THE West Midlands’ home clash with Lincolnshire was the only fixture to beat the weather in that BDO British Inter Counties Championship Premier Division run of fixtures.

Opponents Lincolnshire braved the trip to face them for county darts with the snow of the weekend past playing havoc nationwide, writes Your Sport Black Country editor Craig Birch.

The points picked up by the hosts lifted them from seventh to fifth in the table, even after a third match defeat in a row.

The darters arrived at Gilberts Bar in Willenhall for action with the respective women’s B teams the first to the oche, which ended a 3-3 draw.

Shannon Hall starred for the West Midlands, top scoring with an average of 22.77 in a 3-0 whitewash over Michelle Creasey (17.21).

Leigh Bingham helped Lincolnshire to their highest tally, with 16.06 to edge Katherine Jenkins (15.91) in a last leg shoot-out 3-2.

It was advantage the visitors after the men’s B meeting as they prevailed 7-5, with the male affairs contested over a best of seven legs format.

The highest quality affair of the weekend saw Lincolnshire’s Micky Taylor race to the highest average of the match, with 32.37 in a 4-1 victory over Neil Pointon, who had 30.75 himself.

The West Midlands left themselves with a mountain to climb after the women’s A clashes, which went away from them 5-1.

Shelly Bontoft-Gash led the way with 22.10 in a 3-0 landslide against Jenkins (18.29), with Gemma Barrett (16.87) replying in a 3-2 verdict over Heather Lodge (16.32).

A 7-5 success in the men’s A finale proved in vain for the West Midlands, who were beaten 20-16 in the overall standings. They prevailed 23-16, with three extra points as the winners.

Scott Baker excelled there with 27.45 after a 4-0 shut-out of Simon Stainton (24.67). Gavin Beck’s 29-14 in a 4-1 vanquishing of Gavin Baker (25.82) was the best response.

The West Midlands must now look to arrest their slide away to Lancashire, on the weekend of March 24-25.