Cardigan teenage darter Justin Smith picked up the winners prize at the Cardigan Open Singles Championship held at the town’s Dragon Wine Bar on Sunday.
The 19-year-old, who competes on the Professional Darts Corporation circuit, is better known locally as a footballer with St Dogmaels FC in the Costcutter League but he was more focussed on the oche rather than the touchline on this occasion.
Smith overcame the challenge of Tanya Webb in the opening round by 3-0 and followed this up with another whitewash against Tom Allan. Jeff Thomas was next up and he was edged out by 3-2 to send Smith into the final against Dan Thomas of Aberdare.
Thomas enjoyed 3-0 wins over his Saints team mates Adam Williams and Chris Thomas in the early rounds but he had to tough it out against Stuart Davies before he came through to win 3-2. Mark Newell was his opponent in the semi final and this went to the wire with Thomas getting through by 4-3.
The final was a quality affair with Thomas regularly hitting the 180’s but it was Smith who held his nerve to come through to take the £300 first prize after a 5-3 final win. Thomas picked up £100 as the runner up.
Smith admitted he was well chuffed to have won this event and commented:” Yes I was well pleased to have taken this title but I knew I was in for a tough match.
“I hadn’t come across Dan Thomas before but he played some decent players on the way to the final so I knew he was good and he had been hitting all the high scores.
“I played well all the way through and especially in the first game where I scored 35,180,90,180 then hit double 8 for a 13 darter but most of all I just enjoyed the competition.
“I have been playing a lot of tournaments lately around the area and doing rather well, reaching quarter finals, and was the furthest youth in the Pontyberem Open last Saturday , losing to Michael Rowlands 4-2 who went on to win it by beating Justin Pipe in the final. So that was a massive confidence booster going into this competition and for the tour and the qualifying school in January.”
Pictured is Open winner Smith with runner up Thomas, competition sponsor Adam Cole and highest finishing lady Kylie Murphy.
