MARCIA Bishopthorpe strengthened their third-place standing in division one of the York John Smith’s Ladies Darts League with an 8-3 victory over second-placed Cueball ‘B’.

Carol Perrett, Di Moreland, Babs Harrison, Clair Cooper, Pat Cairns and Becky Thompson secured the win before Cueball found their finishing prowess.

Leaders Five Lions were denied a clean sweep by Cueball ‘A’ captain Faye Hawksby, who won the opening game before Muriel Britton hit three tons to start the demolition job.

Anne Bass, with a 25-dart leg, and Michelle Britton, with a 26 darter, were Lions’ stars.

Sue Tate, Maggie Tottie and Sandra Bruce (140, 120) gave Magnet a good start at Severus ‘A’.

Sheila Elliott and Carol Robson narrowed the gap but Flossy Crampton won and then Tottie and captain Tracey Watkinson secured match points.

Jo Hodges gamed on bull in her singles and top-scored with three ton-plus totals as Tramways beat Burnholme 8-3.

Bootham Cons won by the same margin at Acomb, Dot Trousdale sealing match points and Jane Barnes chipping in with a couple of tons.

Jan Netherwood checked out on 64 as she and Julie Stables, Pat and Claire Jamieson put Edinburgh 4-2 up on Leeman.

Although Leeman closed the gap, Stables and Amanda Bevan wrapped up an 8-3 win.

A maximum by Green Tree captain Alison Buckley in the deciding pairs – which she played lonehanded – failed to stop Shoulder’s Natalie Whitehead and Joyce Kane snatching a 7-4 victory.

Ox left it late as they recovered from 4-3 down after Freda Harman and Chris Turgoose had starred for Sun.

Sam Stewart and Nikki Johnson levelled before Ox colleagues Jenny Williams and Wendy Sullivan secured match points.

Jubilee were taken to the wire by hosts Woolpack, with Julie Oliver and Brenda Dawe sealing the win after Vicky McClaren and Chris Patterson had levelled.

Tracey Scurr checked out on 60 as Marcia Grey entered the pairs all-square with visitors Severus ‘B’. The club side turned on the style in the pairs with a clean sweep for an 8-3 win.