IN the words of Jimmy Greaves "It's a funny old game." Since New Year the St Annes Superleague Darts team had played six, drawn two and lost four.

Then without warning the unexpected happened.

This latest match was their penultimate fixture of the season. The outcome was never going to affect either team, with St Annes assured of Third Division darts next season and Lancaster relegated to Division Four, but the passion was still there for the St Annes lads.

Tony Dyer got off to a good start with a 3-0 win, although not to his usual standard, but he was always in control of the match. Then when Alec Butcher took the following game 3-1 in relaxed fashion the writing was on the wall, with little resistance from the doomed home team.

Jamie Clare made it two wins in a row in a turnaround of form and confidence this season, by beating his opponent 3-1 which included a 180. This was immediately followed by another player who has also won his last two games. Jim Scott who, like Jamie, won 3-1 checked out on 111 in the last leg, making it 4-0 to St Annes with one game to go to the interval.

Team captain Malcolm Poole cruised to a 3-0 victory taking his personal tally to 12 wins out of 13 matches this season, and the 5-0 half-time lead was by far the best half-way scoreline this season.

It was up to Steve Doran to keep the sequence going and he didn't disappoint his team-mates when he ran out a 3-2 winner, checking out on double 16 in a closely-fought last leg.

Once again Bob Warham found himself up against a worthy opponent and, with both players sharing the first four legs, he had a fight on his hands when in the deciding leg his opponent missed one dart at double top for victory. But Bob hit double 10 with his first dart to make the match score 7-0 and win the Man of the Match accolade for St Annes.

Things got even better with Alan Dyer putting in a rock steady performance, which included a 180, when he ran out an easy 3-1 winner.

The ninth game pitched Frazer Bagnall against a worthy opponent who almost gave the home team their first point, but Frazer isn't easily ruffled and came off a 3-1 winner in almost robotic style. With the match score at 9-0 to St Annes and the last player, Jon Fish, taking a 2-0 lead against Lancaster captain and ex-county player Phil Raby the whitewash was on the cards. But Phil showed he still has what it takes, even though suffering from the dreaded affliction which we call Dartitus -- which is a player's inability to release the dart from the hand without a great deal of effort -- when he took the last three legs in relative ease to give Lancaster a point.

The match gave St Annes 11 points which, with a good win in their final match, could be enough to end up in third spot. That match will be played on May 19 at St Annes Ex-Servicemen's Club on Alexandra Road starting at 12.30pm.

The team is looking for two or three players for next season who are available on Sundays and feel they would like to represent their town in sport. The ideal opportunity to see what the League is about is during this final fixture, so why not go along and see for yourself and support the lads at the same time?

Lancaster... 1 St Annes... 9

The Lytham St Annes Private Clubs Dart League individual's competition, held at St Annes British Legion, saw the demise of last year's champion Paul Bainbridge (Ansdell Institute) at the hands of team-mate Malcolm Poole. But Paul's brother Peter (Ansdell Institute) made sure of his place in the last four along with league secretary Steve Fuller (British Legion) and Frazer Bagnall (St Annes ex-Servicemen's) who hit the quickest singles of the season checking out in 13 darts.

The climax of the season is Finals and Presentation night on Wednesday, May 15, at St Annes Ex Servicemen's Club starting at 8.30pm, when the singles and pairs semi-finals and finals are played, followed by the annual presentation of trophies to all winners.

All team captains should note that on May 22 the league holds its AGM at St Annes Ex-Servicemen's Club, starting at 8.30pm. Any items for discussion must be received in writing by presentation night. All teams should be represented at this meeting as there is already one proposed rule change, and every team should make use of their vote.