HOP Pole A failed to escape the Crewe Liberal Club Open League Premier Division drop zone as an 8-8 aggregate draw saw them finish three points adrift of opponents Imperial.

The only outstanding top-flight game finished with an Imperial win in the darts 5-3 as Ian Dale hit an 18-dart leg with a 121 finish, while Hop Pole’s top arrows came from Dave Yates, 19 darts, and Eddie Hamill, a 180 maximum.

Hop Pole also missed out on a runners-up spot in the darts, finishing two points shy of Nantwich Road A, but they did manage a final day 5-3 victory against Imperial.

Division One darts’ remaining fixture saw Barrie Capel and Mick Whitefield hit respective checkouts of 117 and 114 for Flying Lady A in their draw with Amalgamated A.

The latter were 5-3 victors in the dominoes, however, securing a runners-up spot.

The seven aggregate points gained by Flying Lady A ensured they avoided relegation, but condemned Cheshire Cheese to the drop.

THE Crewe Liberal Club Open League winter season gets underway on Monday with round one of the knockout competition:

Oddfellows v Hawk, Brunel A v Hop Pole B, Express v Brunel B, Willaston Club v Kings A, Duke of Bridgewater B v Hop Pole A, Nantwich Rd A v Woodside, Broughton v Imperial, Nags Head v Hoseshoe, Prince of Wales C v Coach & Horses, Pioneers B v Bridge C, Foresters B v Flying Lady B, Rileys Club A v Last Orders Inn, Cosey V Brunel C, Commercial v Nantwich Rd B, Amalgamated B v Westend Band C, Prince of Wales A v Nantwich Rd Aslef, Cheshire Cheese v Coppenhall Club, White Lion(F/lane) A v Dishers, Waldron v Sydney Arms, Rising Sun B v White Lion(Flane) B, Coppenhall Leighton v Bridge A, Vine A v Duke of Bridgewater, Westend Lmr B v Captain Webb, Kings B v Rileys B, Swan & Chequers v Pioneers A, Amalgamated Nomads v Amalgamated A, Liberal v Vine C, Cheese Hall v White Lion(Copp), Earl of Chester v Rising Sun A, Cumberland C v Raven.

Prince of Wales D and Flying Lady A were awarded byes into Round Two.