IT took until the penultimate dominoes pair, but Premier Division table-toppers Pioneers A have clinched the Crewe Liberal Club Open League Summer Team Knockout title.

The Pi’s came out 8-7 aggregate winners against Westend Band Club C, the only side to inflict a darts defeat on them in the summer league games, in what proved to be an exciting final.

The Pioneers raced into a 5-1 lead with victories in the first four darts games thanks to Tony Richardson, Fred Smith – who finished with a 120-checkout – Pete Boughey and John Cooper, who both finished in 21 darts, combined with a Nigel Palin dominoes win.

Westend C staged a mini revival as Steve Tizard clinched a darts win, which was followed by victories in the dominoes for Jane Booth and Russ Phillips to reduce the Pies’ lead to one point.

However, as the final continued to swing John Speed’s win in 17 darts and a dominoes triumph for Keith Morgan was matched by Terry Smith and Rob Arrowsmith scooping the darts pairs for Westend and Lyndon Cartwright the dominoes singles.

Pioneers were left with a 7-6 lead and the title was set to be decided by the remaining two dominoes pairs games.

Westend’s Kev Tilley and Russ Phillips took the final game, but the decisive penultimate clash saw Pi’s pair Nigel Palin and Dave Tirrell victorious to secure an 8-7 aggregate victory.

Both Pioneers A and Westend Band C had stormed to victory in the semi-finals with comprehensive wins against respective opponents Prince of Wales E and Commercial.

John Speed completed a 6-0 darts white-wash for Pi’s with a 16-dart game which also included a 180.

The eventual winners went on to win three of the five dominoes fixtures to register a comfortable 9-2 aggregate victory over Prince of Wales E.

Westend Band Club C ruthlessly dismissed opponents Commercial, with the latter failing to record a single win, taking the darts 5-0 thanks to Rob Arrowsmith’s 17 dart game.

They then sailed to a 4-0 dominoes win to complete a 9-0 aggregate scoreline.