PHIL BOINTON lifted the Pickering Rec Club Individual League title on Friday night after edging defending champion Billy Hague in a top-quality final.

The entire league season came down to one deciding leg, and Bointon hit 174 to leave himself on 36 – which he nailed first dart to take the match 4-3.

Finals night had begun with Hague, who had topped the league table, beating fourth-placed Steve Taylor 3-0 in their semi-final, while Bointon beat third-placed Andy Wall 3-0.

The final was a match which summed up the league’s quality.

Bointon threw two 19-dart legs and a superb 15-darter but Hague showed why he had won the title for the last two years as he levelled the match at 3-3 with a 74 checkout in an 18-dart leg.

Bointon, though, hit the championship-winning double.

In the ‘B’ league promotion play-off final, Alan Dawson, who finished second in the table, edged third-placed Rich Webster 3-2.

Dawson raced 2-0 up and, although Webster levelled, Pickering man Dawson hit a fantastic 15-darter with an 82 checkout.

He joins runaway league winner Olly Mitchell in moving up to the ‘A’ league.

Going the other way is John Bristow, as he lost the ‘A’ league relegation play-off against Jon Rule.

Bristow, last year’s ‘B’ league winner, took leg one against the throw but Rule dominated the match from then on taking the remaining three legs.

Meanwhile, White Swan maintained their lead at the top of the Moors League with a comfortable 7-3 victory at Sun Inn.

Eddie Craggs was on fine form for Swan with two 121 and two 100 scores as he beat Richard Wilson (135).

Craggs’ team-mate, Tim Nichols, also starred with a 121 score and 60 finish, while Chris Pickering and Martyn Allen won singles for Sun.

Moors Inn took all seven singles points at Coach House ‘A’ with Mike Barnes (140, 100), Craig Barnes (134, 100) and Derek Bannister (2x100) inflicting the damage.

House rallied to win a pairs leg and the three-a-side for an 8-2 final score.

New Inn also won 8-2 at Crown Inn with Ady Cook, Nie Monkman and Al Hodgson each recording a 140 score while Sarah Hodgson hit a couple of tons as she beat Crown’s Norm Tinsley (121, 100).

Mark Little and Steve Winfield grabbed the consolation points for Crown.

Adam Durrant hit three 100s for Blacksmiths Arms ‘A’ in their 7-3 victory at Buck Inn ‘B’.

Georgie Peirson (120) was the only individual winner for Buck and she teamed up with Clive Atkinson to win another point in the pairs.

Rob Allanson, Jonno Bointon, Shaun Wilson and Ash Hodgson helped Blacksmiths Arms ‘B’ to edge out Buck Inn ‘A’ 6-4. Darren Marsh, Dave Ord and Mike Phillips replied for Buck but, after a pairs win each, Blacksmiths took the three-a-side to clinch the match.

• The Pickering League stages the Graham Horsfall Memorial Charity Open Pairs Tournament on Sunday (February 16) at the Recreation Club, Mill Lane.

It starts at 3pm, though registration must be completed by 2.30pm.

The first prize will be for £250 plus trophy, while the runners-up will receive £100, and there will be cash prizes for the semi-finalists and £25 for the highest checkout.

Food and refreshments will be provided, and there will be a raffle, with all proceeds going to charity.

For details or to register, phone Kevin Wilson on 07768 521022.