Luckily, Wingham youngsters don’t need to tune into YouTube to help them learn the game and keep up with the trend.

The kind folks at the Wingham Services Snooker and Darts Club are hosting Wingham High School students each Friday for school sports.

“We’re teaching them properly,” said club secretary Donna Fowler.

Since the beginning of the 2018 school year a group of up to 22 high school students has been going to the Wingham Services Club to learn not only darts but snooker and carpet bowls too.

Club sports as a school sports elective was the brainchild of Wingham High teacher John Morgan.

He approached the club towards the end of 2017 which set the wheels in motion for the regular lessons.

“I thought it was a joke,” admits fellow teacher Scott Brown who was originally less than enthusiastic about the idea.

But the first time he was tasked with accompanying the students to the club he had a change of heart.

“I realised it was fair dinkum,” Scott said.

“It keeps them engaged and they’re having a go.”

Now Scott takes the students over most weeks and has even been known to throw the odd dart or two himself.

The club boasts some state and national champions in both snooker and darts and these experts are on hand to guide the kids.

Wingham snooker legend Barry Carlaw and darts extraordinaire George Fowler are on hand each week to impart their wisdom.

The program has already seen a number of the students enquire about joining up to play in the club’s darts competitions.

“This is what we wanted to keep the sport going,” said Gail.

“It’s been really good.”

As the Wingham kids improve – and from what we can gather there’s some true talent shining through – the club is likely to throw down the gauntlet for a challenge with Taree.

Students at Chatham High School and St Clare’s High School are rumoured to be learning snooker at least and the Wingham crew seem keen for some competition.