Favourites make impressive start

Darts

Teams started their Herne Bay & District Winter Darts League campaign and Division 1 title favourites Chislet Colliery Club started with a 9-2 home win over the Catholic Club.

Catholic Club gained some consolation with Jamie Lees checking out on 104, while Chislet’s Paul Bunting hit two 180s and his team-mate Martin Hackett one maximum.

Angling Club B will be harbouring promotion hopes but suffered an 8-3 home defeat to the Rising Sun with a 180 from Graeme Poynter helping him edge the man-of-the-match award.

The East Station Snooker Club started life back in Division 1 following relegation with a 6- 5 home win over the Druids Head.

In the Premier Cup, holders the Divers Arms started their Group A campaign with a 7-2 home win over the Angling Club A.

Anglers’ Graham Reynolds checked out on 134 while Divers duo Mike Cattell and Paul Knight each hit maximums.

In Group B, Whitstable Cricket Club won 6-3 away to the Tally Ho with Keith Ralph checking out on 114 and hitting a 180, as did Richard Stevens.

In a friendly, the Smugglers Inn were beaten 6-3 at home to the Hampton Inn, for whom Paul Dawkins hit three maximums.

Faversham league leaders the Railway cruised to a 6-3 win against the Three Horseshoes A, despite the Shoes’ Graham Gordan taking out 135.

The Castle B remain behind the Railway on leg difference after a 6-3 win at the Three Tuns B but the new table toppers are Market A after they had a 7-2 home victory over the Football Club, although Dan Chance hit a 110 checkout for the visitors.

Castle A bounced back with a 5- 4 home win over the Three Tuns A with Lewis Gore taking out a 108 check in his singles.

The Brents A carried on their winning form with a 6-3 home win over the Bull B with George Harris hitting a 180.

The Brents B bounced back from their defeat last week with a 6-3 away win over the Bull A with skipper Shaun Gore winning the match for his side, his singles win helped by a maximum.

The Market B went down 5- 4 at the Three Horseshoes B, a match which started with a fine doubles performance from the Shoe’s Chris Bedo and Neil Cole which saw a 180 and a 143 check from Bedo and his partner Cole taking out a 116 check.

Canterbury’s East Station Snooker Club played host to former World darts champion Bob Anderson. The Limestone Cowboy, who was world No.1 for three years, in the 1980s played 14 local players hoping to grab some glory against one of the sport’s legends....