The depth of the Predators is proving to be a scary prospect for fellow South West Gippsland Dart League sides on the home straight towards the looming finals campaign, not missing a beat despite the absence of their star player.
With Steve not available for selection on Tuesday night, it was left to Jordan and Nathan to carry the load against former champions Just Social, a task they executed with aplomb.
Jordan threw eight tons to climb into fourth place on the tons leaderboard, taking his total for 2024 to 69, and Nathan contributed four as the Predators comfortably handled Just Social in a 11-4 win, a fifth in a row for the second-placed Predators.
Remaining on top of the pile, however, remains Snipers, taking their unbeaten run to 15 matches with an 11-4 result over 26ers.
Mud Rats made it five wins in a row by getting the better of Bullseyes 10-5, but a two-win gap remains between the Rats and Cheers.
Cheers made it back-to-back shutouts, holding Generals scoreless in a 15-0 hammering, spearheaded by a second 180 for Ant in 2024.
Elsewhere, Gembrook’s up-and-down season continues, with round 16 offering an up, in the form of a narrow 8-7 win over Fore.
Seven tons for Doug was just the tonic for the Brookers, who climbed back to seventh place on the table, leapfrogging 26ers.
Results R16: Mus Rats 10 v Bullseyes 5, Dart Vaders 14 v Dart Attack 1, Gembrook 8 v Fore 7, Cheers 15 v Generals 0, Predators 11 v Just Social 4, Snipers 11 v 26ers 4, Railway 10 v Hoodies 5.
Ladder: Snipers 64, Predators 60, Cheers 56, Mud Rats 48, Dart Vaders 44, Just Social 36, Gembrook 36, 26ers 32, Fore 20, Railway 20, Generals 16, Bullseyes 12, Dart Attack 4, Hoodies 0.
Fixture R17: Predators (2) v Bullseyes (12), Mud Rats (4) v Snipers (1), Just Social (6) v Dart Vaders (5), 26ers (8) v Hoodies (14), Dart Attack (13) v Gembrook (7), Railway (10) v Cheers (3), Fore (9) v Generals (11).
