Thus an achievement was made on Saturday night that created a new beginning for DPA darts as a woman won an open event in the DPA for the first time.
Kim Mitchell had survived a tough fight in the semi final as she eliminated for finalist Jed Nethercott in the semi final 6 legs to 5.
She would take on Danny Porter, a man who had stopped her progress at the semi final stage of the last two South Australian events. It was also about family pride as Porter had eliminated Kim’s husband Trent in the other semi final 5-2.
The final had started with Mitchell holding throw in 18 darts whilst Porter collected his first throw in the same amount of darts (although a 140 leaving Mitchell requiring 48 had put pressure on the 52 conversion for Porter.) Leg 3 saw a 13 dart hold of throw before Mitchell missed out at a visit requiring just 16 and Porter moved the match back to level terms with a tonne check out.
He then broke in 14 darts to lead for the first time but Mitchell broke straight back with a 74 check out and then held her own throw to lead 4-3. She then had her chances in the next leg but could only halve a 32 check out opportunity as Porter stepped up and returned the match to parity at 4-4.
The best of three shoot out would see Mitchell have first throw twice and she would need them. A 52 check out saw her move 5-4 ahead on throw but despite a maximum on her first visit against the Porter throw it was he that would take the leg out, in 14 darts.
Both players threw nervous darts in the final leg but with Porter requiring 60 behind her Mitchell scored tops with her second dart to take out the match 6 legs to 5 and crown herself in history.
In NSW two new combatants hit the final for the first time as Matt Liddall took on Andrew Eagers. Liddall had edged past Daniel Pearson 5-4 in the semi final whilst Eagers had comfortably defeated David Cairns 5-0 in the other one. Liddall had lost the opening two legs of the final after spurning chances in both legs before turning the match on its head with a run of four consecutive legs left him 4-2 up.
Eagers then held throw before missing multiple opportunities to tie the match at 4-4 and a double one saw Liddall move just a leg away. A terrific 15 dart leg, highlighted by visits of 140 and 137 was enough as an 80 check out saw Liddall’s conversion of finals to event wins stand at 100%.
There was also a new combatant in the final at the event in Western Australia as Blake Hatchett took on Brendon Lloyd in the final. Lloyd had defeated Ricky Pickett Snr in their semi final 5-3 whilst Hatchett had seen his match go to a deciding leg against Howard Jones before finally prevailing 5-4, having led the match 4-1.
The final saw the first three legs go against the throw before Hatchett finally held throw with a 112 check out to lead 3-1. He then broke his opponent once more, this time in 13 darts but having blown a visit for tops Hatchett had to watch as Lloyd broke straight back.
Lloyd then checked out 100 before Hatchett failed to take the chances he was given on his own throw and Lloyd broke before holding throw once more to secure his fourth leg in a row and lead the match 5-4.
Nerves took a hold of both players over the next two legs but it was Hatchett who finally came through with the win in the 10th leg before picking up the deciding leg. Thus Blake Hatchett was crowned the third new winner on the DPA Satellite tour 2022 version on this Saturday night.
The final event was in Victoria at the Geelong Darts Club and it kept much more to the status quo as Branden Weening and Stuart Coburn made their second final of the weekend. Coburn had seen off Easter Classic winner Sam Ballinger 5-3 in their semi final whilst Weening had defeated Tommy Hyland 5-0 to send a message to Coburn prior to the final.
Coburn held throw at his first attempt before Weening, who had missed chances in the first leg, was able to convert a double and hold his own throw. He then broke as Coburn failed to convert 10 but the Team Rebel man struck straight back as Weening failed to convert 60 and Coburn threw 100 to move the match to 2-2.
Both players then held throw before a great 13 darter from Coburn had him in a 4-3 lead. It would be his last leg victory though as Weening rattled off three straight legs to win the match 6 legs to 4.
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