IRISHMAN Noel Cummins had an early St Patrick’s Day celebration by becoming the first Ridley League player this season to win a singles against Essex star Robbie Turner.

Turner had previously conceded only one leg in a 12-game run but Cummins’ win helped Chequers B end Dog & Partridge’s fading darts league hopes.

The Dog still had the best of the night, taking the pairs, mixed, women’s and dominoes, but both clubs lost a little more ground on leaders Globe, who stretched their overall lead to 24 points with four matches to go.

It means Barry Devenish’s team need only 28 points from a possible 60 to clinch the championship. They also lead three of the four match sub-sections, though their women’s title bid was dented by Compasses’ Debbie Jackson and Jackie Woodwards.

Leaders in each section: Darts: Globe 14pts, Chequers B 12. Mixed: Globe 12, Chequers B 11, Dog & Partridge 11. Women: Lt Waltham SC 13, Globe 10. Dominoes: Globe 11, Chequers A 9, Lt Waltham SC 9.

The week’s other significant performances included 180s for Mick Cain (Dog & Partridge), Martin Compton (Globe) and Des Vickers (City FC); a 160 shot in by Shane Kochan (Cricketers); and only the Bird in Hand’s second mixed win of the season, by Tim Hook and Sarah Barr.

RESULTS – City FC 11, Bird in Hand 4 (singles/pairs 4-3, mixed 0-1, women 1-0, dominoes 6-0); Chequers A 8, Lt Waltham SC 7 (4-3, 0-1, 0-1, 4-2); Compasses 4, Globe 11 (1-6, 0-1, 1-0, 2-4); Cricketers 4, Black Bull 11 (2-5, 1-0, 1-0, 0-6); Dog & Partridge 9, Chequers B 6 (3-4, 1-0, 1-0, 4-2).

FIXTURES (Mar 24) – Bird in Hand v Chequers B, Black Bull v City FC, Chequers A v Compasses, Dog & Partridge v Lt Waltham SC, Globe v Cricketers.