THIS week I visited the Bay Mare as they faced local rivals and fellow promotion contenders the Lamb Bravos in a Section Five clash.

And it was the Bravos who emerged victorious with a 9-6 win.

The night started off with the best match of the night as Mark Bradley – currently eighth in the section's merit table – of the Bay Mare against Ste Swailes in a game that started slowly but turned into an excellent encounter.

Bradley won the first leg after Swailes missed two darts at double eight, hitting double tops.

The second leg was the best of the night with Bradley hitting a 180 and an 81 before hitting a fantastic 82 finish for an 18-dart leg with Swailes back on 268.

Bradley looked favourite to make it three before Swailes hit a 74 to leave 58 which he dispatched to narrow the deficit to 2-1.

The second game saw the captains collide as Richard O’Hagan faced Joe Clarke with both struggling to find form.

They have both been great players over the years and O’Hagan – a lethal 19 thrower on his day – faced Clarke who had been playing quite well before the game with treble after treble in practice.

Clarke kicked off with 81 and 140 before gradually making his way down to a double with double nine after O’Hagan missed three darts at the double. Clarke then went on to put his team in the lead for the first time as as he hit double seven to give his team a 3-2 advantage before extending it with double one to secure a 3-0 victory for himself and a 4-2 lead for his team.

The third game saw an out-of-sorts Mike Linney of the Bay Mare face Horace Naylor.

Naylor got off to the perfect start with double four. Linney replied in the second leg with scores of 100, 81, 85 and 80 before hitting double 16.

This built up to a brilliant last leg as Horace defied scores of 100 and 85 from Linney to end the leg with an 83 and 85 before hitting a fantastic 78 finish on double 20 to give The Lamb Bravos a 6-3 lead.

The penultimate game featured Paul Williams of the Bay Mare and Ross Ward and it did not take long for Ward to get his eye in.

He kicked off the first leg with scores of 85, 100, 81 and 99 against his struggling opponent as he quickly won the first leg on double 10.

The second leg was again dominated by the excellent Ward who kicked off with scores of 123 and 100, and with Williams sat on 103 Ward doubled his advantage hitting double three with his second dart to secure victory for the Bravos.

Ward let up slightly in the last leg and gave Williams a great chance to get a leg. Williams was unlucky as he missed double 16 for a 106 finish and Ward returned to hit double 19 for a 46 finish.

The final match of the night featured Robin Clancy of the Bay Mare and Pete Haynes.

Haynes travels to and from his pub in Preston every week just to play a game of 501 as the Preston league does not play it.

It was a slow start from both players with just one treble hit in the leg and both players struggling at the doubles and Clancy took the chance to take the first leg with double four with his first dart.

Haynes bossed the second leg with scores of scores of 95 and 100 before he missed 17 darts at double allowing Clancy to finish 32 with his last dart in hand hitting double eight.

Haynes' frustration was clearly showing and won the last leg emphatically with 81, 100 and 100 before finally hitting a double to win a leg for the Bravos.

Man of the match: It was a close call this week between Mark Bradley and Ross Ward and Bradley just about edged it with his excellent 18-dart leg. You could not see him missing that 180, each dart was so well thrown. To top that leg off with an 82 finish as well shows the ability Bradley possesses on his day.

Next week I will be visiting the Stork Tavern as the Fire Fox face The Dizzys of the Top Bull.