HORSE and Groom faced an uphill task in their Braintree Open Darts League match against Cressing B after losing the pairs 2-1, the triples and the first three singles as Cressing took the match points.

With Mark Cook, Mark Wooster and Tash Whitfield chalking up wins in the next three, the singles outcome hinged on the final game though, but Tracey Hemming won 2-0 to add the singles points to Cressing's haul.

The Eagle A lost the pairs against visiting Notley Sports before bouncing back with a win in the triples to give them a slight match advantage going into the singles.

Notley's Mick Hyham and Rob Caton won to keep their team in contention, but wins for Chris Cook and Dave Wren and successes in the final three games gave the singles and match points to Eagle.

Wethersfield Raiders took an early match advantage over visitors Eagle B as they won the pairs 2-1 and drew the triples and Phil Hume's 2-1 win over Barry Old in the opening singles extended the hosts' lead.

Andy Smith and Keven Byrne claimed the next two for the Eagle as they got back in the hunt but with the next three game going the Raiders' way, they had the singles and match won.

Bocking Club were soon chasing against visitors the Swiss Bell after losing the pairs 2-1 and despite a draw in the triples, they then lost the opening three singles.

Peter Hayden's 2-1 win over Ann Farmer gave Bocking a lifeline but with the remaining games going the Swiss' way, they had the singles and match won.

Elsewhere Cressing A won the doubles, triples, singles and overall match against Wethersfield Club and with Braintree Football Club winning the pairs, triples and singles against the Welsh Princess, they also had all the points secured.

Chris Cook hit a 180 and high out shots were recorded by Deb Webb with a 98 and Tony Bamsey with a 113.