Maritime consolidate at top of premier

MARITIME Social Club consolidated their position at the top of the premier division in the Devon County Super League with victory over Plymouth opponents Porters Patriots.

The Keyham side now boast a nine-point advantage and will carry their unbeaten record into the seventh fixture of the campaign when they host second placed Winchester Warriors on Saturday week.

Maritime could not have wished for a better start when Scott Hutchinson (27.47) won 4-2 which included a 12-dart leg when he threw 100-100-140 before checking out from 161.

Neil White (23.19) also won by a 4-1 margin before Porters levelled through Alec Turner (21.25) and Lee Rodmell (24.06) who also hit a 12-darter with throws of 180-100-127 followed by a kill of 94 in three.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Scott Hutchinson was Maritime's top performer and achieved a leg in 12 darts before going on to win 4-1 with a 27.47 average.

Maritime took control once more when Lee Hellings (21.34), aided by a checkout of 100, won 4-2 as did Glyn Wells (24.95) who finished an 18-dart leg with an outshot of 130.

Billy Evans (23.72) was steady in the next and a 4-2 victory ensured Maritime of their success before Porters took the last two points through Phil Stewart (20.22) and John Mann (25.64), who both won with the loss of a single leg.

Another Plymouth derby match in division one saw Ker St win 6-3 when hosting Porters Pretenders and they remain in second spot, just one point behind the leaders, although table-toppers Muff Boyz from Exmouth have a game in hand.

Scott Lawrey (26.03) won the opening point for Ker St by a 4-0 margin only for Porters to level through Mark Shears (23.89) and then edge in front when Scott Wapshott (20.12) won 4-3, despite trailing 3-1.

Tony Teal (24.14), aided by two maximums, brought the sides level again with a 4-0 win and Gary Phillips (23.99) then put the Devonport side 3-2 in front when he came from 3-1 down to win 4-3, aided by a checkout of 110.

The sides were all level once more when Paul Palmer (20.08) won 4-2 before Ker St took control and secured the last three games through Marc Cresswell (22.61), Kelvin Rowe (20.91) and Mark Hatherley (22.82) who recorded a brace of 180s in a 4-1 victory.