DARTS returned to the Weymouth Angling Society on Monday night after a two-week Christmas break and the push for play-off places was clear to see from the off.

Current leader Andrew McDermott still remains undefeated but this was tested in more ways than one as he laboured to two draws and one victory.

McDermott opened with a 4-1 win over Matty Betts before suffering a massive scare in his second match, trailing 3-2 to Nige Davis, McDermott had to find a solid last leg to gain the draw.

Arnie Quinn then did damage in their final match as McDermott raced into a 3-0 lead which included a 116 out shot.

Quinn suddenly burst into life a won the next three which saw him take out 164 in the second and then go on to take the final leg.

Quinn made it 13 draws for the season so far as his second game versus Paul Dormer ended in a tie, again this match produced another 100+ out shot as Dormer hit 112 to take the second leg.

A 4-0 opening win against Simon Sharpe started a good night for Quinn.

Stew Masters, Nathan Smith and Chris Stones all had outstanding individual performances in their respected matches with the former and latter producing some stunning arrows in their 3-3 draw.

Masters winning every leg in less than 16 darts and Stones hitting a 14-dart last leg to take the draw.

For Masters, this performance was carried on from his opening match which saw him bag two 14 and a 16-dart leg in his 4-1 win over Simon Churchill.

A 4-2 over Drew Tweedy ended a fantastic night for Masters.

Smith had two of his best performances of the season as he upset reigning champion Sam Ward 4-2, despite opening up with a 4-1 defeat to the returning Trevor Honnor.

Smith went on to beat Andy Masters 4-1.

Stones other results on the night saw him open with an impressive 4-0 whitewash of Jordan Caughlin before gaining another 3-3 draw with Adam Mckay.

Mark Samways was another man on a mission as he made light work of all his opponents starting and finishing with a 4-1 over Chris Burton and Dave Butler respectfully.

Shaun Lampard, who himself had some great results on the night, was Samways’ sternest test with Samways pinching the last leg and taking the draw away from Lampard in a 4-2 win.

It was not all doom and gloom for bottom of the table Lampard as he had two fantastic successes, opening up with a 4-2 victory over Mark Long and ending with the same scoreline against Sharpe.

Honnor returned from a six-week lay-off due to a fractured wrist and opened up with his victory over Smith.

In-form Caughlin brought Honnor back down to earth as he defeated him 4-2 in a tight affair.

However, Honnor picked himself up and ended the night with a brilliant 4-2 win over Andy Masters.

Masters’ only victory of the night came against Danny Aplin as his clinical two-dart combo finishes decided this 4-2 outcome.

Left with 80, Masters hit tops to go 3-2 up and then 93 with two darts to take the win.

Aplin did manage to claim two victories on the night in his other matches as he had to be on top form in his opening match as Sharpe was on superb form narrowly suffering a 4-2 loss.

Aplin ended the night with a 4-1 success over Wayne Jordan.

Sam Ward went in front in the 180s stats as he hit three on the night and although he suffered defeat to Smith and only just squeezed past Butler and Paul Paice 4-2, Ward will still be seen as the one to beat to claim the title.

Simon Churchill recovered well from his opening defeat to claim two brilliant wins, taking the scalp of third-placed Mel Burton 4-1. Churchill ended with a convincing 4-0 victory over Matty Betts.

It was a tough night of fixtures for Betts who suffered defeat in all his matches, losing his third fixture on the night 4-2 to Paul Dormer.

A fantastic come back from Mckay after being 3-0 down to Dormer saw both players pick up two draws and one win each as Mckay rounded off with a 4-0 over Scott Gannon.

Other results on the night saw Paice and Terry Tucker drawing 3-3, Mel Burton cementing third place with a 100 shot out and 4-0, 4-2 triumphs over Davis and Paice.

Davis finished with a good 4-2 over Chris Burton. Burton claimed two 4-1 victories over Butler and Gannon. Wayne Jordan’s sole success of the night came in a 4-2 win over Tucker. Mark Long won 4-1 in his fixture with Jordan.

A total of nine180s were hit on the night and five 100+ shot

outs