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Railway and Linnet suffer first defeat

John Gwynne
16/11/2006

LEADERS Railway and Linnet lost for the first time in six matches in the Middleton Men's Thursday League last week, beaten 6-1 by Middleton Con Club, their fifth win from as many outings.

Steve Shaw led the way for the winners with a 14-darter, while team-mate Terry Stirrup hit a 15-darter. Cotton Tree's Bobby Chapman supplied a 14-arrow game as his side defeated the Duke of Wellington 5-2. Higher Blackley Con Club went to the top of the table with a 6-1 win against the Oddfellows, their fourth such victory on the trot.

Only half a point separates leaders Gardeners Arms (Grimshaw Lane) and the Woodman in the Middleton Men's Monday League.

The Gardeners completed a 10-0 darts and crib whitewash over the Lancashire Fold last week while the Woodman beat the Railway on the oche 6-1 but lost 2-1 in the crib match.

The Old Cock, despite losing their last two matches, have a two-point lead in the card table over Woodman, Gardeners (CL) and Joiners.

The Friendship A are top of the Middleton Ladies League first division at the halfway stage in the season. Their 4-3 victory at the Woodside took them three points clear of the Apple and Pear who were without a game.

Third-placed Millbeck lost 6-1 to the Hare and Hounds. The top three teams in the second division all won.

The Nook and Hebers A had 5-2 successes against the Brunswick and Woodman respectively, while the Friendship B beat Middleton Con Club, 4-3.

The least-darts (22) so far this season was struck by Sarah Slattery of first division leaders Friendship A.