Kieran Cumberland has secured his fifth Newark and District Double Board Darts League’s Premier Singles title after a comfortable victory in the grand final.

Kieran Cumberland has secured his fifth Newark and District Double Board Darts League’s Premier Singles title.

This was achieved after a comfortable victory in the grand final held at the Castle and Falcon.

Cumberland had only lost twice throughout the league stage but had gone into the end of season semi-finals as the second seed after being pushed into second place by just a solitary point following a surprise 3-0 defeat by Simon Cobb on the final week of the season.

Stuart Glover had topped the league but the top seed’s hopes of a first Premier Singles title was ended in the semi-final as fourth seed Cobb ran out 6-4 winner. Cobb had taken the opening two legs before the remaining legs of a close encounter had gone with the advantage of throw.

The second semi-final was another terrific encounter which saw Cumberland also take an early 2-0 lead against third seed Matthew Glover but his rival responded to draw level at 2-2.

The next five legs all went with the throw to put Cumberland 5-4 ahead and leave Glover needing to hold his throw one more time to take the match into a decider but he failed to land his opportunity and Cumberland took advantage to edge home 6-4.

Cumberland went into the final with an impressive record of four final appearances and four victories in 2015, 2018, 2020 and 2022 while Cobb’s two final appearances had seen a defeat in the inaugural competition in 2003 and victory in 2012.

The opening three legs of the final went with the advantage of throw to leave Cumberland 2-1 ahead before a pivotal third leg

which saw Cobb outscore his rival and have six darts to draw level but agonisingly failed to land the double by the smallest of margins on each occasion.

Cumberland, who had finished well all night, took advantage and holed out to gain an early 3-1 cushion.

Cumberland then never looked back as he upped his scoring and continued his clinical finishing to extend his lead to 5-1 while Cobb was struggling to find his semi-final form.

The seventh and ultimately final leg saw Cobb leave himself on a finish but his hopes of keeping the match alive ended as Cumberland checked out on double-16 to secure a 6-1 win and deservedly claim an impressive fifth title – just one short of six-time winner Paul Gallacher.

Rose and Crown Marauders have completed back to back league and cup doubles after they followed up this season’s league success with a third successive knock-out cup win after a 4-0 victory over RHP Darts of Hazzard in the final held at the Castle and Falcon.

The opening leg of the final, which was much closer than the scoreline suggested, saw Steven Barnett check out on double-8 with RHP still requiring 117.

The second leg had RHP lying in wait for a shot at 68 but the opportunity never came as Barnett struck again – holing out on double-10.

The third leg saw Steve Alexander have a chance to halve the deficit but he was unable to take out 68 and with RHP then hoping for a shot at double-10 up stepped Phil Tranter to sink a double-10 of his own to put the Balderton side within one leg of victory.

The fourth and ultimately final leg was another close affair and once again RHP were waiting in hope for a throw at 48 but the chance never came as Shane Gallacher held his nerve to land a terrific 66 checkout to secure the victory and retention of the knock-out cup.

In the ladies division the title race still remains tight after the top three all won. League leaders Railway Youngers overcame King’s Queens 11-4 while Fran Paterson’s team leg checkout secured a 10-5 victory for second-placed Castle and Falcon Bangers over RHP Ladies.

Third placed Wheatsheaf Wandering Misfits kept their slim hopes alive as they beat Railway Club Artists 11-4.

The remaining match saw Chris Henderson hit the decisive double in the team leg as Caffs Ladies come from 5-3 down to win 10-5 against Falcoholics.