TWO Herts darts players took a step closer to the World Masters by winning the Herts County League World Masters play offs at the Herts Country Club on Monday.

TWO Herts darts players took a step closer to the World Masters by winning the Herts County League World Masters play offs at the Herts Country Club on Monday.

The two winners were Mick Manning, from Baldock, who beat Andy Luker, of Welwyn Garden City, 3-2 in one final. The other winner was Steve West, of Cheshunt, who beat Mick McNally, of Sawbridgeworth, also 3-2.

Mick and Steve now go forward to the regional finals in Stoke on Trent on Sunday, November 5.

Over the weekend, the Herts County team travelled to Cheshire for the first game of the new season.

After being relegated from the Premier Division a good result was expected so as to make a quick return, but it seemed the relegation blues were still in evidence.

On Saturday, the Ladies B team got off to a bad start losing 5-1. With Lisa Pirie, of Watford, the only winner 3-2, the Men's B team then tried to retrieve the situation.

After leading 4-2, they lost the next four games and had to win the last two to make a draw 6-6.

Winners were Russell Bray 3-2, Steve Flowerdew 3-0 and Kim Wiffen 3-2 (all Sandridge), Mark Aylott 3-1 (Lea Valley), Peter Batty 3-0 (Park Street) and Tony Tarry 3-1 (Welwyn Garden City).

On Sunday, the Ladies A team won 4-2, with the winners being Kathy Wrenn 3-2 (Hoddesdon), Linda Searle 3-1 (St Albans), Sue Burden 3-0 (Watford) and Kathy Ovens 3-2 (Welwyn Garden City).

The Men's A followed hoping to pull back the deficit however they could not put their game together and Cheshire ran out 7-5 winners. The winners were Tony Smith 3-1, Keith Wetton 3-1, Andy Luker 3-1, Steve West 3-2 and Paul Manning 3-1.

The overall result was a win for Cheshire 23-16 - not a very good weekend or performance from Hertfordshire.