Sadly Darts men are still looking for that elusive first away victory of the season in the Mid Devon League after going down to a 97-68 defeat at Torbay Country Club.

Rink one of A, Hawk­ins, T Taylor, R Swin­den and skip M Hawkins conceded a ‘hot shot’ on end eight (i.e. a drop of eight shots). Coming back from 20-4 down proved an impossible task des­pite an improvement after tea and they eventually lost 34-12.

Rink two with J Hawk­ins, P Walton, S Shaw and skip D Sherlock had a one-shot advantage going in to tea and managed to hold off a late challenge from their opponents to claim an 18-16 win.

Rink three comprising T Deighton, S Ivey, P Caddy and skip P Han­naford had a five-shot gain on the first end.

This proved invaluable as the home team came back strongly with a 10-shot win on consecutive ends to make it just a one-shot difference at the interval.

A late burst from Darts, gaining seven shots, proved the ultimate clincher, winning 23-21.

Rink four of M Dur­ston, H Crossman, M Greenland and skip W Varnam had a tight game for the first seven ends.

The match then slipped away a little, but a de­termined burst brought the deficit down to just one shot by end 15. The home team put in a late effort, taking 12 shots from the last six ends, to win 26-15.

Despite losing out overall, the team picked up a valuable four away points.

The South Hams Triples League match away against Kings­bridge Town proved just as unsuccessful.

Rink one with J Bow­den, A Hawkins and skip B Brehout never recovered from conceding 18 shots after four ends on what they were aware would be a difficult green. The deficit proved terminal as the trio slumped to a 36-7 defeat.

Rink two comprising J Hawkins, T Taylor and skip T Deighton enjoy­ed a much tighter match, but it still ended in a narrow defeat 17-14, a four-shot drop on end nine proving crucial.

Dart/Stoke ladies showed the men the way to go a few days later in the South Devon League home against Paignton ‘B’. Despite extremely wet and unpleasant conditions, they achieved an excellent 60-41 win, bringing a valuable 10 points.

Rink one of S Joy, E French and skip G Bowden took part in a close encounter.

While a four-shot lead was reversed immediately after tea to go two shots behind, a strong finish of nine shots without reply resulted in a 20-13 win.

Rink two with A Sher­lock, P Lamble and skip J Townsend also had a close match, with a three-shot gain on end 15 proving important, establishing a two-shot lead.

The last end saw a two-shot hold for the visitors, looking as though a draw would be the result, but the last wood from Dart/

Stoke skip reduced the opponents’ gain to one, resulting in a fine 18-17 victory.

Rink three of V Rud­dle, P Dease and skip M Weedon got off to an electric start, gaining an 11-shot lead af­ter five ends. This proved to be the eventual margin of victory in an excellent 22-11 win.

Hoping to follow the ladies’ example, Darts’ men entertained Marl­don in a Mid Devon League match.

Totally transformed from their away games, they romped to a 134-42 victory, the best win of the season.

Rink one comprising A Hawkins, B Brehout, R Swinden and skip M Hawkins were determined to get off to a good start and did just that, being 11 shots clear at tea. Thereafter the Marldon four appeared demoralised and Darts ran out convincing winners 36-8.

Rink two of M Durston, H Crossman, M Green­land and skip W Varnam established a 10-shot lead at tea, but were pegged back to half that lead by 15 ends. However, a superb surge of 18 shots, in­cluding a seven-shot end, without reply ensured a clear-cut win 33-10.

Rink three with T Deighton, S Ivey, P Caddy and skip P Han­naford had another ex­cellent win, 37-10, set up by tea having taken a 14-shot lead.

Their domination continued in to the second half of the match increasing their advantage by a further 13 shots.

Rink four consisting of J Hawkins, T Taylor, S Shaw and skip D Sherlock got off to a slightly slow start, with only three shots in it at the interval.

Darts then put their feet down with a six-shot gain on end 11 to finally run out worthy winners 28-14.