Hampshire slipped to their first defeat of the season in Warwickshire with both the men's teams sliding to 7-5 defeats and the ladies A team going down 4-2.

But the league table looks very out of kilter with the Essex v Yorkshire game postponed by a week. Cheshire, after beating the Lancashire men's team 11-1, go top of that table with Hampshire second.

Yorkshire need five points to knock Hampshire down and Essex need nine. Whatever happens in the men's B match Hampshire will stay sixth, currently just two points off the top.

For the ladies A team there is three points between themselves and bottom county London. But for the A team they are the meat between the Yorkshire and Essex teams and currently third.

Overall, Hampshire are fourth at the moment but expect that to change after the match in Essex this weekend.

James Wade hit a 30.67 winning average in the opening set of the men's A match but Warwickshire led 2-1 before Doogie Ralph hit an equaliser.

The home side then ran up a 5-2 scoreline as Hampshire began a gritty fight back. Paul Hogan, Glenn Toms and Mick Cookman hauled Hampshire level. Warwickshire led again at 6-5 but Andy Portelli could not quite level the match.

Hampshire again led the way in the B match with a Paul Gibbs opening win.

After the home side levelled it was John Farmer who restored the Hampshire lead. Two defeats for Hants followed before Colin Philpott won a third. Once more Warwickshire led at 5-3 before wins from skipper Rick Lowther and Steve Musson dragged Hants level again. Sadly they failed, just, to win the last two sets and went down 7-5.

Sandra Wheeler and Sue Kerridge were the only Hants winners in the Ladies A match with Laura Power losing to England girl Clare Bywaters and Pam Hayman taking a leg from the World Champion, Trina Gulliver, but losing 3-1.

Defeats for Angela Jones and Mandy Keith was matched by winning games from Kerry McGuire, Jo Sibley, Jane Monaghan and ladies skipper Jenny Fenton as Hampshire Ladies B chase top spot in their division. In fact from the men's B team only four players recorded an average better than Monaghan's 26.37 average.

Now Hampshire have the Christmas break.

Just one week after the Embassy final they will face struggling London at Cowplain. Big points at home to London should get Hampshire back on the right track.

Bishops Waltham Men's Winter League

Father Christmas may be delivering the cards but he sure is not delivering the result sheets. Just ask Lou Nash.

This weeks results consisted of just four matches, and all those had been put through his door by team secretaries. From those there were two maximums, one each for Tony Whitcher (Wheatsheaf) and Steve Perren (Hedge End).

Meon Valley League

Brian Colenutt is definitely the man in form in this league.

Already leading the race for most maximums, he added a fifth this time out. And then he hit a 160 finish as well. Stuart Harley also hit a maximum and Hampshire team manager Mick Collins hit a 148 finish, showing he still has the touch - occasionally.

Romsey Ladies

Congratulations to Louise Bassett (William IV) who has hit a maximum. It was more than useful since it helped her side to a 4-3 win over Romsey Comrades.

Itchen & District League Ship and Bulls Eye both had wins to reach the next round of the KO Cup, scheduled for January 6.

Eastleigh & Bishopstoke Dart League

Maximums were recorded by Mark Haskett (Eastleigh RI), T Langdon (Comrades), C Ryves (BWMC 'B') and Colin Wolosankia (Bishopstoke WMC 'B'). Top finishes came from Steve Hayter (Bishopstoke WMC 'A') with 114 and 102. G Pike (Bishopstoke WMC 'A') hit a 112 checkout.

Eastleigh Town & Guests League

Nine maximums were recorded in the latest round of matches and M Hunt (Arrow) was the top shot with a brace of them. Others came from R Randall, T Eyre, Mark Haskett, Sam Rooney, I McCarthy, Kevin Ede and Martyn Dunford. Ede also hit a 13-darter whilst Pete Collins threw a 14-dart leg. Tony Whitcher hit a 122 finish.

Cobweb Solutions Fareham Men's Winter League Division 1's KO Cup - the Fred Dyke Trophy - saw Q Battery, Gordon Arms, Hill Park and Portsdown Inn all move into the semi-finals. Portsdown were the only team to win at home.

Results: Funtley Social Club 3 QBattery 6, Cob & Pen 2 Gordon Arms 7, Golden Lion 4 Hill Park 5, Portsdown Inn 6 Limes 3.

In the Division Two trophy - the Ernie Hills Trophy - there were home wins for Jolly Miller and Delme Arms. Seagull A and Admiral Cunningham were away winners. Delme had Gary Louth to thank for victory, and that in his first game back after breaking an arm eight weeks ago. His win came in the last leg of the night with the scores all square at 4-4.

Ernie Hills Results: Red Lion 1 Seagull A 8, Jolly Miller 6 Redlands 3, Seagull B 4 Admiral Cunningham 5, Delme Arms 5 Linden Lea 4.

Teams are reminded that the Captains Cup will be played at Fareham Football Club on Wednesday, December 18 and will be played down to a winner on the night. Players are to be at the venues by 8.30pm so that the draws can be made at 8.45pm.

Cosham Open

If you are full of turkey after Christmas why not take yourself down to Cosham BL on Friday, December 27 for a game of darts in the Cosham Open.

Registration is at 11am and the draw takes place at mid-day. Venue is Cosham RBL, Sixth Avenue, Cosham. Entry is £5 with £100 winner guaranteed. Lionel Sams won last year's event, beating Roy Turner in the final.