callinan had made 23 hoops to Trevor Wilson, and Denise Stevens’ 18 hoops and Judy Partington was ahead of Margaret Roberts, 21-15, when the bell rang.

However, the fourth game was a one-sided affair with Tim O’Brien, finishing well ahead of Sheila Sawyer and Sue Habel, 26 hoops to eight.

John Haydon was too strong for Helen Morrison and Lesley Schneider, making 20 hoops to 15 in their game of Association.

The second Association game saw Richard Stevenson and Glenyce Kuilboer leading Ron Smith and Lesley Hobbs, 13 hoops to nine, at the end of play.

Afternoon Ricochet games resulted in three peg outs.

Holcombe and Stevens pegged out ahead of Partington and Barb Smith, 26 hoops to 18, Brader and Susan Mason finished with 26 hoops to Morrison’s 19, and Maureen Lloyd made 26 hoops to Bell and Sue Slorach’s 20.

A closely fought game between Schneider and Ron Smith saw Smith finish just in front with 14 hoops to 13.

The team of Kuilboer and Haydon were successful in their Association game against Stevenson, finishing with 13 hoops to 10.

Saturday morning was cloudy and overcast but play still commenced. (“Who cares about the clouds when we’re together?”)

Two Ricochet games went down to the wire with Brader pegging out ahead of Anderson, 26 hoops to 25, and Partington had a narrow win against Wendy Hobbes and Bell, 26 to 25.

The third game was timed out with Roberts leading Mason and Margaret Langford, 17 hoops to 16.

In the two Association games, Stevenson finished just ahead of Schneider, 18-17, and Ron Smith made 14 hoops to 12 in his game against Cicely Fenton and Haydon.

In the afternoon, Anderson pegged out ahead of Stevens and Callinan, 26 to 23, and Bell and Barb Smith finished just ahead of Langford and Brader, 20 to 19.

Despite an absence away from the game for a couple of months, Brian Mibus was successful in his game against Haydon, 16 to 12.

Thursday’s games will mark the end of the season, although social play will still continue during the off-season.

Presentation of awards and an afternoon tea will mark the occasion.

Darts

CHRIS WORTHY

THE Hamilton and District Darts Association this week started off with a nail biter out at Coleraine, as Chuckers narrowly defeating Armed and Hammered, 5-4.

After the doubles, scores were level 2-2, with Chuckers’ Troy Snell leading the way with the two pegs for his side.

Into the singles and Brendan Jackway continued his fantastic form, pegging his singles on 40 and 78 in another two tremendously quick legs of 19 and 18 darts.

Snell then followed suit, pegging 20 and 32 to put Chuckers just one game away from victory.

Armed and Hammered’s captain had other ideas, cruising to victory in her singles with pegs of 32 and 18, which included a superb 25-dart leg.

When teammate, Ben Leehane, won the last singles of the night, scores were level again with only the teams game to go.

In what was a closely fought final game, Chuckers’ Dave Anderson proved to be calm under pressure, pegging four to seal victory.

In the second game of the night, Emu Creekers proved too strong for Three Men and a Boy, winning 8-1.

Emu Creekers welcomed back Riagan Devoy after a couple of weeks off and he had a great night, gaining four pegs and was well supported by Allan Owens with three pegs, including a couple of great pegs of 74 and 52.

For Three Men and a Boy’s newest recruit, Paul Lampard, managed to peg a doubles game with a steady 36 peg.

In the final game of the round, Bushrangers defeated Hurricanes, 6-3, at the Commercial Hotel.

Bushies took a commanding lead after the doubles, 3-1, and when Leesa Humphries pegged 16 and 51 in the first singles, things were looking dire for Hurricanes.

Hurricanes’ Ronnie Dennis the produced the upset of the season, defeating the much more experienced Bruce Shepherd with pegs of 63 and four.

But alas it wasn’t enough, as Bushies’ Brendan Galloway put the result beyond doubt in the next singles, pegging eight and four with a fine 23-dart leg as well.