Staffordshire stay in third place after a draw
Staffordshire signed off for 2015 in the top three of the BDO British Inter-Counties Championship Division Two after a draw in Suffolk.
The county throwers have two wins, one defeat and a stalemate from their opening five matches and are targeting the top,
They next entertain pace-setters London at the White Eagle Club in Riverway, Stafford, on the weekend commencing January 16, with the second-placed West Midlands also in the mix.
Staffordshire's men's 'B' team made sure they weren't beaten last weekend, their 8-4 victory making up for two setbacks.
Play began at the Kesgrave Social Club with the women's 'B' affair, where the two teams couldn't be separated in a 3-3 draw.
Stephanie Emberton saved the result for the visitors, averaging 17.25 to beat Jan Turner (15.96) 3-2. Staffordshire's Anne Allsop got 17.24 and lost in the last leg to Sarah Ceska (17.95).
The men's B side set up the county for an unassailable lead, Callum Matthews opening with 26.43 in a 3-2 vanquishing of Martin Trotman (25.83).
Stuart Greenhalgh top scored for Suffolk, seeing off Peter Chell 3-2 despite an inferior average of 26.16 to his opponent's 26.32.
But Staffordshire's lead was cut in half after the women's 'A' clashes, where they went down 4-2. More last leg tussles produced the high scores.
Terry Selman saw off Chrissy Stubbings for the guests, despite only gleaning 18.14 to her 18.39. Suffolk's Rossy Scriven needed 19.09 to overcome Row Sidley (18.37).
The hosts also prevailed by two in the men's 'A' standings, coming out on top 7-5 under the best-of-seven format, but that left the match all square at 18-18, with an extra match point awarded apiece.
Staffordshire's John Burgess excelled with 29.34 in a 4-3 downing of Wayne Hammond (28.97), while Suffolk's Arron Fairweather clocked up 28.44 in a 4-2 win over Trevor Carter (25.67).
