LAST season's Earlestown Darts League Division One champions Newton Social had the fright of their lives in their match against Sunbeam this week.

They trailed 4-2 with only three legs left to play but they raised the standard of their play a few notches to steal the points and stay in joint top spot.

Neil Mather gave Newton a dream start by walloping Alan Dixon in a magical 13 darts - the lowest of the season so far.

Sunbeam stalwart Ian Sudworth levelled the scores by defeating the highly rated George Jones with a solid 27-darter before Les McClymont produced a clinical 22-dart show to see off Newton's Peter Brown.

Newton's veteran superstar Roy Mather tied the game up again with a spectacular 21-darter against Mark Middleton and then Sunbeam's Adie Jerzieski put the cat among the pigeons by overcoming Alan Burrows in 34 darts.

After the interval, Sunbeam's Ste Hearn cracked in a fantastic 22-darter against the top-notch Neil Crehan.

The chips were down for Newton at this stage and their captain Derek Jones responded by firing in a magnificent 14-darter against Alan Naylor.

Steve W. Jones followed his captain's lead by beating Paul Watkinson with a top quality 18-dart win.

The atmosphere was at fever pitch in the deciding leg but George Brown Snr, who like a fine wine has got better with age, dealt with the pressure exceptionally well to romp home in 26 darts against Alan Lawrenson.

Griffin put last week's 9-0 whitewash to the back of their minds to beat a top notch Vulcan outfit 5-4 in an highly charged and volatile game.

Griffin's men in form were Ged Hulme, 29 darts, Dennis Morse, 25, Chris Brain, 25, Stuart Garton and match winning reserve Frank Wood. Ray Panter, 31, Norman Gibbons, 20, Dave Panter, 31 and Archie Lilley, 18, recorded wins for Vulcan, who led 3-1 at one stage.

Bridge defeated Swan in a battle royal which was nip and tuck all the way.

Bridge's winners were Les Anders, 23, Steve Hodson, 23, Steve A. Jones, 15, Ron Ambrose, 16 and Brian Farrell, 30. Young ace Ian Harrison, 23, Ste Brannigan, 14, Eddie Molyneux, 25 and Fred Spencer, 24, replied for Swan.

Blue Bell hammered St. Pats 8- thanks to the fine performances of Dave Gilchrist, Dennis Bruin, Pat Carroll, Ian Makinson, Frank Green, John Thompson, Keith Fairhurst and Martin Currigan, 15.

BRSA D recorded a 5--3 victory over Earlestown Cons Club.

The stars of the show for the B team were Will Jones, Jim Carrey, Will Duxbury, Dave Smith and Jocky Wilson. Wins by Stuart Pierce, John Smith and Joe Smith were the highlights of the game for Earlestown.

In Division Two, Millstone gained a good 5-4 win against highly rated Newmarket.

Their winners were Ian Whamond, Steve Worthington, Phil Swift, Keith Hill and match winner John Kenny. Ste Pilling, Paul Nolan, Gareth Ward and Arthur Bell triumphed for Newmarket.

Railway recorded a fantastic 5-4 victory over Rams Head.

Their individual successes came courtesy of Ste Brennan, 30, Ronnie Carr, 39, Richard Nash, 39, Pete Patterson, 39 and Ged Dainty, 32. John Hughes, 45, Mark Shaw, 33, Kyle Newsome, 42 and Ste Pierce, 23, won for Rams.

Old Crow shot into a 3-0 lead against Wellington and although their opponents made a storming come back, Crow found their second win to record an impressive victory.

Crow's hotshots were Kevin Boughey, 21, Alan Baines, 29, Dave Clarke, John Doolan, 20 and his dad Ray, 16. Steve Joyce, 20, Les Banner, 23, Jim Deardon, 20, Eddie Richardson, 35, made sure that Crow did not have everything their own way.

* Teams that have entered the league's Three-a-Side competition should take note that the event will be played at Newton Social Club on Monday.