Blue Mugge in cup shock after knocking out Hare and Gate

IT was cup week in the Leek and District Darts League as the first round of the League Cup took place.

Black Lion 4 continued their good run by defeating Benks 6.

However, the highlights were Blue Mugge 2 who are currently flying high at the top of Division Three, knocking out second tier side Hare and Gate, Adam Burtonshaw enjoying a purple patch at the moment and an even bigger surprise in Wellington 4 from Division Four enjoying a close win over Division One strugglers Sportsman, James Bristow delivering the killer blow. As expected, both Crown 1 and Dyers Arms 3 eased through against lower opposition.

Results: Wellington IV 5 Sportsman 4, Benks III 5 Holly Bush I 4, Hare and Gate 4 Blue Mugge II 5, Benks I 4 Abbey Inn 5,

Robin Hood 7 Crown II 2, Breaks I 5 Wellington III 4, Mill St. Club I 6 Stafford Arms 3, Priory I 4 Ball Haye Tavern VI 6, Black Lion IV 8 Benks VI 1, Wellington I 2 Rose and Crown 7, Ball Haye Tavern II 2 Holly Bush III 7, Benks VII 2 Dyers Arms III 7, Black Lion III 4 Benks II 5, Mill St. Club II 3 Crown 6, Red Lion W/F I 7 Ball Haye Tavern V 2, Ball Haye Tavern III 4 Lazy Trout 5 .

Highlights: 180s N Rutter (Dyers 3), C Needham (Crown 1), D Mcguinness (Rose and Crown), A Sellars (Red Lion 1), P Hudson

(Ball Haye Tavern 5). Least

darts: 15 & 16 A Beardmore (Ball Haye Tavern 3), 16 J Alcock Breaks 1), 17 L Ferris (Crown 1), 19 (twice) A Carter (Benks 3). Highest

checkouts: 126 P. Heath (Crown 1), 115 J. Alcock, 110 N. Lawton (Benks 3).

In the Subsidiary Cup preliminary round, Travellers Rest and Windmill are joint favourites to go all the way as they both dismissed their opponents with ease.

Howevere, there were also big wins for Black lion 1, Benks 5, Wellington 2, Blue Mugge 1 and Boat Inn 1 who all met lower league opponents.

Results: Travellers Rest 7 Benks IV 2, Ball Haye Yavern IV 2 Black Lion I 7, Windmill 6 Black Lion II 3, Valiant 5 Peiory II 4, Benks V 7 Boat Inn II 2, Cattle Market 1 Wellington II 8,

Blue Mugge I 7 Dyers Arms I 2, Holly Bush II 3 Benks VIII 6, Boat Inn I 8 Dyers Arms II 1, Red Lion W/F II 3 Crown III 6.

Highlights: 180s D

Scragg (Benks 4), D Brass (Travellers Rest), E Dunnfox (Priory 2).