Poacher perked up their form to pick up precious points in pursuit of York John Smith's Men's Darts League honours.

Chris Thompson threw 21 darts to open Sun's account, but that was immediately wiped out by 21 from Darren Hawcroft.

Tony Cooper slotted a brilliant 14 darter to put Sun ahead, but Poacher's skipper Gary Hannigan made it all square. Ray McInally pulled out a splendid 16, Lee Brundrett had a big 21 game, and then he partnered Shaun Day to clinch the points.

Sun, now having to aim for the aggregate, had Cooper-Thompson taking 701 in 24, but Hawcroft hit a crucial 180 and McInally-Gary Kynman successfully defended the third point.

Mick Willsden narrowly missed bull for eleven darts for division one leaders Shepherd 'A'. Even so, he gamed in 13 darts, which puts him top in the three Fastest Finishes competition.

Shepherd went on to win 7-2 against Dringhouses, whose best performance came from Mick Coupland.

Phil Derbyshire was a maximum scorer and Lee Mason added his weight for Bootham Tavern, but Holgate held their own at the end.

Good play by Pete West-Rob Atkinson took it to 4-4 and Derrick Hudson-Mick Brookes clinched the decider.

Lighthorseman's 7-2 victory at Osbaldwick was closed by a 112 finish from Graham Wilkinson, while Paul Wilson-Tony Snowdon settle Green Tree 'B' team's win over Swan.

Second-placed Cygnet 'A' critically lost a point to wide margin wins by Kelvin Frankel and Paul Keers who checked 111 for 21 darts. Cygnet's Dave Mason shot 180 to set up Mark Hartley-Dave Smith to get a 5-4 match win.

Heath Scaife included 180 for 18 darts then joined Mick O'Leary to settle Shepherd 'B' teams victory over Cygnet 'B'.

At Institute 'A', Flag had fine 20 dart games from Paul Calpin then Dave Dobson to consolidate their division two second place behind Shepherd.

A 6-3 over Groves kept Slip in the reckoning Rick Hipkins-Kev Richmond (snr) sealing the win while Andy King included 20 darts as Saddle swept to a 6-3 against Old Ebor.

Three Fastest Finishes Competition: 44 Mick Willsden, Shepherd 'A' (16, 15, 13); 46 Tony Cooper, Sun 'A' (17, 15, 14); 47 Kev Walton, Shepherd 'A' (16, 16, 15), Chris Thompson, Sun 'A' (17, 16, 14); 48 Kev Pallister, Green Tree 'A' (18, 16, 14); 51 Ray McInally, Poacher (18, 17, 16); 52 Dave Gibbons, Shepherd 'A' (18, 18, 16), Lee Brundrett, Poacher (18, 17, 17), Mark Hartley, Cygnet 'A' (19, 17, 16).

Updated: 12:25 Tuesday, July 16, 2002