WESTEND LMR B took the first step towards retaining their Team Knockout crown with a 9-4 victory over visitors the Crown as the Crewe Oddies Darts and Dominoes summer season got under way.

Crown's only darts winner was Darren Cooper as LMR B won 6-1, with the first six dominoes games being shared.

Top darts of the round came from White Lion Ford Lane’s Jordan Bradley who is already a contender for the least darts and highest checkout titles with a 12 darter and a 161 finish against visitors Duke of Bridgewater C.

However, that came to no avail as Division Four side Duke took the darts 4-2 and the dominoes 4-1 giving them an 8-3 aggregate win and a surprising passage into round two.

Cosey Club’s Ross Gilder Jnr hit an 18 darter as the Premier Division side had a comfortable 8-3 aggregate success over Dishers A.

Dishers B were successful in a closely fought game against Swan & Chequers, for whom James Scott hit 180 as they took the darts 4-3.

But Dishers B took the dominoes 5-3 and the vital last pairs game was won by Mick Ferrington and Tom Heywood Jnr to seal Dishers B’s 8-7 victory.

Mick Whitfield with a 20 dart game was in form for Flying Lady A as Tracey Heaps responded for Nantwich Road A, finishing her game in 21 darts with a 107 checkout.

Lady had a 5-2 darts advantage and with Nantwich Rd leading the dominoes 4-2 the tie was left to be decided on the dominoes pairs games.

They were won by the Lady pairings of Pete Sandham and Howard Barnes and Phil Shaw and Ian Shaw, giving them a 9-6 aggregate win.

There was another close one at the Duke of Bridgewater B as the outcome was decided on the final dominoes pairs games won by Hawk’s pairings of Dave Falconer and Rod Sandland and Mark France and Eddie Critchley to see the Hawk through to the next round.

Other cliff-hangers unfolded at the Brunel and Willaston Club where the ties were decided by the final dominoes pairs games, at the Brunel C the Flying Lady B duo of Bob Edwards/Graham Minshull won the final game giving Lady B an 8-7 success and at Willaston Club their duo of Dave Potts/Ken Fisher won to give the Club an 8-7 victory over visitors Bridge C.

The leagues new-comers had mixed fortunes with Captain Webb the only victor trouncing hosts Coppenhall Club 9-1 for whom Colin Spencer 18 darts and Ste O’Neil with a 180 maximum hit top form as Dave Morris was Coppenhall’s only response with a 180.The other two new-comers Wetherspoons lost 10-5 to premiership Vine A and Westend Band A were defeated 9-6 by Pioneers B.

White Lion(Copp) (9-7) and Cheshire Cheese(9-4) had home victories over respective opponents Rising Sun and Eight Farmers B, while Hop Pole A (8-5) and Bridge A (8-3) had away wins over respective opponents Coach & Horses and Sydney Arms.