THE Crewe Oddies Club Open League Summer season kicked off with the first round of the Team Knockout which saw last season’s winners Vine A go through to round two in a closely fought contest against Hop Pole A.

Vine took the darts, 5-2 helped by Mick Hassall’s 16-darter including a 180 and Graham Arrowsmith’s 19-dart game ,with Hop Pole hitting back at dominoes.

It was the final pairs game won by Mick Heselden and John Hulse that secured Vine’s 8-7 aggregate victory.

Cosey Club were the only Premier Division side to fall, losing 8-7 to Division One team Amalgamated A.

Cosey, for whom Jim Moston hit a 180, won the darts 5-2 but Amalgamated took control in the dominoes 6-2 the pairings of Kevin O’Connor/Steve Faddes and Bill Ryder/Dave Wells winning the final pairs games to seal the victory.

Ben Davies was in top form for Eight Farmers A with a 16-darter including a 180 as they trounced visitors Brunel C 6-1, coupled with the dominoes being shared 3-3 giving them a comfortable 9-4 aggregate success.

Other Premier Division sides had easy victories, with Willaston Club beating Eight Farmers B 8-3 and Broughton winning 9-2 against visitors Flying Lady B.

Jayne Downey with a 107 checkout and Darren Ferguson/Daz Downey winning the pairs in 31 darts helped Pioneers Club to a 10-5 aggregate victory over Rising Sun.

Mark Clowes’ 125 finish for Vine B was to no avail as hosts Nantwich Road Club took the darts 4-3 and dominoes 4-2 for an 8-5 passage into the next round.

There was a close encounter at Bridge A, where visitors Hawk tied the match at six all before going on to win 8-6 thanks to dominoes players Mark France, who won the last single game and Dave Falconer/Rob Sandlands successful in the pairs.

It was also close at Brunel B as visitors Express had to wait until the final dominoes pairs game, won by Steve Abbott/Wilbert Grant, to register their 8-7 aggregate win.

White Lion Copp had an easy victory against a depleted Horseshoe side, winning the darts 7-0 but Horseshoe retaliated taking the dominoes 5-3 as White Lion scored a 10-5 passage into round two.

Flying Lady A (10-5), White Lion Ford Lane (10-5), Coppenhall Club A (8-6) and Swan & Chequers (9-6) all had easy home victories against respective opponents Foresters B, Alberts Corner, Woodside and West End Band A, while Hop Pole B had a comfortable 8-3 away win at Dishers B.