IT'S neck and neck for the York John Smith's Men's League division two title, writes Dave Fotheringham.

Saddle stayed in contention with a 6-3 win at Green Tree 'A' after Phil Knatt put them 4-2 up with 110 finish for 21 darts before Alistair Horne-Andy King sealed victory.

Blacksmith's, who, like Saddle, have 52 points mastered Institute 'A' whose only winner was Ken Moment. Glenn Waterworth waded in with 18 darts while Lee Mason checked 106.

Swan haven't coped with the run-in and lost a crucial aggregate to fine games from Holgate's Derrick Hudson (20) and Gary Stewart. Swan did win 5-4 but needed to clinch the last four. Mark Delaney-Lyndon Taylor collected the decider.

Old Ebor had to take the pairs to pip Institute 'B' with Gary Witty-Mark Allan's bull finish obliging.

Sun 'B' were again denied their first win as Groves' Pete Ross took a vital game and Nick Barnard-John Morrison made it 5-4.

An excellent 180,106 finish for 18 darts from Dave Gibbons was the highlight of Cygnet's 7-2 win against Slip 'B'. Both Mark Hartley and Mark Miller supported with 21 darters. Hartley included a pair game 180.

In joint second place Trafalgar went 4-1 down to Green Tree 'B', but shaved the result. Ron Simpson and Paul Keers each gamed in 19 darts.

Dave Dobson and Gordon Foster helped Flag outscore the Rose and Crown opposition, while Mick Reagan (20) topped Sun 'A' performances against Osbaldwick whose lone win was provided by Steve Machen.

Alan Shipley made an exit on bullseye, but Dringhouses came a good second at Poacher. Shaun Day led with 114 finish for 21, Ray McInally threw 19 and Darren Hawcroft was a 180 scorer.

Leeman 'B' team's Toni Smallwood equalled the top performance in the latest York John Smith's Mixed League matches.

Her fine 19 darter however, didn't deter the division leaders, Cygnet 'A' who went on to win 6-3, David Mason also registering 19 darts.

Barry Noble gamed in 20 in Slipper 'B' team's 6-3 victory over Beeswing, who had a maximum scorer in Jim Hawksby.

Twenty darts from Pete Leake sent Cue Ball to a 6-3 win against Leeman 'A', while Dave O'Hara included 180, but Tap lost 5-4 to Huntington, whose Tracey Farmeary made an exit on 76.

Three tons-plus scoring by both Andy Swann and Colin Blackburn collected vital points for Escrick in a 7-2 victory at Cygnet 'D'.

A crucial 6-3 victory for the division two leaders Cygnet 'B' against Victoria Vaults included 20 darts by Dave Smith and a splendid 21 darts 701 from Dianne Moreland-Mark Hartley, the latter hitting 180,123 then 142 checkout.

Updated: 10:08 Friday, February 28, 2003