Five-points separate leading title contenders

TEAMS are at the season’s mid-point in the Monday Premier League and only five points separate the two leading contenders.

Table-toppers Maritime A had Paul Palmer (100x14) as their leading marksman in their 8-3 victory away at City Social while Porters A, in second spot, also won on the road and returned from Prince Maurice B with a 9-2 success.

The Barbican side had Scott Wapshott on target with two maximum scores and John Mann emerged a 3-0 singles winner with his best legs being won in 17 and 19.

Shakespeare emerged 7-4 winners away at Maritime B and they had Rich Coombs notching a brace of 180s from an 11-ton haul.

DECISIVE: Quinton Taylor hit two maximums in a 3-1 singles victory to claim the decisive point in Steam Packet B's narrow victory over Octagon Social Club.

Steam Packet A were one of seven teams to win away from home when they defeated Ford Hotel 9-2 and Firkin Scholar triumphed 7-4 at Brookside B.

Mark Hatherley was their talisman when top scoring with 14 three-figure scores and taking legs in 17 and 18 before going on to a 3-0 singles success.

It was the A team who claimed the bragging rights in the Indian Inn derby match when they won with the loss of just one point, inspired by a good performance from Mike Whatley, who achieved a win in 14 darts on his way to a 3-0 victory.

Prince Maurice A won 8-3 on their travels to Porters B but it was Andy Bates for the hosts who claimed the plaudits.

He was the only individual winner for Porters and top scored with 15 throws of a ton or more which included his 19th and 20th maximum of the campaign.

A well contested fixture at Steam Packet B saw the home side prevail by the narrowest of margins against Octagon Social Club.

Neil White top scored with 16 ton plus scores which included an outshot of 130 and with the scoreline evenly poised at 5-5, Quinton Taylor won the decisive point, hitting two maximums in a 3-1 win.

Brookside A were 7-4 winners away at Bluebird, but the hosts had some consolation when they had Tony Reid setting a new mark for the season’s highest checkout.

In the outstanding singles encounter of the match, Gary Phillips, despite hitting a 13-dart leg, was edged out 3-2 by Reid, who finished a 15-darter with the top finish of 160.