PIONEERS A tasted a rare defeat in the final of the Crewe Open League Summer Team knockout competion, losing a tight battle 8-6 to eventual winners Westend LMR B.

Josh Carter got Westend off to a good start by winning the opening darts game in 15 throws, but the Pioneers hit back when captain Pete Boughey’s 18 dart victory finished with a 114 checkout and Fred Smith won in 20 darts.

But this 2-1 lead was short lived as LMR B struck through Billy Graham and Chris Townsend in the first two dominoes games and Chris Gibson in his darts game to give them a 4-2 lead.

LMR’s Mark Jodrill then hit a 180 but was unable to register a win as the Pies’ John Speed also hit a 180 and took the game in 18 darts, which when added to dominoes victories from Dave Tirrell and Nigel Palin allowed Pioneers to slip back into a 5-4 lead.

Chris Townsend's last darts game win levelled the scores, and even when Pioneers took a 6-5 lead thanks to Fred Smith and John Speed's pairs win, Westend did not give up.

Instead they battled back when Pete Ayres and Kevin Goodwin won the next two singles games for a 7-6 advantage, before the pairing of George Goodwin and Billy Graham were successful to secure victory for the LMR B.

In the outstanding league games played in Crewe Open League's Division five darts, Brunel A fought back to earn a 4-4 draw after Swan and Chequers threw away a 3-0 lead.

Brunel also won the dominoes 5-3.

In Division Six darts, Cheese Hall trounced Brunel B 7-1 before going on to complete the double with a 6-2 dominoes win.

Cosey Club's Carl Dennell achieved a unique double by winning both of the memorial darts singles knockout competitions, the Alf Roberts and James Goodwin trophies.

But that double victory spelt frustration for Westend LMR B’s Mark Jodrill, who was the defeated finalist in both competitions.

In the Alf Roberts final Dennell took the first leg in 15 darts with a 79 finish, Mark Jodrill responding by winning the next game despite Carl hitting a 180.

In the third leg Carl again hit form, winning in 18 darts with a 133 checkout, before Mark again levelled with an 18 darter.

But this was to no avail as Carl took the final game for a 3-2 victory and complete the first part of the double.

The final of the James Goodwin competition was best of seven legs but this made no difference to the outcome as Dennell continued to dominate Jodrill, this time winning 4-1.

Carl took the first leg in 21 darts with a 78 checkout and followed this with a 17 darter to secure a 2-0 lead.

Mark fought back to win the third leg in 18 darts, but that was the end of his winning ways, with the champion taking the next two legs in 24 darts and the decisive leg in 18 darts with a 98 finish to complete his unique double.