Hampshire's Ladies B team head their section by A point from April's opponents Yorkshire after another super show at Cowplain against Essex.

And Hampshire Men's A are just one point behind the same county at the top of their section so the long haul to Yorkshire will be vital to Hampshire dreams of taking the Men's A title.

This Premier Division of the British Darts Organisation's Inter-County Championship is probably the toughest dart league in the world - and it breeds some of the best players too.

But it was the Men's A team who completed a superb recovery to secure an improbable result for Hampshire against Essex.

They had to follow defeats for the Men's B and Ladies' A teams which left Hampshire trailing 14-10 at Cowplain Social Club although the Ladies B had won through Kerry McGuire, Sarah Morgan, Sue Lowther and Mandy Keith.

It was a victory that lifted the team ahead of Essex and ultimately Yorkshire. Hampshire have a one point lead before they travel to Pontefract on April 5.

Hampshire's only Men's B winners were Darren Hogg, Sam Rooney, Robert Heard and John Burbidge. Sue Kerridge and Sandy Wheeler provided joy for the Ladies' A.

The results left Hampshire Men's A team needing to win 8-4 to draw the weekend, anything less would mean not even a single bonus point. The incentive was the possibility for Hampshire to top their section for the first time ever.

Never mind the draw, Hampshire were up for the win and Andy Mitchell, Mick Cookman and Paul Gibbs secured a 3-0 lead.

Essex took three of the next five games with Colin Philpott and Steve Phipps keeping Hampshire ahead. But, after Andy Fordham had beaten Steve Musson, it was Hampshire who ran away with it.

Wins from Bob Crawley, Doogie Ralph and the two newest Hampshire Internationals, Paul Hogan and James Wade, completed a super 9-3 win. Bring on Yorkshire!