DARTS: FIDDLERS Three finally called the tune - in Runcorn Apec Taxis Darts League's bottom-of-the-table Section Three clash.

The basement side beat Dock Lads, the team immediately above them, 5-4, to gain their first win of the season at the ninth attempt. The Castlefields team are now only two points adrift.

Skipper Dave Schofield hit a maximum for the Fiddlers.

Halfway Gents maintained their two-point lead in the division with a 5-4 defeat of Union Tavern, while second-placed Castle were in danger of losing further ground but fought back from 3-1 down to beat Dreadnaughts 5-4.

Fourth-placed Waterloo are level on points with Union Tavern after a 5-4 win over Lion.

The Burma continue to dominate Section Five - a 7-2 defeat of Eggie Arms maintaining the Halton Brook team's 100% record.

Dev Superstars, who had been in second spot, slipped up badly. They allowed a 4-0 lead to be wasted when beaten 5-4 by Clarendon.

Trannie Mix are the new occupants of the runners-up position after overcoming bottom-of-the-table Them Lot 7-2.

Wilson's did Tricorn, second in Section One, no favours by toppling them 5-4, with help from Ian White's maximum and 13-dart finish, while leaders Albion go six points clear after sweeping past Lion Doo Waps 6-3.

Halfway A moved level on points with Tricorn after seeing off Taverners, who are still to plunder their first points, by the narrowest margin. Red Admiral, who had been next-to-bottom, moved up a notch with a 5-4 win over Outcasts.

A 115 finish from Andy Hunt helped Section Two leaders Likely Lads account for Cherry Tree A Team 6-3 - a scoreline by which Tranny Lads, in second spot, overcame Pavilions A.

Third-placed RAOB Buffs raced to a 7-2 victory over lowly Wanderers while Halton Marauders, in fourth, beat Prospect Has Beens by an odd game.

The gulf in class between top and bottom was clear in Section Four where leaders RNA showed no mercy to Roundhouse in a 9-0 hiding.

A bonus for the Navy Club was a 6-3 defeat for second-placed Grapes by Weston PSC. This left the Halton Road outfit four points in arrears.

Royal Oak slipped to third after losing twice as many as they won against visiting Pavilions B. Draymen, 7-2 winners over Cherry Tree B Team, lie third.

* Peter Murphy, Graham Littlemore and Sean Bell all struck 180s as Taverners routed Grapes 9-0 in the Apec Taxis Cup second round.

Albion's Eamonn Hartigan was another to score a maximum - in a 6-3 win against Draymen, while Tranny Lads' Andy McCulloch joined the 180 club in an 8-1 defeat of Dev Superstars.

* In the Joe Bailey Cup first round, Union Tavern defeated Royal Oak 5-4 while Trannie Mix crashed 6-3 to Red Admiral.

* The league's AGM is at the War Memorial Club on Wednesday (7.30pm). This also incorporates a secretaries' meeting at which 2003-04 winter league registration forms will be distributed. Representation by all teams is therefore vital.