Family affair as Eric and Jamie keep Priory 2’s unbeaten run going

BLACK Lion 4 increased their lead at the top of the Leek and District Darts League by trouncing a sorry looking Ball Haye Tavern side.

They took all six singles with Lee Bates enjoying a splendid run of form, ably supported by Andy Dickin and Nick Schonau. In the battle of the Tattons, Pat took the singles over Dan, but the latter had taken the doubles consolation with team-mate John Grayson.

Crown are enjoying a winning spell as they hammered Benks 3 to consolidate second place after taking all three doubles with Dave Needham in support.

Results: Benks III 2 Crown 7, Wellington II 3 Benks II 6, Black Lion IV 8 Ball Haye Tavern VI 1, Sportsman 4 Lazy Trout 5, Dyers Arms III 5 Red Lion W/F 4.

Highlights: 180s N Schonau, L Bates, A Dickin (all Black Lion 4). Least darts: 15 & 19 T Wright (Wellington

2), 17 T Banks (Benks 2), 18 L Bates, 19 A Hulse (Wellington 2). Highest checkout: 116 D Sumner (Benks 2). In Division Two, Travellers Rest scrambled to the top despite losing to Ball Haye Tavern 3 and courtesy of Benks 6 taking a bye.

Hare and Gate’s in and out form saw them drop to mid table after a home defeat to Breaks which saw them move up. Chris Alcock and Ben Jones doing the most damage.

Results: Hare and Gate 3 Breaks I 6, Travellers Rest 3 Ball Haye Tavern III 6, Valiant 4 Windmill 5.

Highlights: 180s J Alcock (Breaks

1), M Barratt (Hare and Gate). Least darts: 13 A Ryan, (Travellers Rest), 14 T Hull (Windmill), 16 B Jones (Breaks 1)

Blue Mugge 2 extended their lead in the third after a close encounter with Black Lion 2 whose second loss meant that Ball Haye Tavern 5 and Crown moved above them thanks to wins over Black Lion 1 and Ball Haye Tavern 2 . Mill Street Club 1 took the honours in their clash with Breaks 2 enabling them to swap places with their second string who went down to Benks 8.

Results: Breaks II 3 Mill St. Club I 6, Ball Haye Tavern V 5 Black Lion I 4, Ball Haye Tavern IV 4 Crown II 5, Black Lion II 4 Blue Mugge II 5, Mill St. Club II 3 Benks VIII 6.

Least darts: 17 A Burtonshaw (Blue Mugge 2).

Robin Hood stormed to the top of Division Four after an eight leg blitz scuppered unbeaten record. It was only Boat Inn’s Dan Hine who grabbed a consolation in the final leg.

Boat remain in second due to the defeat of Benks 4 at the hands of Rose and Crown and it is tightly packed in mid table.

Results: Rose and Crown 5 Benks IV 4, Wellington IV 6 Top Pub 3, Boat Inn I 1 Robin Hood 8, Benks I 3 Abbey

Inn 6.

Priory 2 remain the only unbeaten side in Division Five after comfortably seeing off the challenge of Wellington 3, father and son combo, Eric and Jamie Dunn-fox doing the most damage. Benks 5 stuttered to a narrow win over Blue Mugge 1 to stay second with Benks 7 moving into third just edging out Priory 1.

Results: No. 41 Bar Milton 4 Dyers Arms II 5, Benks VII 5 Priory I 4, Blue Mugge I 4 Benks V 5, Priory II 6 Wellington III 3, Dyers Arms I 4 Holly Bush 5.

Highlights: 180 C. Birch (Priory 1). Least Darts 16 C. Wainwright (Blue Mugge 1)

In the basement tier, Britannia Inn 1 roared to the top after destroying bottom side Boat Inn 2 while their seconds were helping out by defeating previous leaders Fountain. There were welcome wins for both Red Lion Waterfall 2 and Ball Haye Tavern.

Results: Britannia Inn I 7 Boat Inn II 2, Ball Haye Tavern IV 6 Cattle Market 3, Red Lion II 5 Wellington I 4, Fountain 4 Britannia Inn II 5.

Highest checkout: 114 J Burnett (Wellington 1).