Maritime remain in the mix to retain Super League title

MARITIME Social Club are still in the mix to claim the premier division title after they defeated Muff Boys (Exmouth) 5-4.

This Devon Super League fixture was well contested with the final result in abeyance until the last singles of the match.

Danny Bull (23.89) levelled things up with a 4-3 victory before Kieran Burns (pictured) put Maritime in front for the first time with a man of the match performance.

In winning 4-0, Burns took legs in 16, 12 19 and 15, the 12-darter being won with scores of 125, 140, 125 before checking out from 111.

Lee Hellings (25.23) won 4-1 and Paul Palmer (24.53) hit a 14-darter in a 4-2 success to put Maritime 5-3 up only for the visitors to rally and take two on the bounce.

But at 5-5, John Mann pulled out all the stops and emerged a 4-2 winner, having hit a checkout of 111 for a 5-4 win.

Maritime are now just two points behind table-toppers Winchester Warriors who defeated The Racehorse 7-2.

Porters drop back into the relegation zone after they were beaten 6-3 by Exeter Eagles.

Lewis Dare (24.69) won 4-2, buoyed by a 15-dart leg which he finished with an outshot of 150, before Antony Hayman (27.08) showed his pedigree, emerging a 4-0 winner, aided by a 14-darter and a brace of 180s.

But Exeter Eagles were assured of a match victory when they took the next three for the loss of just four legs before Mark Shears (21.55) won 4-0.

This was a below-par performance from Porters, evident in the fact that four of their losing players averaged below 20.00 and they need to return to winning ways soon if they are to avoid a drop into division one.

Ker St suffered their fifth defeat of the campaign when they were edged out 5-4 by Bideford’s Royal Anglers.

Despite losing the opening point they responded by taking three on the bounce which began with a 4-1 success for Scott Lawrey (23.81).

Dave Algar (21.88) then repeated that scoreline before Gary Phillips (25.73) won 4-3, aided by a 14-darter to put the Devonport side 3-1 with four to play.

But only Darren Collis (19.64) was a home winner from the last five sets and Ker St went down by the narrowest of margins.

The Bluebird strengthened their promotion hopes when they won 5-4 but it was far from their best performance of the season.

Alan Masters (20.45) opened the scoring with a 4-0 victory followed by a 4-3 success from Mark Henley who wouldn’t have thought that his 20.58 average would take the man of the match award . . . but it did.

Tony Reid (15.70) battled for a 4-3 success while Steve Barnes (15.12) and Shaune Kittle (17.43) both won 4-2.

Bluebird now lead division two by four points after their rivals Golden Lions were edged out 5-4 for only their second defeat of the campaign.

Levy Ladies moved to the top of the table with a 4-3 victory over Country House Muff Girls (Exmouth) and now lead by seven points with a match in hand.

The St Levan Inn side made it seven victories on the bounce and were given the ideal start when Anna Johnson won in three straight legs, hitting four ton-plus scores in the third leg, before taking it in 18.

Wendy Johnson won 3-2 as did Haley Brant who came from 2-0 down, before Chrissie Kinnaird (20.59) was prominent in her 3-0 victory.

St Levan would have hoped for more, when leading 4-1, but the hosts rallied well to take the last two points.

Two outstanding fixtures will be completed on March 9 before the ladies split into three groups, based on league position, and each team will finish the season by playing their group opponents, both home and away.