by Dave FotheringhamYORK is to get a new men's darts League. While the ever-increasing need to find sponsorship for sport gets harder, York-based company, the Exhibition Hotel Group, is bucking the trend and backing the league.

It is not their first venture into darts as EHG already support Chris Thompson, York's best player, in his efforts to reach the top.

The new league, the Exhibition Hotel Group Darts League starts in April, but only the first 24 teams to apply are assured of entry.Applications, with a £30 fee, should be forwarded to the Mount.PAUL Keers geared himself up for an excellent 16-dart York Sam Smith's League game as division three leaders Trafalgar scuttled Bay Horse.

City 'B' stand four points back after beating Ship, whose only winner was Ash Kemp. Bishopthorpe's Andy Hudson was the sole winner at Volunteer 'B'.

Kevin Knowles (21) and the Sue Claydon-Martin Munday combination gave Vaults a tight 5-4 victory at Woolpack 'B'.

The in-house Punch Bowl derby saw the 'A' side come out on top. Paul Roberts (21), Rich Hill (20), and victory in the final pairs for Martyn Turner and Heath Scaife guaranteed the match after Glenn Waterworth had set the 'B' team off with 21 darts.

A last pair win by Tony and Andy Noble gave Victoria victory at Howden.

In division two, Ken Hutchinson closed in 16 darts as Bells went down 6-3 to Volunteer 'A' and Palace's Simon Richardson checked out on 115 for 21 darts against Ebor.

Punch 'C' were in emphatic form as Steve Britton (180 for 18), Bob Rochester (17), Neil Hart (19) and Paul Hughes (21) won well to earn a 7-2 win over Huntington, whose Slim Jackson responded in 18 darts.

Mark Waddington and Grant McClean gave Leeman the decider against Lumley, while three tons for 19 from Bobby Brookes inspired Holgate against Woodman.

Teams wishing to enter the summer season must have their entries in by the annual meeting on March 20. Contact Neil Hart (654191).WITH only two York Bass-Fleetways Taxis League matches remaining, Poacher dampened Dringhouses' drive for the division one runners-up spot with a 7-2 win.

Barry Noble was outstanding for Dringhouses with 17 darts, but Poacher had their own big guns in Brian Hill (16), Chris Thompson (17), Tony Cooper (19) and Neil Caywood (19).

Shepherds, who now occupy the second spot, had Kev Walton out in 19 against Green Tree 'B', while Pete Green-Lee Ellis took Green Tree 'A' the decider against Groves after John Holtby-Mick Amos had levelled.

Gordon Foster (20) and Dave Norris pulled their weight in the Flag ranks, but Brian Harden-Mick Addinall got Horseman a 5-4 success.

Andy Myers set Mount off with 21 darts at Swan who came out on top with Dave Thomas-Mark Delaney.

Mick Regan-Doug Sutcliffe won an important thriller for Sun at Yearsley and Turf's division two place was enhanced by a 6-3 win at Saddle, where John Lalowski was in tremendous high scoring form.

Institute's 5-4 win against Snickleway was settled by Mark McLaren-Noel Watkinson after 21 darts from Pete Strain. Osbaldwick's Russ Armstrong returned 18 darts.JIM Hawksby, who has had a splendid York John Smith's Mixed League season, threw another superb 17 darts against Collingwood.But his Tang Hall team lost more ground on leaders Poachers in division two by going down 7-4.

Mick Plummer (Snickleway 'B') finished on 133 for 21 darts, but Alice Hawthorne nipped in with the decider taken by Maurice Bell (180) - Lesley Gardner after a good 104 check for 21 by Colin Blackburn.

Stan Jackson shot a 21 dart singles win then supplied Acomb Sports with the decider while partnering Pauline Robinson at Palace.Ian Johnstone gamed in 21 for Slipper 'B', who lost to Leeman, and Slipper 'A' too finished on the wrong side of Punch 'B' who took the last game win with Heath Scaife-Debbie Britton.

Both Paul Bartnett (180) and Nick Harteveld (130 finish on bull) stood out in Sea Horse's 8-3 at Derwent, while Neil Hart hit 180 and a 20 darter in Punch 'A's 8-3 at Victoria.

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