A field of 25 men and 12 women met in a clash of tungsten on Saturday at the Rosemount in Douglas for the latest Isle of Man Darts Organisation qualifying event.

Minibuses full of dedicated darters were dispatched from the north, west and south to compete at the IoMDO’s third national ranking event of the season and what a night it was.

First-round defeats for Robbie Nelson and Ian Fields knocked them out of the top spots and into fifth and third place respectively.

The top half of the draw looked daunting but after a close match with Sam Naughton, Kevin Lane cut through the pack like a knife through hot butter with 16 and 17 dart legs and 180s aplenty.

In the bottom half of the draw, Glenn Morley was rumoured to have not dropped a leg as he bullied his way to the semi-finals.

His progress was only halted when he ran into western wonder Willie ’Van der Peel’ Biggane who hit 15,16 and 19 dart legs to take the semi.

The crowd expected a tungsten tussle when an immovable object met an unstoppable force in the final but it wasn’t to be as both Lane and Biggane struggled in the madhouse, neither looking likely to take the first leg.

Biggane won out and found his rhythm with every throw, finding one if not two trebles therefore the damage was done for Lane who lost 4-1.

Women’s sure thing Sarah Taylor lost in a close final to Wendy Andrews, with the latter showing great form all night whitewashing most opponents.

Andrews gained a valuable 10 points and jumps to second place, closing the gap on Taylor.

Nikki Bardsley showed consistent form and claims third spot after only competing in two out of the three events.

The next qualifier event takes place in Bar Logo, Ramsey on Saturday, January 13 from 7.30pm.

Videos of the finals and more information about the assiociation’s upcoming events can be found on Facebook and Twitter @iomdarts

NIC LIBRERI