TONY Raymond got Ebor's York Phoenix Monday Darts League division one season off to a tremendous start with a dazzling display of darts.

Raymond hit a superb 150 finish for 15, then a 180 for 18 to seal victory against Huntington WMC.

Mark Hartley supported him with a 101 finish for 15, then gamed on 21, while Arthur Conyers notched a maximum in an 18-darter. Huntington had Nick Harteveld closing on 114 for an 18-darter and Jim Wallis adding a maximum.

The battle for early supremacy at Cygnet went to the 'A' team with a 7-2 win over their 'B' team. Kev O'Hara was the match-winner with a 174 score for 16 and Pete Leak put in a 118 finish for 18. Jack White added an 82 finish for 24 dart 701 leg with O'Hara. Paul Cooper hit a 180 for 18 and Ian Hartley (20) were the 'B' team's only successes.

A brace of 18-darters from Chris Thompson, 18 darts from Tony Cooper, and 20 and 22 from Dave Gibbons gave Sun an 8-1 win at Acorn, whose only winner was Mark Gale (2x21).

Captain Andy Morton led from the front with an 88 pairs out-shot, then 16 and 21 for Acomb in their 8-1 triumph over Rose & Crown, who had Ged McMahon out in 17 and Karl Asplett out in 20 darts.

A 21-darter from Slipper's Bertie Bingham was a highlight in division two, while finishes of 80 and 98 from Keith Elliott and a 24-darter from Bev Lawson saw Blacksmith's forge a 7-2 win at Crescent.

Locomotive went down to a 99 finish for 21 darts from Flag 'A''s match-winner Lee Lambrou.

Hospital Social Club got off to a fine start in division three with a 6-3 victory against newcomers Derwent Arms.

A fine 106 finish for 18 from Nick Davis (Lord Nelson) wasn't enough to prevent Britannia securing an 8-1 win with Steve Snowden leading the charge with nine ton-plus scores and Holgate WMC had Pete West as their last game match-winner against Reindeer.

Escrick SC ran out 5-3 winners against The Tandem (Huddersfield) in the Yorkshire Super League.

Stu Limbert starred with an average of 69.44 and John Smith supported well with a maximum and a 16-darter.

Updated: 10:22 Tuesday, October 12, 2004