
The next wildcard “David Dodds” wasn’t overawed by the occasion, or “Ted Hankey’s” reputation, and gave the seasoned pro a good whopping, whitewashing the count 4-0. He ended the last leg with a maximum 170 out shot – the 2 treble 20’s and a bull really getting the crowd up on their feet. Ian Ramsey won the chance to lock fangs with the count, paying £80 for the pleasure – but it too went the way of the pro. The 3rd quarter final was a close fought affair with “Dave Prins” knocking out crowd favourite “Denis the menace Priestly” 4 legs to 2. The last of the quarter finals was over in a flash with “Phil the power Taylor” easily dispensing with “Andy Chalmers” with a score of 4 legs to 1.
Quarter finals over, and a quick refreshment break for the 4 dart players left in the tournament, led up to the 2 semi finals. David Dodds wiped the floor with Pater Manley with a 4-1 dribbing and Taylor left Prins at the starting gate with the same score, leading us up nicely to a final match between Phil Taylor and David Dodds. Firstly, there was a raffle to conclude, which had superb prizes ranging from dart boards signed by the pro’s to boxing gloves with an Anthony Joshua scribble – even an England shirt, worn by Gazza, was won, which didn’t go down to well with the Cider drink Jocks sat on our table – lol.
With prizes given out, and happy faces all round, the music was now pumped up to the max to introduce the 2 final gladiators left to do battle. David Dodds received a deafening roar of approval, taking to the stage first, followed a minute later by Phil Taylor who raised the bar, and the roof, with ear-splitting shouting, whistling and applause – definitely the crowds favourite. After a few practice shots, and a bit of crack going back and forth with the noisy audience, “Taylor” got the leg underway starting with a crowd pleasing 180. Not content with the first maximum, Taylor hit another, sending the crowd into a frenzy, resulting in wild, standing on chair scenes, with lots of 180 placards being waved in the air. With Taylor far too many points ahead, he took the first leg and easily followed this with the second, including another 180 for good measure. Taylor was now finding it pretty much hard to miss the treble 20 – but to stop the rot, Dodds came back and took the third leg with a classic 72 check out. Score 2-1 to Taylor. Dodds comeback was short-lived though as the damage had already been done, Taylor, now dominating the game, took the forth leg with double top, the finish line almost in sight. 3-1 up, Taylor powered on and took the fifth and final leg with a double 8 finish to clinch the match. All that was left to do was to raise the trophy, presented by Lee Bellerby of NE Sporting Events and raise it he did, to thunderous applause. “ Phil the power Taylor” winner of the 2017 “Newcastle Darts Masters 5“.