Staffordshire are win-less on their travels
Staffordshire still await their first away win of the new county darts season after they were beaten by Northamptonshire.
The visiting throwers failed to overcome their counterparts in all four groupings over a weekend of ties,
After opening their campaign with defeat to Surrey before a home victory over Worcestershire, they were back on the road again.
They were welcomed to the Band Club in Burton Latimer, Kettering, for the BDO British Inter-Counties Championship Division Two fixture.
Play began for two days with the women's B teams first to the oche, which ended all square in a 3-3 draw.
Staffordshire restored parity in the last game, through Sam Prommetta (12.67) in the last leg with a 3-2 success over Amy Chappell (13.42).
Heather Thompson had opened in style for Northamptonshire, racing to a top score of 17.08 in a 3-0 whitewash of Barbara Carey (15.17).
Julie Robinson mustered the away side's best reply, with 16.86 in a 3-1 vanquishing of Elisha Evans, whose 16.59 was the highest losing average.
Another stalemate came in the men's B clashes, which finished 6-6. Staffordshire had come from 6-3 down.
A fantastic tussle opened affairs between Ricky Evans and Callum Matthews, which was extended to the last leg.
Evans eventually prevailed for the hosts 3-2 with an average of 31.35, Matthews actually outscoring him with 32.38.
Jamie Landon also excelled for Staffordshire in another battle, notching 31.13 to see off Chris Doughty (29.05) by a 3-2 margin. It was his county's highest average all weekend.
Northamptonshire finally surged ahead through the women's A affairs, where they came out on top 5-1.
Angela Barrow led the way with 20.31 in a 3-0 landslide over Roz Harry (18.45). Sara Cope pulled one back for Shropshire, with 19.84 in a 3-2 result over Sharon Tompkins (18.52).
Staffordshire couldn't claw back the deficit in the men's A finale and, instead, fell to an 9-3 defeat. Play was upgraded to a best-of-seven format.
John Burgess racked up the visitors' highest winning average from the A games, with 28.23 as he secured a 4-0 landslide over Luke Smith (22.55).
Former PDC player Kevin McDine romped to the highest winning score of the weekend for Northamptonshire, with 31.60 over a 4-1 verdict against Jamie Dunsdon (23.92).
Two players hit 30-plus averages for Staffordshire and still lost, starting with James Hughes (30.40) as he was nudged out 4-3 in the last leg by Martin Biggs (30.33).
Andy Beardmore's 30.24 came in a 4-1 defeat to Dave Walker (30.32), as Northamptonshire got over the line 23-13.
The final result was 26-13, counting three extra points for Northamptonshire as the winning county who are top of the table.
Staffordshire next welcome Suffolk to their base of the White Eagle Club in Riverway, Stafford, on the weekend of December 3-4.
