Rufforth's Tankard, the Marston Moor Villages Doubles Board League champions, scored an exciting down-to-the-wire 5-4 victory over the Rest of the League side to become only the second champions in the 21 years of the re-structured league to achieve the feat.

Alan Whitehead piled on the 60s, but Royal Oak's Andy Hill chucked three 80s to pinch the throw and game in 24 darts.

A brilliant two tons gave John Collins 20 darts to crucially clobber Gary Stead, and Steve Green put Tankard 2-1 up when punishing Hammerton's Frank Brooke, who failed to consolidate impressive three 80s and 99 scoring.

The individual champion, Collingwood's Steve Wragg, took out 80 finish to beat Mark Woodward in 24, and then Ian Powell pulled off a great Tankard win when edging Alice's Johnny O'Mara (100), but a steady show from Oak's Andy Carter against Nigel Shepherdson (100) ended the singles at all square.

Old hands Collins-Whitehead, beat the young guns Dave Richmond-Jamie Taylor but, true to form, Nick Brown-Chris Hall struck back to stage a decider.

In an electric atmosphere both sets of players controlled the situation well. Woodward and Simon Jackson in particular consistently found double top, but Tankard deservedly triumphed with a crucial Steve Green check.

Ray McInally recorded an impressive 17 darts in York John Smith's Men's League division one.

Aided by Lee Brundrett (20) and Darren Hawcroft, Poacher ended the singles at 3-3 with Sun 'A' who had Tony Cooper (19), Chris Thompson (20) and Rod Thompson answering.

Sun went ahead through Roy Parkinson-Mick Reagan, but Brundrett-Hawcroft equalised and Sun took the match with the sharp pairing of Cooper-Chris Thompson.

Good games for Rich Plummer (18), Paul Keers (21) and Ron Simpson helped put Bay Horse 5-1 up, but Green Tree 'B' won all the pairs, a wide margin win from Darren Hoban-Paul Wilson just failing to snatch a point.

Barry Noble (17) set Dringhouses on the way to a 6-3 victory over Rose and Crown, and high scoring from Mick Coupland ensured the aggregate.

Cygnet 'A' crushed Holgate 8-1 with telling games from Dave Gibbons (21), John Mooring and Keith Collier, the reply coming from Pete West.

Cue Ball had Stewart Scott and Dave Endeacott hitting 180s, but they were not enough to stop Shepherd winning 8-1. Kev Walton shot 20 darts and a pairs 113 finish, while Mick Willsden supported well. Steve Thompson was Cue Ball's winner.

Blacksmith's beat Saddle 5-4. An Andy Turpin effort and the last game decider from Lee Mason-Dan Tait made the difference, while Andy King was the pick of the opposition.

In division two, Swan continued to impress with a 7-2 win at Green Tree 'A', Ged McMahon (20) and Andy Carruthers showing the best form.

Kevin Richmond (180) steered Slip 'A' to 6-3 result at Institute 'A'.

Craig Wedge was instrumental in Osbaldwick's 6-3 win over Slip 'B', whose Keith Mercer-Phil Smith made determined reply. Paul Calpin, well supported by Mark Lea, pushed Flag to a 7-3 victory at Old Ebor, whose S Magin finished on bull.

High scoring from John Morrison and Barry Houlden failed to prevent Groves losing 5-4 to Cygnet 'B', who had the ever-solid Derek-Ian Hartley partnership taking the deciding game.

Updated: 09:55 Friday, May 16, 2003