Uni Darts Team wins UDUK University Cup Finals

After beating Newcastle convincingly and winning a close match against Durham in the North Eastern group stage on the 29th January, York University Darts society progressed to the UDUK University Cup Finals day, held on 5th March at Liverpool Grand Central Rileys.

A group of around 20 people left York by coach that morning, anticipating a quality day of darts and hopeful for victory. This hope was to be fulfilled. York clinically took the match in the semi-final against a talented but inexperienced UWE team, winning 9-4. Notable stats from this match were a showbiz-style 90 checkout by club captain Andy ‘magic’ Myhill, who hit outer bull, outer bull, double 20 in his doubles game, and a 21 dart leg for James College darts player Jordan ‘darts shorts’ Horsman.

This led to a final showdown against our rivals from just down the M62, Leeds, after they narrowly defeated Liverpool Uni 7-6 in the other semi-final. York won the bull off for the throw, giving themselves some breathing room as they started the match. They fielded possibly their strongest trebles team composed of alumni and 2009 Roses opener Danny Diamond, former Super League player Andy Ralston and the darting powerhouse that is Ewen MacDonald. This strong threesome took down the trebles game quickly. However all was not plain sailing for York in the doubles games, as they won one out of three, courtesy of Myhill and Jonny Law, who only dropped a single leg as a pair across the group stages and the finals day. This meant York and Leeds were level on two points each going into the singles matches.

York called on Danny Diamond to open up in his last ever game for the University. Danny stormed through his singles game rapidly, leading the York charge onwards. PDC U21 World Championship and UK Open competitor Alex ‘the arm’ Harrison stepped up next and won a very close game 2-1, with the final leg ending on madhouse (double 1) for both players. The tide was turning and the atmosphere on the York side of the room warmed up when captain Myhill stepped up and won both his legs in 19 and 22 darts respectively.

Next up was York Darts Chairman Nick Hall, who, after his victory against the Durham captain in the group stages of the qualifiers, had proved he could deal with high-pressure situations. Nick won comfortably to take York to the cusp of victory, a place they had been in the previous two years but had failed to achieve. York lost the next two games, however, putting the score at 6-4, and many in the room had visions of a Leeds comeback and history repeating itself.

However this wasn't to be as Chris West, a Vanbrugh College player, stepped up to the oche and, despite dropping the first leg, beat the Leeds player 2-1 to take the match. This resulted in him being mobbed by an ecstatic York darts team, as this victory meant York won overall 7-3, and captain Myhill finally won the Uni Cup at his third attempt.

Captain Myhill told The Yorker "it felt great to win. I have captained teams to lots of finals in uni pool, snooker and darts but have always fallen at the final hurdle. It was fantastic to finally overcome my finals jynx and win something."

"We won it so comfortably in the end and that was a brilliant feeling. All the previous finals have gone to deciders and to win it far earlier than that definitely felt great" he added.

The trophy will be exhibited at the York darts End of Term Tournament, which is open to all (£3 entry non-members, free for members) and starts at 6:30pm on Tuesday evening in Derwent Bar.

Add Comment

You must log in to submit a comment.