FOUR teams are locked together in the race for the second division title race in the York John Smith's Men's Darts League.

It promises to be an exciting second half of the season after Saddle lost 6-3 to Swan, whose star players were Ged McMahon and Pete McNicol.

Swan joined Saddle on 25 points and were joined by Blacksmith's, who moved up with a 6-3 win over Institute 'B' which included a maximum from Lee Mason.

Holgate are fourth, three points behind the leading trio, after winning 7-2 at Slip, whose Mick Shepherd included a 180 score. Pete West settled Holgate's victory within the singles.

Cygnet 'B' went down 6-3 to Old Ebor, whose Tony Routledge tilted the game in his side's favour.

Cygnet 'A' are the new leaders of division one, but were hard-pressed when Dringhouses went off with 180 for 17 from Barry Noble and 19 darts by Mick Coupland. Cygnet replied with John Mooring (180), Mark Miller (21) and Dave Gibbons (18) and Mark Hartley-Dave Mason took the 5-4 winner.

Trafalgar had a good 20 darts from Ron Simpson but lost position. Shepherd found their form and, with each game going with the throw, Mark Jones-Mark Mason obliged in the decider.

Poacher's double-trouble continued as a crucial game in by Graham Wilkinson steered Rose and Crown to a 6-3 victory.

Chris Thompson was outstanding in Sun's 7-2 win over Green Tree 'B'. His 180 for 14 darts was consolidated by a three tons, 116 finish in a 21-dart 701 with Tony Cooper. Mick Reagan too won well.

Three Fastest Finishes competition leaders are: 48 Barry Noble, Dringhouses (15,16,17); Chris Thompson, Sun (17,17,14); 51 John Mooring, Cygnet (17,17,17); Ray McInally, Poacher (18,14,19).

Royal Oak closed on the Marston Moor Villages Doubles-Board League leaders with a 7-2 win at Sun.

The latter had a splendid 22 darter from Richard Foster and tons from Steve Lambert and Dave Smith but it was doubles that counted and Oak eased to victory with Gary Stead out in 23, Ken Reynolds gaming on 75 and Lee Appleyard checking 80.

Chris Scaum and Stuart Simpson added the tons.

Top team Tankard 'A' tipped the scales at Sports Club, who had Paul Yore finishing 76 and a ton by Terry Staples. Both Nigel Shepherdson and Ian Powell replied with hundreds and Mark Woodward-Kev Deighton dished up the decider.

Alice 'A' had a ton scorer in Simon Jackson when beating Hammerton Social 7-2 whose Neil Phillips recorded a three tops score. Despite big scoring from Mick MacLeod, Jeff Twort and John Spence, who also checked 70, Alice 'B' beat Lord Nelson 6-3.

A 79 finish from Nigel Sweet, partnering Kev Wilks, gained a 5-4 win for Spotted Ox over Red Lion whose Mick Reagan gamed on 70.

Steve Wragg added to his Tons Table lead and Dave Spencer shone for Lord Collingwood, but Tankard 'B' took the match 6-3.

Frank Brooke shot out in 23 and was well supported by Paul Moss and Jim Young.

Updated: 10:56 Friday, December 13, 2002