TITLE contenders Clarry B suffered their second defeat of the season in Thursday's Runcorn Apec Taxis Darts League's Section One.

This enabled the other pacesetters, Halfway A and Albion, to establish a two-point lead. It was next-to-bottom Halfway Gents who provided the shock result of the night, beating Clarry 6-3.

Halfway defeated Red Admiral 6-3, although there was some consolation for the losers, who saw John Cobain score a maximum.

Albion defeated Dock Lads 6-3. Phil Littler scored a maximum for the winners with Dave Nash finishing in 19 darts for Dock.

Lion Doo Waps and Navvy exchanged places in fourth and fifth positions with Tony Jones finishing on 105 to help Lion towards a 5-4 victory.

Tranny Lads' 5-4 win against Roundhouse included finishes of 136 and 101 from Peter Revill and Ron Taylor, respectively. For the losers, Mike O'Dwyer produced a 105 finish.

Section Two leaders Union Tap, bounced back from their first defeat by beating Outcasts 7-2 - helped by a Norman Corke maximum.

A 105 finish from Bill Ward helped second-placed Grapes to a 5-4 defeat of third-placed Tricorn.

Brian Coakley produced a 17-dart game for Halfway Mixed but this couldn't save the fourth-placed team from a 6-3 loss to Navvy Lads.

Wanderers are still searching for their first points after going down 7-2 to Halton Marauders.

Following two consecutive defeats, Section Three leaders Pavilions got back on track, chalking up a 6-3 win over Union Tavern.

Second-placed Welly underlined their challenge with an 8-1 victory over Burma.

Prospect Has Beens and Dread-naughts, level on points with Welly in third and fourth places, both chalked up victories, too.

Prospect ran out 5-4 winners against Total Confusion while Dreadnaughts defeated Dray 6-3.

Fifth-placed Lion Stonecutters, a further two points adrift, defeated Fiddlers Three 5-4.

Tranny Rovers consolidated their position at the head of Section Four as comprehensive 8-1 winners against Castle Knights.

Jolly Brewer, hitherto in second place, slipped to third after losing 5-4 to bottom team Alfie's Arrows who moved up a place.

The wooden spoonists' position is now held by Nil Points who went down 6-3 to Tup, who are in second place.

Quayside's Mike Bishton produced the quickest game of the night - a 16-darter - to help his fourth-placed team to an 8-1 victory over Royal Oak Aces.

Bennett's Boys also raced to an 8-1 victory, accounting for the Raven.

* Friday night's second-round matches in the Best Sports Cup saw Section Four leaders Tranny Rovers go 4-2 down against Navvy Lads but they rallied to beat their Section Two opponents 5-4.

Albion's Nick Hough hit a 12-dart round-the-board game in helping his team into an 8-0 lead against Section Two opponents, Halfway Mixed.

However one of the highlights came in the final game - won for the losers by Christine Baines, who produced a 114 finish.

Danny Nuckley (Fiddlers Three) recorded an 11-dart game but he was one of just two winners for his team against Quayside.

Navvy's 5-4 win over Roundhouse included a trio of 13-dart games of 301 from Paul Carr, Ian Deakin and Glynn Thornhill.

* Draws for the preliminary rounds of both the Individual and doubles competitions have now been made and these can be viewed at either the league's headquarters at the Navigation Inn or by contacting league secretary Geoff Jones on 01928 575157.