Leaders go 13 points clear at top

THE half-way stage of the summer season was reached last week in the Loughborough and District Pubs and Clubs Darts League. Bottom Railway BA extended their lead at the top of Blue Ball Division One to 13 points as they beat third place Navigation Tap Tappers 7-2 in a game that saw Lyndon Hextall hit his sixth and Dan Jones his fifth maximum of the season so far for the ‘ Tappers’. Lyndon now leads the field in the chase for the coveted ‘Most maximums scored in Division One trophy’, with team mate Dan and Blue Lion’s Tony Spencer in joint second.

Dean Maxwell hit his second maximum for the Three Nuns Left Footers as they move up to second place with their 6-3 win over the Arena Gladiators, for whom Mark Richmond also hit a maximum. There were also maximums for Doug Porter in his Royal Oak DP’s 5-4 win against pub rivals Royal Oak Shooters, and for Tony Spencer and Kev Bryan in the Blue Ball Lions 6-3 win against the Spot On MP.

In Wanty’s Division Two, Duane Freer hit his second maximum of the season for leaders Brush Club AW, as they won 6-3 at the Beacon to keep their unbeaten record intact. However Spot On Dinosaurs are now only seven points behind them with a game in hand after they beat their close adversaries Spot On Lads 7-2.

In S H Cox Division Three, the Three Crowns Barrow take over at the top of the division after their 7-2 win over the Beacon Reds in a re-arranged fixture, whilst the Three Nuns Albion’s 8-1 win over The Crown Inn Glory was the biggest winning margin of the night. The Three Nuns Exiles are up to third place after their close 5-4 win against the Bull and Bush Laughing Boys.

In Generous Briton Division Four, Spot On Rejects are also still unbeaten after a close 5-4 win against the Crown Rejects. They are now 12 points clear of Plough B who did not play due to the withdrawal of the Generous Briton Griff & Barrett’s Bandits. For the remainder of the season, any fixture against the ‘Bandits’ should be considered as a bye.

In Navigation Division Five leaders the Swan in the Rushes Black Pearls narrowly beat the Blue Ball CS 5-4 but Tap & Clapper Bob Bradley’s lost ground as they were beaten 5-4 by the Windmill Wild Hearts.

Finally in Jim Kidger Division Six, Generous Briton Team GB lost their unbeaten record as they went down 5-4 to the Plough Ernie’s but remain top of the division by three points from the Crown Jewels Barrow who won 5-4 at Shepshed Dynamo B&W. The full results for Thursday, July 6:

Blue Ball Division One: Three Nuns Left Footers (Dean Maxwell 180) 6-3 Arena Gladiators (Mark Richmond 180), Royal Oak DP (Doug Porter 180) 5-4 Royal Oak Shooters (Matt Ball 171), Bottom Railway BA 7-2 Navigation Tap Tappers (Lyndon Hextall 180 &120 Finish, Dan Jones 180), Spot On MP - Bye, Blue Ball Lions (Kev Bryan 180, Tony Spencer 180, Paul Hutchins 177) 6-3 Spot On MP - re-arranged game brought forward, Navigation Wagg’s Gang v Blue Ball Lions - No game to be re-arranged. Wanty’s

Division Two: Shepshed Dynamo Gate Crashers (Ryan Thacker 180) 5-4 Top Railway A, Spot On Guy ‘n’ Gals - Bye, Tap and Mallet JB (Dave Hind 124 Finish) 6-3 Tap and Mallet CD, Beacon Yer Lolly 3-6 Brush Club AW (Duane Freer 180), Spot On Lads 2-7 Spot On Dinosaurs. S H Cox Division Three: Three Crowns, Barrow - Bye, Three Nuns Exiles 5-4 Bull & Bush Laughing Boys, Black Swan JS 5-4 Generous Briton Dad’s Army, Blacksmiths Blue Army v Beacon Reds - No game to be re-arranged, Crown Inn Glory 1-8 Three Nuns Albion, Three Crowns, Barrow 7-2 Beacon Reds - re-arranged game brought forward.

Generous Briton Division Four: Blue Ball B 3-6 Twelve Degrees 26ers, Spot On Rejects 5-4 Crown Rejects, Peacock Feathers, Plough B & Tap & Clapper - all Byes. Navigation

Division Five: Dewdrop Blues v Crown MA - No game to be re-arranged, White Hart Stags - Bye, Generous Briton Luffs 2-7 Royal Oak Old Uns, Windmill Wild Hearts 5-4 Tap & Clapper Bob Bradley’s, Blue Ball CS 4-5 Swan in the Rushes Black Pearls. Jim Kidger

Division Six: Shepshed Dynamo B&W 4-5 Crown Jewels, Barrow ( Ted Sentence 180), Three Nuns Bad Habits - Bye, Plough Ernie’s (Mick Smith 180) 5-4 Generous Briton Team GB, Top Railway DUI’s - Bye, Swan in the Rushes Savvies 6-3 Blue Ball MS.