Paige Pauling reinforced her status as the No 1 girl in darts as she beat Rebecca Allen to win the JDC Girls Series Grand Final on the big stage in Blackpool.
Playing as a prelude to the Women’s World Matchplay on the Winter Gardens stage, England’s Pauling beat Ireland’s Allen 5-2 to take the glory.
The 17-year-old – who topped the standings by six points from Allen after the 10 events in the Girls Series season – continued her excellent form with another big win.
Pauling raced into a 3-0 lead in Blackpool, holding throw to settle her nerves, before breaking Allen’s throw in 18 darts to double her lead – despite three ton-plus scores from Allen.
Pauling then held again for 3-0 – before Allen produced the best leg of the match to give herself a glimmer of hope.
She went out in 14 darts – 60, 81, 100, 180 and 80 – to get her first leg on the board. When she broke in 16 darts in the next leg, hitting 132 to leave 32 which she took at the first opportunity, Pauling must have felt she was in a game.
But she showed why she is the top girl player in darts by breaking back to calm any nerves. Despite some pressure from Allen, who hit two 100s in the leg, Pauling threw 140 to leave 42, which she dealt with in two darts for a 4-2 lead.
That left her one leg away from the title – and she clinched the deal by taking out 20 with Allen waiting on the same score.
While Pauling took the honours, Allen – who won three events during the regular Girls Series season – played some excellent darts and even recorded an average that was more than three points higher than Pauling’s.
The Girls Series Grand Final is the latest JDC event to feature a final on-stage during a major PDC tournament. The next will see the Volts final take place at the World Grand Prix this autumn.
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