Leighton Bennett and Nathan Care were crowned champions at the Scott Farms International Junior darts tour on Saturday afternoon, as the duo cruised through an experienced field in two thrilling events at Riley’s Chorlton.
Bennett, who had already won four times on the JDC tour in 2019, set a new record on route to securing his fifth title in six months. The 13-year-old nailed a 112.7 in his quarter-final victory over Luke Littler, the highest seen on the JDC tour since it’s inception in 2015.
‘Boom Boom’s’ incredible record on the JDC circuit was pronounced as he dropped just two legs in winning the second event of the day in Manchester. Bennett got the ball rolling with a straightforward victory over Harry Smith, before dispatching of Alfie Jacques 3-1 in the second round.
A 95 average was enough to see off the fast firing Harry Gregory in the last 16, before his sensational 112.7 sealed his semi-final place against the aforementioned Littler.
He would whitewash an impressive looking Jack Boardman in the final four, setting up a meeting with the days surprise package Mitchell Leeming for the title. Worcester thrower Leeming had survived match darts in the previous two rounds but did not have such luck against the rampant Bennett.
Two maximums and a 120 finish allowed the now four-time JDC tour champion to romp to victory and compensate for his previous defeat to Henry Coates in T7.
Blackburn’s Nathan Care was also crowned a JDC tour winner earlier in the day as he defeated Henry Coates in a pulsating final.
The 14-year-old showed tremendous maturity throughout the tournament, holding his nerve in three consecutive last-leg deciders as he reached his second final in the JDC.
He would face a resurgent Henry Coates in the final after the Derby based thrower hit the bullseye for a 127 combination to dump Leighton Bennett out of the competition.
Coates would not be able to produce the heroics of his win over Bennett in the final as Care took his inaugural JDC title. Despite the first two legs going with throw, Care would turn on the afterburners to lift himself up the JDC order of merit and seal a place in the Scott Farms International Junior Darts World Championships in Gibraltar.
JDC T7 Results
Quarter-Finals
Henry Coates 3-1 James Beeton
Leighton Bennett 3-0 Jack Boardman
Luke Littler 3-1 Luke Simmons
Nathan Care 3-2 Harry Gregory
Semi-Finals
Henry Coates 4-3 Leighton Bennett
Nathan Care 4-3 Luke Littler
Final
Nathan Care 5-1 Henry Coates
JDC T8 Results
Quarter-finals
Leighton Bennett 3-0 Luke Littler
Jack Boardman 3-2 James Beeton
Daan Bastiaansen 3-1 Connor Pickett
Mitchell Leeming 3-2 Ashley Marson
Semi-Finals
Leighton Bennett 4-0 Jack Boardman
Mitchell Leeming 4-3 Daan Bastiaansen
Final
Leighton Bennett 5-0 Mitchell Leeming
BY JOSH GREEN