Rebecca Allen stunned the world of junior darts by beating Paige Pauling 6-5 to become the first winner of the girls’ JDC Junior Power League.
Pauling – the recent winner of the Girls Series – was expected to add to her silverware in Coventry.
But 16-year-old Allen, from Ireland, stormed to the title as she made history as the first winner of the girls’ JPL.
The two players had finished first and second in the league phase – and were always likely to meet in the final.
That became reality when Allen won her semi-final against Lexi-Jayne Rooksby 5-3, while Pauling beat Ruby Grey 5-2.
Allen’s semi-final went with throw until the eighth league, in which she clinched the match. She hit some key checkouts at important times, holding throw for 2-1 lead with a 71, before upping the ante to make it 4-3 with a 64. She clinched the match on tops.
Rooksby played her part in an entertaining semi-final, with a highest checkout of 61.
In the other semi-final, Pauling looked in control. The first five legs all went with throw, before Pauling broke in 18 darts to move 4-2 ahead. She sealed the win with a two-dart 58 checkout to set up another meeting with Allen in the final.
The two players have been the leading lights in girls’ junior darts for some time – and jt was fitting they served up such an enthralling final.
The match went with throw all the way through as the two players battled it out.
Allen took out 40 to lead, before Pauling responded by hitting 32. Allen edged back in front, only for Pauling to level, with Allen clearing 16 for the lead.
Pauling was level again at 3-3, before Allen kept her composure to wrap up the seventh leg in seven visits. Pauling hit back on tops – with Allen needing 6 and waiting to pounce – before the Irish player moved within one leg of victory as she cleared 40.
Pauling checked out 56 to force a deciding leg – and Allen kept her cool with back-to-back hundreds en route to taking out 40 to win the match and the title.
One impressive aspect of the final was that every time a player checked out, her opponent was on a two-dart finish at most.
This was an excellent final between two great competitors who have pushed each other to improve throughout the year across various tournaments.
RESULTS
Final:
Rebecca Allen (Ire) 6-5 Paige Pauling (Eng)
Semi-finals:
Rebecca Allen (Ire) 5-3 Lexi-Jayne Rooksby (Eng)
Paige Pauling (Eng) 5-2 Ruby Grey (Eng)
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