Blue Mugge take over at the top as clubs eye darts crown

THE focus this week centres on the chase for honours in Division Three as Blue Mugge 2 moved back to the top in convincing style after a resounding victory over high flying Ball Haye Tavern 5.

They took all three doubles to take command and, despite Richard Garbacki pulling one back for “Bodgers”, then went on to take the following four singles.

Crown, however, came up against a Mill Street Club 1 side who are the form side at the moment having beaten the leaders last week and taking on Crown in their latest fixture. Ray Needham turned back the clock with a superb performance in the singles ably supported by son John, but man of the match went to Mick Shaw who hit Crown`s Dave Stubbs with a double whammy to leave the Club sitting pretty in third place Results: Black Lion I 6 Breaks II 3, Crown II 3 Mill St. Club I 6, Blue Mugge II 7 Ball Haye Tavern V 2,

Benks VIII 6 Ball Haye Tavern II 2, Mill St. Club II 4 Black Lion II 5.

Highlights: Least darts: 15 M Shaw (Mill St. Club 1). Highest checkouts: 152 R Chadwick (Mill St. Club 1), 141 M Shaw, 119 J Needham (Mill St.

Club 1).

Back in Division One, Sportsman gave leaders Black Lion 4 a shock after dropping the first two doubles, but then hit back to go 4-2 up in a remarkable comeback through Barnett, Smith and Walker before Nick Schonau and

Earl Davis hit back to clinch a narrow victory for the leaders.

Second placed Crown 1 also struggled to overcome a stubborn Benks 2 outfit and it took a 20-dart leg on the doubles from Ray Smith and Luke Ferris, supported by Phil Heath and Chris Needham, to enable the Waterhouses team to sneak through.

Results: Benks II 4 Crown I 5, Ball Haye Tavern VI 3 Dyers Arms III 6,

Lazy Trout 3 Wellington II 6, Sportsman 4 Black Lion IV 5, Red Lion W/F I 5 Benks III 4.

Highlights: 180s P Heath, C Needham (Both Crown 1), P Heath (Dyers Arms 3), G Whitworth (Black Lion 4). Least darts: 17 T Banks (Benks 2), B Pointon (Ball Haye Tavern 6), P Heath (Dyers Arms 3), 18 B Barlow (Lazy Trout),

19 G Barnett (Sportsman). Highest checkout: 130 D Tatton (Ball Haye Tavern 6).

At the second level, Ball

Haye Tavern 3 stretched their unbeaten run to six as they brushed aside the challenge of Hare and Gate to stay just ahead of Benks 6. Andy Beardmore was in remarkable form, hitting no less than three ton eighties, showing why he is one of the best players in the league. Benks 6 did what was required at struggling Prince of Wales, while Travellers Rest kept up the pressure in third to make it any two from three as they trounced bottom-placed Valiant, dropping only one leg. Results: Prince of Wales 3 Benks VI 6, Ball Haye Tavern III 7 Hate and Gate 2, Travellers Rest 8 Valiant 1, Windmill v Holly Bush 1 (no result received. Winners fined £5).

Highlights: 3 x 180s A Beardmore (including a 12-dart leg and 161 checkout). Least darts: 16 G Ratcliffe (Ball Haye Tavern 3). Highest checkout: 115 M Wiliiams (Travellers Rest).

In Division Four, both second and third-placed sides failed to take advantage of leaders Robin Hood’s bye, Boat Inn being sunk by a rejuvenated Benks 1 side and Wellington 4 suffering a similar fate at improving Abbey. Holly Bush 3 are also moving up the table of late and are unbeaten in three as they accounted for a sorry looking Benks 4 team who look devoid of ideas, as are Rose and Crown who went down to Black Lion 3.

Results: Black Lion III 5 Rose and Crown 4, Holly Bush III 5 Benks IV 4, Abbey Inn 6 Wellington IV 3, Benks I 6 Boat Inn I 3.

Highlights: Highest checkout 105 P Docksey (Holly Bush 3).

Top played bottom in the fifth and Priory 2 confirmed their championship favouritism by whitewashing their lowly opponents. A sorry looking Dyers side failed to compete with the leaders and now look destined to relegation. The Abbots Road firsts made it a double with something of an emphatic surprise win at home to No. 41 Bar, while Benks remain a clear second, only just overcoming Dyers 2 making it a miserable night for the Mill Street pub.

Results: Priory I 7 No. 41 Bar 2, Benks V 5 Dyers Arms II 4, Wellington III 5Benks VII 4, Dyers 0 Priory II 9, Holly Bush II 6 Blue Mugge I 3.

180s C. Wainwright (Blue Mugge 1).

Britannia Inn 1 are now firm favourites to lift the Division

Six title after smashing nearest rivals Wellington 1 for seven in their latest match. The visitors took the first five legs to seal proceedings after which Neil Tomkinson put the icing on the cake with a maximum. Fountain slipped up against Red Lion

2 for whom Michelle Simpson was the star.

Results: Dyers Arms IV 2 Stafford Arms 7, Wellington I 2 Britannia Inn 1 7, Britannia II 3 Ball Haye Tavern IV 6, Fountain 4 Red Lion W/F II 5, Boat Inn II 5 Crown III 4.

Highlights: 180s N Tomkinson (Britannia Inn 1), M Simpson (Red

Lion 2).