WILTSHIRE played their final league match of the season at newly-crowned champions Northamptonshire and slipped to a 22-14 defeat in Kettering.

Before a large audience, Lou Kemp, pictured, got Wiltshire off to a perfect start in winning the opening match by 3-1 before defeats for Ally Thomson and Ally Harrison put Northamptonshire in front.

Jill Little levelled the scores by winning a last leg decider, but that success was shortlived as comprehensive defeats for Carol Rich and Jaine Telling made the ladies’ B team score 4-2 to Northamptonshire.

Matt Aubrey was first on in the men’s B section and was unlucky to lose 3-2, before teenager Josh McCarthy took control of his game and levelled the men’s score up.

Chris Daglish was taken all the way in his match before emerging as a 3-2 victor but Richard Ettwell was on the losing end by the same score in his game.

Ron Ashton played his best game of the season, easily defeating his opponent 3-0, but youngster Jack Tweddell lost by the same scoreline.

Mick Duggan was 2-0 up in his match before missing darts cost him a 3-2 defeat, before Juan Hopkins turned in an impressive man of the match performance with a 3-1 win to bring the men’s match level again.

Paul Oakley and Pete Harris then turned in very disappointing games but excellent victories for David Gould and Andrew Poynter meant a 6-6 men’s B draw, although Northamptonshire led 10-8 overall overnight.

Wiltshire needed a good start on the Sunday with the ladies’ A team but it was not to be, as defeats for Tina Rowlands and April Polden meant a four-match lead for Northamptonshire.

Lady of the match Carol Bowers won a last leg decider in Wiltshire`s only victory of the section, with losses for Jo Hooke, Rachel Hutton and Erica Hartnett meaning Wiltshire had a mountain to climb going into the men’s A section.

Dave Wicks was first on for Wiltshire but slumped to a 3-1 defeat, before Terry Smith took on PDC star Kevin McDine. Terry led 2-1 before McDine took the final two legs to register a 3-2 win and also a very impressive average. Bob Bowers then lost a last leg decider and Wiltshire were 18-9 down overall. Juan Hopkins was promoted due to Bob Phillips’ non-appearance and won his second game of the weekend 3-1, and when the impressive John Newland won his match, Northamptonshire`s lead was cut to seven.

Paul Boulton lost a difficult match against Ricky Evans 3-0. Mark Cox inflicted a 3-0 defeat on his opponent and took his overall record to nine wins from nine games for the season, which saw him qualify for the BDO World Championships and the World Masters. Ian Greenaway did not get going and when Terry Wood also lost, Wiltshire were 6-3 down in the men’s A section.

Paul Woolf was then victorious in an excellent first season for the county and when man of the match Chris Aubrey defeated the excellent Jason Lovell, the lead was only one in favour of Northamptonshire.

Lee Evans had the misfortune of being the final game of the weekend and he lost 3-0 to Chris Jones. Northamptonshire won 7-5 in the men’s A section and 22-14 overall, but Wiltshire were still crowned champions of the men’s A division despite the defeat.