The Cornwall County Darts team visited Rudheath Social Club, Northwich last weekend (22nd/23rd January) to play Cheshire in the latest British Inter-County Championship match. Missing several key players stricken with flu, the reserves gave good account of themselves and, while unable to repeat the win of two years ago, the team did enough to maintain Cornwall's top spot in Division Two.

Only one point behind, the three teams now sharing second will no doubt be hoping to ruin Cornwall's chances winning the title, and with Cornwall set to play one of them in the last match this season everything points to the Championship going all the way to the wire.

Worst hit by unavailable players was the Ladies B team; with Claire Combes replacing injured Joyce Pugh in the A team, and with both Teresa's (Jasper and Osborn) unavailable, they lost out 4-2 on Saturday. Cornwall's winners were Hev Armstrong and Lady of the Match Sally Van Evelingen who remains unbeaten so far this season. Helen Malsbury and Sandra Yendle, who both returned respectable averages, were unlucky to lose out in hard-fought sets that went the distance.

The Men's B team also lost out, by seven sets to five, allowing the home side an 11-7 overnight advantage. Francis Julian, playing his debut match, won in three legs in 17, 22 and 21 darts (25.05 average) to take the Cornwall Man of the Match award.

On Sunday morning Nikki Furse opened proceedings for the Ladies A team with a display of remarkable consistency, relentlessly scoring 60s and coolly taking advantage of her opponent's patchy scoring to win three legs to two and take the Lady of the Match award with an average of 21.06. Claire combes, in her first A team appearance since returning to the County stage, and Sue Collins were Cornwall's other winners in a 3-3 draw.

The A team men came away honours even with six points apiece, a creditable result for both sides and, although this meant Cornwall lost overall for the first time this season, crucially, the home side failed to overhaul Cornwall in the promotion table. Ian Hugh was Cornwall's Man of the Match with an average of 28.90.

Match details (Cornwall first) *denotes first County appearance.

Men's A (Sunday) - Score: 6-6; Legs 21-27; Team Average 24.03-25.84; Tons: 81 = 3 x 180-107 + 4 x 180.

Emma Scorer 0, Mick Curzon 3; Brian Jones 1, Peter Boughey 3; Ian Knowles 1, Brian Frost 3; Mike Cook 3, Andy Boulton 2; Steve Pascoe 1, Ton O'Shea 3; Tug Wilson 3, Mark Tirrell 1; John Goves 3, Mick Haynes 2; Ian Hugh 3, John Brameld 0; Kevin Bray 0, Colin Latham 3; Colin Pass 3, Chris Beeston 2; Nigel Trace 3, Andy Sugarman 2; Francis Julian 0, Steve Roberts 3.

Women's A (Sunday) - S: 3-3; L: 11-13; A: 18.28-18.66; T: 22-24.

Nikki Furse 3, Andrea Hunt 2; Annie Lane 0, Linda Sullivan 3; Jane Cummings 0; Sue Collins 3, Gill Ball 1; Claire Combes 3, Jill Jodrill 1; Sylvia Griffin 2 Mary Ede 3.

Men's B (Saturday) - S: 5-7; L: 21-27; A: 23.06-23.49; T: 76 + 3 - 68 + 3.

Ronnie Cook 3, Dave Newton 1; Neil Symons 1, Steve Hassall 3; Wayne Lawrence 3, Tommy Hunter 2; Alan Bastian* 2, Peter Day 3; Andy Hancock 0, Colin Latham 3; 'Tex' Thomas 1, Barry Cooper 3; Tony Teal 3, Mark Jodrill 1; Martyn Fugler 1, George McCormick 3; Dave Wyatt 3, Steve Atkinson 2; Francis Julian* 3, Terry Sheen 0; Mark Simmons 0, Rob Arrowsmith 3; Alan Stephens 1, Phil Merryweather 3.

Women's B (Saturday) - S: 2-4; L: 10-14; A: 14.90-15.29; T: 11-13.

Helen Malsbury 2, Cally Roberts 3; Sally Van Evelingen 3, Karen Atkinson 1; Maureen Cowls* 0, Lorraine Abley 3; Sandra Yendle 2, Dianne Clarke 2; Linda Edwards 0, Joanne Prince 3; Heather Armstrong 3, Julie Ball 1.