It's glory time for the trophy winners (From Warrington Guardian)

It's glory time for the trophy winners

SOME 26 trophy and promotion places were settled in the final full week's programme in the Carlsberg UK Open League.

This leaves one Division 3 match, with a bearing on trophy and promotion issues, left to play.

Competition must be getting keener as no Darts team broke the 100 points barrier for the first time this decade.

Premier Darts top two clashed with visitors Commercial claiming the runners-up berth by holding Champions Pioneers to a draw.

Lee Cooper (Commercial) hit a 12 darter, equalling this season's best, and team mate Adrian Lewis hit three 180's.

Barry Stockton (Flying Lady A) hit a 19 dart leg and Pete Galloway (Hawk) and Dan Smith (Raven A) recorded maximum 180's.

Division One Darts Champions Vine A drew with Bridge C, with Kings Arms A claiming the runners-up berth in style walloping Polish Club 7-1.

Vine A duo Mick Hassall and Howard Bateman hit a 19 darter and a 116 checkout and Bobby Louth (Polish A) hit a 180 that did not count, as he had 181 left!

The top two in Division Two Darts clashed in what both hoped would lead to trophy places.

The resultant draw was sufficient to make Cross Keys A Champions, but the George 5-3 victory at Nantwich Road Club enabled them to snatch runners-up place from under the nose of British Lion B by virtue of two more match wins.

Tony Probin (Leisure Club A) and Steve Hughes (British Lion B) hit 180's.

Broughton Arms and LMR Sports Club will be the top two in Division Three Darts, although the finishing order still has to be resolved.

Leaders Broughton Arms forfeited their unbeaten tag in a disastrous 6-2 home reverse to Kings Arms B, while second placed LMR Sports came from behind to scramble a draw at third placed Crown.

LMR now face an outstanding fixture at bottom placed Crosville Club, which they can afford to lose 5-3 and still be the Champions and demote the Broughton to runners-up.

Lee Clarke (Crown) won in 18 darts and team mate Lee Brown and Rob Bennett (LMR Sports) hit a 180 apiece.

It was perhaps fortunate that Earl of Chester were already Division Four Darts Champions, as they also came a cropper, losing 6-2 to visitors Sydney Arms A.

Rockwood B beat Vine B 5-3 to finish runners-up, one point ahead of Coppenhall Leighton, who beat Liberal Club by the same score.

Barrie Collins (Coppenhall) won with a 113 checkout and Keith Cartwright (Liberal) hit a 180.

In Division Five Darts pacemakers North Ward B, who have fallen apart in the last few weeks, managed to finish as Champions.

Fortunately their early season form stood them in good stead as again they forfeited a 3-0 advantage, with bottom placed RAOB B recovering well to snatch a draw.

Second placed Cross Keys B hung onto runners-up place despite a 5-3 defeat at Lion & Swan.

Most Dominoes title chasers made very hard work of obtaining the few points they needed for a top two finish.

Premier Dominoes top two met with Delamere needing a 7-1 scoreline to pip Hawk.

Delamere hopes were raised when they took a 5-0 lead, but wins by Iain Dunn and the first pairs combination of Rob Sandlands and Dave Faulkner ensured the Hawk finished as Champions with Delamere having to settle for runners-up.

Division One Dominoes Champions Bridge A were also a little complacent by forfeiting a 4-1 lead in their draw with Belle Vue.

Vine A beat Bridge C 6-2 to claim runners-up berth by two points, pipping Kings Arms A, beaten 5-3 by Polish Club, by two points.

A draw at Flying Lady B was enough to make Woodside Division Two Dominoes Champions.

Main rivals Leisure Club A and British Lion A met in a make or break clash, which the Lion A won 5-3 to take runners-up spot by two points.

In Division Three Dominoes Nags Head B claimed the Championship despite spluttering to a draw with bottom placed Crosville Club.

Shavington Club lost 5-3 to Raven B, but held on to runners-up spot due to challengers Crown self destructing when LMR Sports Club hammered them 7-1 to vacate the foot of the table.

Division Four Dominoes Champions Rockwood B scrambled a draw with Vine B.

Liberal Club held on to be runners-up by drawing with challengers Coppenhall Leighton, while other challengers Earl of Chester lost 5-3 to Sydney Arms A.

Division Five Dominoes Champions Horse Shoe also took their foot off, forfeiting a 4-1 lead to draw with Cumberland. North Ward B's recent poor form continued, although the two points they got from lowly RAOB B proved just enough to pip Old Oddfellows for the runners-up berth.

Pioneers Club take the Premier Division top cash award for the fourth successive year, with Delamere Arms taking the lesser spoils.

Vine A and Kings Arms A are promoted to the Premier Division and the Woodside and the George move up to Division 1. Crown are definitely promoted to Division 2, with LMR Sports Club very likely to accompany them. Rockwood B and Earl of Chester are promoted to Division 3 and Horse Shoe and North Ward B move up to Division 4.

More promotions may be necessary to balance the Divisions. Relegation issues are subject to the imminent proposed AGM rule alterations.