Shaun McCusker made a dazzling start for Top, winning the first singles 2-1 and delivering six 100-plus scores, including 138 away.

McCusker’s display raised hopes for Top but Conservative came back to claim the next four singles and chalk up a 180 through Andy Shillcock.

Top battled on in the triples – with fine arrows from Pete Mawby (140, 100) – but Conservative finally secured a 16-8 victory.

A confrontation between Nag’s Head A and Nag’s Head B produced a night to remember for the Burton family.

The A-team’s John Burton senior and John Burton junior both recorded 180s while Nick Burton hit a superb 148 checkout - the best in the league this season.

The B-team responded with a 3-0 win for Ken Woolnough (140, 3 x 100) and great darts from Paul Boatman and Mick Ward (140, 100 away, 4 x 100).

After the singles, the scores stood level at 9-9 but the B-team excelled in the triples, winning 4-2 to clinch a 13-11 success.

Newly promoted Top Club B faced a tough challenge when they visited Nag’s Head C.

Top lost all six singles, despite some excellent darts form Gary Drage (100 away, 104 out, 4 x 100) and Steve Felton (100 away, 140).

Nag’s provided another batch of big scores by Alf Marlow (140, 5 x 100) and finally triumphed 15-9.

Division B saw the return to local darts of Graham Godlington, playing for Harborough Conservative A against Royalist.

In his first league appearance for several years, Godlington hit some fine shots but narrowly lost his singles 2-1 to the skilful Joe Burgess (99 out, 140, 118).

In an impressive display, Royalist took five of the six singles and both triples to achieve an 18-6 victory.

A contest between Nelson A and Nelson B saw the B-team gain an 11-7 advantage after winning four singles.

The A-team fought back in the triples - with great darts by Brian Mossman (106 away, 140) - and secured a 12-12 draw.