POACHER have gone clear at the top of York John Smith's Men's League division one.

With Ray McInally (18) and Mark Gale (18) shining, and quick-fire wins by Shaun Day-Gale then Gary Kynman-McInally, Poacher stunningly beat close rivals Bay Horse, Marygate, 8-1. The only reply came from Paul Keers.

Another big match saw John Mooring (21), Paul Mizon and David Mason-Mizon push Cygnet 'A' to a 5-4 win over previous joint leaders Shepherd, whose best reply was from Mark Jones-Mick Willsden.

Tony Cooper (20), Steve Moran-Mick Reagan and Cooper-Chris Thompson steered Sun 'A' to a 7-2 victory at Blacksmith's, whose Lee Mason included 180 to inflict a first defeat of the season on Thompson.

Barry Noble shot a brilliant 13-dart opener for Dringhouses and, aided by big scoring from Mick Coupland and match-winning pair Peter Langan-Mick Leggatt, they beat Green Tree 'B' 5-4.

Cue Ball's victory saw Steve Earnshaw recording his first-ever competitive game of darts, and when paired with Gary Scott, he delightedly shot the double that secured all three points in a 6-3 result at Rose and Crown.

Saddle moved off the bottom thanks to good displays from Andy King, Phil Knatt and Kev Graham-Knatt to beat Holgate 5-4.

The top clash in division two saw second-placed Osbaldwick go ahead with Craig Wedge (180) and Chris Flanagan (133 finish). But leaders Swan came back strongly with Ged McMahon and Mark Delaney helping set up Barry McLauglin-Tony Martin to take the spoils 5-4 and claim the aggregate.

Cygnet 'B', chalking fine wins from Gary Farthing, Dave Broadhead and Derek Hartley, cruised to victory at Institute 'B', whose sole winner was Jim Pavis.

Slip 'B' had Phil Smith and Keith Mercer playing well to initiate a 5-4 win against Flag, who, with sterling wins from Gordon Foster and Dave Dobson, collected the extra point.

Old Ebor took all the pairs and Mike Renshaw-Simon Magin sealed the decider in a 5-4 defeat of Groves. A big win from Barry Houlden just failed to rescue the aggregate.

Kev Pallister competently put Green Tree 'A' one up, but Institute 'A' registered the next four which included important games from Tom Turley and Gary Pinkney. Tony Robinson-Pete Watson calmly clinched Institute the match.

Three Fastest Finishes competition leaders: 42, Chris Thompson, Sun (13, 15, 14); 45, Barry Noble, Dringhouses (15, 17, 13); 51, Kev Walton, Shepherd (15, 19, 17); 52, Heath, Scaife, Shepherd (18, 16, 18), Ray McInally, Poacher (17, 17, 18); 54,Ged McMahon, Swan (21, 20, 13).

Thanks to a three-game flurry by Maureen Tindall, Dot Osborne and Rosie Blower, New York 'B' defeated Fulfordgate 4-3 in York White Rose Ladies' League division one.

However, a last-game win by Karen Reasbeck sees Fulfordgate with a slender one-point lead in the table from Golden Slipper, who had a big input from Catherine Gascoyne and a crucial deciding game success by Carol Gilbert to edge Fulford Conservatives.

Coach and Horses, Tadcaster, took closer order with a straight six against Winning Post, who were then saved from a whitewash by reliable skipper Ann Robinson.

Two points separate Lord Collingwood from Alice Hawthorn in division two, the Nun Monkton outfit going 4-0 up, finalised by Yvonne Aplin then Debbie Horner for a fine 5-2 win at Clarence.

Tap and Spile lost the chance to make the lead theirs when losing 4-3 to Six Bells. Bells won the team and both pairs before Tracey Pragnell banged in the winner. Late efforts from Gwen Shaw and Jacqui Featherstone retrieved the situation for Tap.

Crystal Palace had Chris Lamb sealing victory at Tramways and Jan Welby recorded a bullseye finish, while Bay Horse, Murton, were given a 4-3 win at King William by Karen Rigby and are joint leaders with Acomb Sports and New Earswick Bowls in division three.

It was indeed a trying time for Earswick as they forfeited a golden opportunity for the outright lead. Only their captain, Janet Curry, got on the sheet as their Bowling Club counterparts from Dring-houses knocked them for six.

Updated: 11:43 Friday, June 20, 2003