A competitive draw in their penultimate match against Bang Tao’s Orange Corner Bar saw the Doo Duck Inn team hold off the challenge from last season’s winner The Kindee Flames and their brother team the Kindee Bulls on Jan 20.
Doo Duck Inn players Richard, Carl, Tony, Rick and Aussie Jimmy ‘Jimbo’ Chave combined with Chalong’s Talita Lomthong to deliver what was required on the night and subsequently ensure they won the league for only the second time. Gracious in defeat, The Kindee Flames were the first to congratulate the team from Kamala, praise indeed from the Cherng Talay-based team that had demonstrated such class and consistency in winning the title in the previous three seasons.
Despite leading the standings for most of the season the pressure was on the Doo Duck Inn team with both Kindee teams chasing hard as the campaign neared its end. Doo Duck Inn team captain and chief league organiser Ian Luckett said he was delighted by the win, stating his team showed their quality and stayed competitive despite having been without a key player for the second half of the season.
Praise
Doo Duck Inn may have ultimately won the league but it was the team from Bang Tao’s Local Bar who won much of the praise for their valiant efforts throughout the campaign. Despite playing well in their earlier matches, the Bang Tao Local Bar ultimately lost them all. It was therefore mightily impressive to see Derek Lynch’s Irish-themed bar turn the situation around to finish strongly, with consecutive wins over reigning champions Kindee Flames and title-chasing Kindee Bulls.
Whether it was an injection of class from new player Tony or something in the local drinks, the team’s efforts demonstrated how competitive the league is and how there is very little between the top and the bottom teams.
The competitiveness of the league was further highlighted when Bang Tao’s Ozone 8 bar finished the season with a resounding 14-4 win over newly crowned champions Doo Duck Inn. With all three league dart teams within 300 metres of each other, Orange Corner Bar, O Zone 8 Bar and Local Bar suggest the Bang Tao area is arguably the best place on the island for a darts bar crawl, where players are always guaranteed a warm welcome and a great night on the oches.
Friendly
The Phuket Darts League is a friendly league for those that love the sport and enjoy the social side of darts. In addition to the Tuesday night Phuket league, friendly darts competitions are played across the island each week. Monday evening sees Devils Bar in Kamala take centre stage, with Kindee Bistro running its weekly competition each Thursday. For those in Patong, Friday evening is the time to visit Phuket’s longest running darts competition at Star Fish Bar, which now boasts the island’s only dedicated multi-board darts lounge.
The south of the island is now getting into the act too with Happy Days Bar and Tank and Throttle Bar both combining pool and darts for the full pub sport experience in Chalong. Gozar in Rawai also offers both pool and darts, while Little Mermaid Guesthouse and Restaurant in Kata has a dual board darts area. All these bars are now recruiting for players to begin a friendly darts league in southern Phuket.
Whether you are an experienced player or a total novice, all the islands’ darts venues offer a friendly welcome. Contact them direct or simply drop by for a drink and ‘have a chuck’.
As one season closes we look ahead to the next, which starts early March and promises to be the best yet. There is to be much more in the darts pipeline so stayed tuned to The Phuket News and remember to hit what you throw at!
If you are interested in joining a team or entering a new team in the league please contact the Phuket Darts League on Facebook for more details.