Double Delight As Rising Stars Scoop Cherry Tree Prize

Fifty players entered the mid-season Steve Chapman 501 League doubles tournament, with the young pairing of Cameron O'Brien and Reece Mealin walking away with the grand prize at the Cherry Tree.

O'Brien and Mealin started their race to the title with a 2-0 win in one of nine preliminary round contests, which were played on their home turf.

Scott Cook added a 180 in a 2-0 success for him and his partner Reece Day, whilst Simon Washington also repeated that feat in a 2-1 triumph for Ford Inn duo Washington and Gavican.

In the first round proper, maximums continued to dominate the headlines as Tony Tasker and Hayley Brant both bagged one in a 2-1 win for Brant and Anna Pearce over Tasker and colleague Kelvin Rowe.

Scott Wapshott was the next 180 hitter, as he and his Ford Inn stablemate Mark Shears opened their account with a 2-0 success.

O'Brien and Mealin provided their most spectacular moment with a remarkable 12 dart 601 leg that saw a 180 and a 167 finish from the former in a 2-1 victory.

In the last 16, Cook notched his second maxi of the night in a 2-0 victory before O'Brien and Mealin moved one step closer to glory by a 2-1 scoreline.

Lee Hellings provided a 180, which contributed to a 2-0 victory for him and partner Melvyn German over Pearce and Brant.

O'Brien and Mealin survived a three treble visit from Mark Shears to secure a 2-0 win and a spot amongst the last four.

Cook put up a third maximum of his evening as Cook and Day edged out Hellings and German by a 2-1 scoreline.

On paper, a pairing from the league leaders, Falstaff might seem like a bridge too far for O'Brien and Mealin, but they dispatched Paul Goundry and Darren Collis 2-0 to book a place in the final.

Goundry banged in a maxi in that defeat, whilst Cook and Day's run was also ended in the final four stage by Rikki Eastley and Graham White from The Exchange.

Eastley provided the only other ton plus finish of the night in that success before ending his night as a runner-up with the home favourites taking the £150 first prize.