THERE were magic darts aplenty as Horseshoe ‘A’ beat champions Recreation Club in the final week of the Pickering League.

Horseshoe came from 2-0 down to take the spoils, though Rec Club could not be caught at the top of the table.

Graham Love and Roger Dawson put Rec Club two ahead by beating Shoe’s Yorkshire Superleague player, Billy Hague, and Tony Barber.

Love opened with a 23-dart leg, and Hague levelled with a 20-darter including two 140s. Hague missed two darts at tops and Love sealed the point with a fine 70 finish.

Dawson hit a 60 outshot for a 20-dart leg and, although Barber equalised, missed doubles in the decider let Dawson in.

Rec’s Steve Taylor then hit a 78 finish on the bull for a 21-darter but Nick Cass (2x100, 121, 140) fought back with two 24-dart legs, rounded off with a 63 finish, to gain Shoe’s first point.

Mike Brown then took advantage of an off-form Phil Bointon winning 2-0 to level the match, ending with and 80 finish for a 21-darter.

The last singles provided the game of the night.

Rec’s Al Dawson flew off with a 121 and a 123 followed by a 114 outshot for a 15-dart opening leg.

Graham Steel hit back with 140 and 100 to level in 23 darts, then started leg three with 121, 140 and 99 and finished in 16 darts to put Shoe 3-2 up.

Rec needed to win the pairs to take the match to a deciding leg, but Shoe got off to a good start with Barber hitting 125. Then, with the scores almost level, Hague threw a 180 to ease them ahead, and Barber hit double eight for a 30-dart leg to win the match.

In a rearranged league game, WMC ‘B’ came from 2-1 down to beat Sun Inn ‘B’ 5-2 aided by a maximum by John Bristow and two 100s, a 125 and two 140s from Jonny Smith.

The finals and presentation night will be at the Recreation Club on Sunday, May 4, starting at 7.45pm.

Meanwhile, The Star, from Cayton, featuring Ryedale aces, pushed national champions and current Yorkshire Superleague leaders Castle Club, from Conisbrough, all the way in their latest fixture.

It was a spirited display against a side full of county stars, PDC professionals and an ex-world champion in John ‘Boy’ Walton.

It was Walton who registered the first point with a 4-1 win over Hague, though Jim Gordon levelled with a superb 4-1 victory over Chris Gill. John Spoors was blown away 4-0 by Brian Dawson but fellow Ryedale ace Paul Bulmer beat PDC star Daz Johnson 4-2.

Five maximums were shared with both players averaging in the 80s. Rillington’s Bulmer showed real class to win the decider in 16 darts.

Malton’s Steve Oldfield also had a seven-leg thriller against Keith Evans. Three missed darts at the double in the decider was his only mistake in a quality match.

Graham Elvidge produced a stunning comeback to beat Tom Gregory, but Pickering duo Alan Dawson and Phil Bointon drew opponents - Tony Hull and Keith Flint - in fine form and lost 4-0.