THE top two in the Altrincham and Sale Round the Board Darts League shared the spoils when they met in the penultimate match of the campaign.

Leaders Cringlewood came out fighting and took the first half of the match 3-2 against a valiant Jolly Butcher side.

Things intensified in the second half of the match with Butcher showing their true colours, bouncing back with a 3½-1½ win, which meant both teams took two points.

The result left Cringlewood two points clear with four points available to both teams in the final round of matches.

Timperley Cons gave themselves a chance of winning the title by beating Navigation 4-1 and 4-1, to go level with Jolly Butcher in second.

At the other end of the table, Central B played magnificent darts against a strong British Rail side.

In the first half Central B's Dave Wood, John Thierens and Jon Collins all won to take it 3-2, but then Rail came back with great throwing from Nigel Beeton, Derek Ostic and Iris Bannister to take the second half 3-2 and a share of the points.

Although new team Railway Hale lost to Central A twice in a hard-fought match, they did take two wins on the night – one from Simon Holmes and the other courtesy of Martin Parker – but it ended 4-1 and 4-1 in favour of Central A.

Budenburgs took the first half 5-0 against the Carters Arms, and then won the second half 4-1.