THE first round of the Carlsberg UK Crewe Open League winter team knockout competition provided no real surprises.

Holders Delamere are bidding for a hat-trick after recording an easy victory over a depleted Rockwood B team.

Runners-up for the last two seasons, Flying Lady A are still targeting to go one better after an 8-6 aggregate victory over Vine C.

Surprisingly the Vine took a 4-3 darts advantage but the Lady won five of the six dominoes games played to ensure victory.

Rockwood A were the only Premier side to get a scare as Aslef Leisure responded to Rockwood's 5-2 darts advantage by leading the dominoes with a similar score.

With the tie level at 7-7 it was left to the Rockwood's final dominoes pair Herbie Dougherty and Mick Culverhouse to seal an 8-7 aggregate win.

Other Premier teams with easier victories were Pioneers who with the help of a 14 dart game from John Speed beat Nantwich Rd 8-5.

Hawk, with Pete Galloway hitting a 16 darter and Gary Hulse a 132 finish, defeated Nags Head A 9-2 and the Amalgamated B and Raven A both had 10-2 victories against respective visitors Crosville and Leisure B.

The league's new-comers had a poor first night with Queens Park Golf Club losing to Premiership team Commercial.

The Bank lost 9-6 to newly promoted premiership side Vine A for whom Howard Bateman hit a 180 maximum and the dominoes pairings of Pete Capper/ Howard Bateman and Don Moss/Mick Hassall secured the victory winning the final pairs games whilst Liberal C were thrashed 13-2 by Nags Head B.

The other new-comers Cheshire Cheese were involved in a real cliff hanger as they took a 4-3 darts lead and won three of the first five dominoes games for a 7-5 aggregate lead needing one game for victory.

But visitors Bridge A snatched the win with Anthony Harper winning the last dominoes singles game and victories in the pairs games thanks to Phil/Pete Jones and Gary Hawkins/Steve Faddes for an 8-7 scoreline.

The North Ward B's Spike Evanson was on the mark with a 180 maximum as they took a 4-3 darts advantage over visitors British Lion A.

Lion held the upper hand in the dominoes games by 4-2 before the dominoes duo of Wendy Brown and Malc Scane won the pairs game to register an 8-7 aggregate victory.

The North Ward A team were more successful handing out an 11-4 thrashing to Old Oddfellows with the eighth victory being secured when dominoes captain Dave Mulliner defeated Oddies captain Lillian Jackson.

There was another close encounter at the Cumberland with the home side leading by 7-5 after the singles games leaving the match to be decided on the pairs games.

Visitors Vine B fought back with Pete Bradshaw Snr and Geoff Gidman winning the darts pairs and then the first dominoes pairs game to level at 7-7.

But landlady Michelle Taylor and Gina Bostock won the final game decider to give Cumberland an 8-7 victory.

In the other close encounters the Raven B pairings of Steve Harrison/Lynn Hancock and Graham Williams/Des Lettin were successful in the last two dominoes pairs games to inflict an 8-7 defeat of The George who had led 7-6.

The tie at the Belle Vue was also decided on the dominoes pairs game when John Reed and Keith Withers won to give them an 8-7 aggregate victory over visitors Cross Keys A

LMR (10-5), Flying Lady (10-5), Woodside (9-2), Hop Pole (9-3), Broughton (8-3), Amalgamated A (8-3), Last Orders Inn (8-4), Kings A (8-0) all had easy victories over respective opponents Horseshoe, Liberal A, Kings B, Imperial, Brunel, Ashbank, RAOB B and Cross Keys B.

South St Snkr, Victoria and Bridge C all progressed to the next round when respective opponents Coppenhall Leighton, Sydney Arms B, and British Lion B all conceded their ties for varied reasons.

The draw for round two to be played on October 3 is as follows:

Hop Pole v Flying Lady B; Amalgamated A v Commercial; Nags Head B v Sydney Arms A; South St v Vine A; Raven B v Kings Arms A; British Lion A v Last Orders Inn; Woodside v Leisure A; Rockwood A v Pioneers; Broughton v Bridge C; Cumberland v LMR; Crown v North Ward A; Lion & Swan v Hawk; Delamere v Junction; Victoria v Raven A; Bridge A v Belle Vue; Flying Lady A v Amalgamated B.