THE battle for division one honours in York John Smith’s Ladies Darts League division one is hotting up as the lead changes hands on a regular basis.

Tramways ‘B’ are challenging Fulfordgate for top spot and captain Tracey Farmeary led from the front as she inspired her troops with a 17-dart leg, including scores of 125, 100 and 100.

Jayne Janes, Gina Whittaker, Bev Harton and Natalie Farmeary sealed victory, but they were denied a full house in the singles by Marcia ‘A’s Ellen Platt.

Pat Cairns and Carol Perrett, and Di Moreland and Platt narrowed the gap, but Janes and Tracey Farmeary added to Tram’s tally.

Fulfordgate captain Michelle Britton had a 23-dart leg as in guiding her team to a near-perfect scoreline at Severus ‘B’, whose Angie Kaya stopped the rot.

Dawn Exton, Jill Reed, Anne Bass and Muriel Britton secured victory and pole position for Gate.

Marcia ‘B’ recovered from one down at Edinburgh after Emma Wheatley opened the scoring.

However, Faye Hawksby, Chris Hayward, Joan Hunter and Linda Welch gave the visitors a good lead.

Julie Stables pulled one back.

Chris Lamb and Pat Jamieson narrowed the gap before Marcia captain Hawksby combined with Welch to seal match points.

Burnholme had Sarah Jackson closing 73 and Caroline Whittaker hitting the tons as they cleared up in the pairs at Ox ‘A’ after the teams had been tied 3-3 in the individuals.

Tramways ‘A’ had Emma Rientoul leading the way as they beat visitors Severus ‘A’ 7-2.

Division two is also going to the wire. Leaders Jubilee ‘A’ raced into a 3-0 advantage at Burton, whose Marianne Deamer and Sheila Harrison replied. Brenda Dawe sent Jub into the pairs with a 4-2 lead, and they won 6-3.

Leeman also had the match points in the bag within the singles, Dawn Clarke securing the win as Saddle’s lone singles winner was Vicky McClaren.

The home side added a point through Janet Nelson and Margaret Schofield. Saddle narrowed the gap with two pairs’ successes.

Acomb are one point behind the leaders after a superb 7-2 win against Shoulder. Roz Richmond, Kate Rankeillor, Rose Gray and Sammy Benton gave Acomb a good start.

Jubilee ‘B’ fell 4-0 behind to visitors Green Tree but, with Tree short of players, Jub cleared up the remaining legs for a 5-4 result.

Bootham Cons Club put themselves in contention for honours with a superb 8-1 win against visitors Clifton, whose captain Cris Turgoose spoilt the party.

Julia Hagyard sealed victory after wins from Jane Barnes, Dot Trousdale, Jackie Church and Jackie Clemit to move within three points of the leaders.

Second string earn Crescent bragging right

CRESCENT ‘B’ came out on top against their ‘A’ team as they opened the new York White Rose Ladies Darts League division one season with a 5-2 win.

Val Mackenzie included a 101 in the four-hand and a 100 in the pairs for the ‘B’ team, while the ‘A’ team’s only winners were Lesley Benson in tandem with Pam Husband and Elaine Bell.

Flag & Whistle ‘A’s Claire Boyce checked out on treble 20, treble ten, double seven, and team-mate Chris Hedley hit a 100 in a 5-2 win over Lord Nelson, whose Vicky Finney scored a 100.

Acomb Sports beat Bishopthorpe Club 6-1, with the losing side’s Julie Coyle hitting a 120.

In division two, Derwent Arms lost the first game but bounced back to win 4-3 at home to Acomb Bowls.

Lord Collingwood went down 4-3 at home to King William, despite Eileen Carter scoring 114.

William were aided by Alainna Nicholl’s 124 and Carol Atkinson’s 100.

Clarence won by the same margin at home to Flag & Whistle ‘B’ as Pat Robinson hit a 100 and Carol Sykes-Waller a 102.

New York’s Den Fahey had a 114 in a 4-3 home victory over New Earswick.

At the league’s finals night, the individuals winner was Ebor’s Roz Kerr, with New York’s Maureen Tindall the runner-up.

The pairs winners were J Curry and C Tragni, who beat M Tindall and D Haines, while the triples was won by T Ferguson, D Jackson and D Benson, beating J Clapham, M Adamson and J Mallory.

A charity night will be held at Acomb Sports tonight with the winners taking home the Carol Mcloud Shield in memory of the league’s chairwoman, who died last year.