BURNHOLME increased their chances of taking honours in the York John Smith’s Ladies Darts League division one this season, as they beat visitors Castle Howard Ox 9-2.

Toni Smallwood gave Ox the lead, but Sharon Neads kick-started a winning run for the hosts, joined by colleagues Caroline Whittaker and Lynne Willstrop.

Jane Dobson and Sarah Jackson secured match points and ‘Holme won the remaining legs either side of Karen Garton and Dawn Stamp’s pairs wins for Ox.

Fulfordgate glided into pole position after a 6-3 win at Marcia.

Michelle Britton set ‘Gate off, before Faye Hawksby levelled. Muriel Britton and Jill Reed then enhanced the visitors’ scoreline.

The Bishopthorpe side’s landlady Linda Penrose pulled one back, but victory was sealed for ‘Gate through Lynn Thompson and then mother and daughter pair Dawn and Alex Exton.

Ellen Platt won the opening leg as Priory won 8-3 at Edinburgh.

Captain Chris Lamb and Julie Stables replied, before Priory captain Di Moreland set off a winning surge which was rounded off by Platt and Ann Anderson.

Severus ‘A’ recovered from two legs down against their ‘B’ team to claim a 7-4 win.

Wendy Storr, Angie Kaya, Sharon Mountain and Ann Meek starred for the ‘B’ side, before Jackie Simpson and Davina Shannon replied.

The rest of the pairs then went to the ‘A’ team, with Sue Richardson and Sue Clarke taking match points.

Division two leaders Slipper slipped up against close rivals Tramways ‘B’ with an 8-3 home loss.

Flossy Crampton, Karen Alton, Wendy Sullivan and Mollie Carlton sent the club side into the pairs with a two-leg advantage.

Linda Staveley and Becky Thompson secured match points and Crampton and Carlton added some gloss to the scoreline.

Doreen Johnstone, Jody Hancock and Sue Tate scored for the hosts.

Second-placed Puss purred to a 6 – 3 home win against Clifton, with home captain Alison Buckley leading from the front.

Sharon Nelson put hosts Saddle in front, only for the team to lose 7-4 to clinical Leeman ‘B’.

Sal Richardson, Maggie Bedingham, Julie Oliver and Heather Bulmer gave them a 4-1 lead, before Sharon Lyons narrowed the gap.

Bedingham and Richardson sealed match points, with Saddle winning the remaining games.

Leeman ‘A’ captain Debbie Witts gamed 25 arrows to keep her team on level terms with visitors Burton Stone, but eventually went down 7-4.

Denise Pittock – Margaret Yeomans edged the home side in front, before Marianne Deamer and Katrina Thackeray levelled and colleagues Linda Embleton and Sheila Harrison snatched victory.