IT may have been a scorcher of a day on Sunday - but cool heads and steady hands were the order of the day at the footer for the Star Individual Darts Championship last Sunday.

Michael Holt, Ali Thompson, Colin Young and Andrew Rodger all held their nerve at Chapel End Labour Club, Billinge to go through to the finals night on July 15.

Rodger was first to seal his place after throwing some steady arrows to beat off the plucky challenge of youngster Mike Anders in the second round.

He faced a more formidable test in the third round against Antony Dingsdale.

Dingsdale threw some solid darts, including a ton, but failed to hit the doubles allowing Rodger to nip in.

Rodger, with a pair of tons and a 125, had the edge over Dingsdale to take a closely fought second leg and the tie.

Dingsdale had earlier defeated Paul Pennington in the first round and was within a whisker of checking out on 132, which would have been the highest of the competion so far, but his last arrow fell on the wrong side of the double 18 wire.

George McCormick went out despite throwing some big scores, including a 180 on his way to taking the first leg against Carl Fenney in the second round.

Fenney threw a pair of tons and a 125 on his way to taking the second leg, despite two cracking 140s from McCormick. Fenney took a close final leg to go through to the third round, where he met an on-song Colin Young.

Fenney threw a 135 and a ton on his way to taking the first leg, despite throwing a pair of 140s.

Young continued his high scoring with a ton and 140 on his way to levelling up the contest.

In a nerve-racking final leg, Fenney missed his chance to go out on double top to allow Young to take his place on finals night.

After going one leg down against Ronnie Singleton, Ali Thompson stayed cool, calm and collected to level the game with a bull finish in the second leg, setting up a thrilling finale.

Singleton started great guns, opening with a 140 before adding a pair of tons. But he paid dearly for twice failing on the doubles, allowing Thompson, who earlier thrown an impressive 135, to take the game.

Thompson had earlier come from behind to beat the impressive youngster Ian Paul Hunter in a three legger.

Two cracking finishes of 108 and 112 saw Mike Spratt overcome the challenge of Dave Houghton, after going down one leg.

But Spratt came unstuck against Michael Holt in the third round. Holt had a successful day, with his 14 arrow third leg win against Peter Phillips equalling George McCormick's first round effort on the least dart finish count.

JBR Plastics have put up £50 for the player with the least dart finish, which will be shared between the winners if there is more than one.

Steve Jones, with his first round 120, is still on course for the £50 prize sponsored by Milton's Jewellers for the highest check-out.

Round Two, part two results: Antony Dingsdale 2 Paul Pennington 1, Andrew Rodger 2 Michael Anders 0, Carl Fenney 2 George McCormick 1, Alan Waite 0 Colin Young 2, Ronnie Singleton 2 Ken Harris 0, Ian Paul Hunter 1 Ali Thompson 2, Mike Spratt 2 Dave Houghton 1, Michael Holt 2 Peter Phillips 1.

Round Three: Antony Dingsdale 0 Andrew Rodger 2, Carl Fenney 1 Colin Young 2, Ali Thompson 2 Ronnie Singleton 1, Mike Spratt 0 Michael Holt 2.

July 15 finals night at Chapel End Labour Club, 7pm start.

Line up: Andrew Rodger, Colin Young, Ali Thompson, Michael Holt, Peter Turton, Steve Comber, Gary Welding, Doug Smith.