THERE were some giant-killing acts in the first round of the Carls-berg UK Crewe Open League Knockout Cup as two Premiership sides were humbled by lower league opposition.
Commercial suffered a surprise 9-6 defeat at British Lion A with Phil Scane on the mark for the victors, hitting a 20-darter in his singles game.
He and partner Ian Rea hit a 30.47 per dart average to win the 701 darts pairs game in 23 darts. Commercial's Barry Cooper hit a 19-darter and a 180.
Newly-promoted British Lion B were the other Premier side to fall - leading 7-6 at Cross Keys going into the final dominoes pairs games, they were beaten by the pairs of
Paul Tomkinson and Paul Cart-wright and Rob Rollo and Dave Cherrington, ensuring an 8-7 aggregate win.
Cup holders Woodside fell at the first hurdle when they visited the Hop Pole, losing 8-6. Belle Vue squeezed past Sydney Arms when Dave Jennings and Mick Stalgis won the final dominoes pairs game to register an 8-7 aggregate victory.
Other top sides had easier games as Paul Gilligan hit 18 darts and Andrea Hunt a 114 finish for Raven A in a 9-4 win at the Captain Webb.
Steve Wright was on the mark for Hawk with a 18 dart game as they beat Prince of Wales 9-4 and Martin Astbury finished in 21 darts as Flying Lady A trounced White Lion Coppenhall A 10-3.
Delamere had an easy 11-4 aggregate victory against newcomers Royal Scot, while in the only all-Premier clash Pioneers whitewashed Rockwood 7-0 at darts with the help of a 16-dart game by Rob Clarke. The final score was 10-4.
All The Vine's teams won - Vine A were 9-4 winners at LMR A and Vine B thrashed Bridge C 9-2 while Vine C easily beat visitors Bridge A 10-5.
Division Five side Old Oddfellows edged a close encounter with Division One opponents Amalgamated B 8-7. There was also a cliffhanger at Nantwich Road Club as visitors Kings Arms A relied on dominoes pairs wins by Derek Sherritt and Jim Hamilton and Keith Capper and Adrian Russell to re-cord an 8-7 passage into round two.
Dean Smith hit a 15-dart game for Cheshire Cheese as they demolished Polish Club 9-2; Dishers beat Leisure Club 9-5 with Rob Challinor hitting a 19-darter.
The top finishers were Pete Ayres (106) for LMR B who were 9-6 winners at Westend Band A, Mark Baker (110) for Raven B who notched a 10-5 win over Cumberland, and Queen's Park Golf Club's Chris Townsend with a 116 checkout and a 180 as they beat Horseshoe 9-4.
King's Arms B, White Lion (Copp) B, Flying Lady B, Cosey Club, Amalgamated A, Crown, Aslef Leisure and Liberal A all progressed to round two on Monday, April 30, following their wins.
