Reigning champions Tam O’Shanter travelled to take on John Peel Darts League leaders Aspatria Bowling Club and showed exactly why they won last season’s title.
They raced into a 5-1 lead after the singles with only Eddie Carrick winning for the home side while John Duncan, Norman Tolson, Shane Williams, Joseph Robson and Eaneas Robson all won for the Tama.
Mike Sowerby and David Graham took the first double for the Bowlers before Williams and Richard Henderson secured at least a point taking the second double to make it 7-3.
The Bowling Club took the last double hoping to salvage a draw via Mark Sloan and Tim Workman but ‘Tama’ were not to be denied and in the first treble Duncan, Tolson and Williams claimed the victory.
Carrick, Sloan and Workman scored a late consolation but it finished 8-6 to Tama. Ali Edgar fired a brilliant 180 on the night but was unable to win the leg.
Elsewhere second placed Silloth Bowling Club travelled to Wigton Park and came away with a thumping 12-2 win.
Mark Blacklock was the sole singles winner for the Park, beating Dan Redman while Roger Barwise, Cam Pape, Jack Robinson, Trev Frith and David Bell won the singles and all the doubles.
Wigton Bowling Club hosted Sun Inn A and it was the Aspatria side that took the lead with 15-year-old Jayden Faulder taking out with a 111 checkout to beat Scott Stirzaker.
Alan Wilson levelled the game, beating Nathan Oglanby, before Ken McCartney put the Sun 2-1 in front with a win over Duggie James.
The Bowling Club put the game beyond doubt as they rattled off the next seven points through George Moore, Janice Wilson and Graham Metcalfe (singles).
Stirzaker and Wilson took the first double and then James and Moore won the decisive second double. Zane Alderson and Matty McCartney took the last double and the trebles were shared so it finished 9-5 to the Bowling Club.
Grey Goat overtook The Sun Inn in third place, beating the Letters Inn B 11-3 with Mark Pearson, Daz Bowe, Jonny Bowe, Louie Elliot and Steven Ostle putting them 5-1 ahead. Owen Pattinson beat Tom Stobbart for the Letters single point.
Neil Hillier and Pattinson won the opening double to make it 5-3 before the Goat ran away winning the remaining doubles and trebles.
Liam Norris had an impressive 112 off for the Letters but was unable to take advantage and win the leg.
Blackamoor took on the Jovial Sailor and it was Alan Carr who took the first point taking out 116 and beating Michael Winthrop, despite him getting off with 140.
Sailors won the next four – Ash Nicholson with a 112 Off, Adam Jack, Stu Kinghorn and Dale Weir to make it 4-1 before Gill Rumney beat Ali MacMillan to make it 4-2 to the Sailor.
The doubles all went the Carlisle side’s way and the trebles were shared one each leaving a final score of 11-3 to the Jovial Sailor.
Bridge End A beat the bottom side Sun Inn C 9-5 after Lewis Fisher been the lone single winner for the Sun. Ben Allan and Gary Miller, Jordan Falcon and Fisher got two doubles while Adam Seymour, Kyle Brough, Rich Lawson Alan Tiffen and Jonny Musgrave were the victors for the Bridge.
The Division Two promotion race continues to excite as just five points separate the top five teams.
The Crown Inn, Broadfield maintained their one point lead when they beat fourth placed Rosley 8-6.
Jamie Fleming got off to a great start for the Crown with a 108 throw and went on to make it 1-0 followed by Adam Walton scoring a second victory. Del Dalton made it 2-1 before Jake Armstrong took the fourth leg.
Mark Wharton pulled one back for Rosley but Ryan Armstrong gave the Crown a 4-2 lead after the singles.
Rosley took the first and third doubles through Adam Wharton and Cross, Baz Little and Mark Wharton while the Crown took the second through George Mitchinson and Jake Armstrong.
With the game all square at 6-6 it was the Crown who came through winning both trebles to take a thrilling match.
Bolton Lions hosted second-placed Sun Inn B who kept up the pressure with a 9-5 victory after losing the first single. Malc Hudson beat Tony Quinn.
It was Adam Palmer who led the way knocking in a 180 on his way to victory and there were other singles wins for Kenneth Bowes, Jobby Dunn and captain Ryan Fisher meant it was 4-2 after the singles. Roy Day scored Bolton’s second point, defeating Graham Hewitt.
The game went beyond Bolton after Sun B won the first two doubles to make it 8-2, led again by man of the match Palmer and Quinn in the first and Hewitt and Bowes securing the win.
Keith Dobson and Christine Johnston took the last double for Bolton and once again the trebles were shared for a final score of 9-5 to Sun Inn B.
Bridge End B and Letters Inn A played out a 7-7 draw after Neil Falcon and Paul Broome won the first two singles while Ellis Holiday picked-up the Letters other single win in a 3-3 opening.
For Bridge End B there were wins for Bob Foster, Jack Paton and Les Davidson.
Lawrence Armstrong and Dinning made it 5-3 to the Bridge before the Letters took both remaining doubles to lead 7-5 via father and son Ricky and Ellis Holiday, and Marcus Hamilton and Rodney Steele.
The Bridge took both trebles to secure a point and keep up their promotion hopes.
Grey Goat B defeated Joiners Arms 8-6 after racing into a 5-1 lead through Will Jackson, Luke Marshall Dowell, Jack Hellon, Finley Carruthers, with a 120 checkout, and Oliver Jarret, while Linden Wilson was the Joiners winner.
Wilson and Flynn Charters led the fight-back and despite Marshall Dowell and Hellon taking the second double a draw was still possible when Harrison and Charters took the last double for Joiners.
Goat B pulled through, though, winning the first treble as Codie Elliot, Jackson and Marshall Dowell secured the points.There was a Wigton derby with bottom side Hare and Hounds taking on Red Dial Sparrows.
Gary Armstrong, Mark Thompson Xenon Charters and Gordon Robinson put the Sparrows into a 4-2 lead with Liam McCracken and Roland Howe winning two for the Hares.
McCracken and Howes managed their only double win as the Sparrows secured their victory before the Hare and Hounds took both trebles for an 8-6 win.
Oddfellows were 9-5 winners against Wellington. Watson Bell and Ostle for Oddfellows while Carl Knox, Dan Knox and Arron Jackson took their singles for the Welly. The first two doubles and both trebles secured Oddfellows’ victory.
There’s a massive game in prospect in Division One next Friday as Silloth Bowling Club host Aspatria Bowling Club.
