New boys make instant impact

DARTS: REIGNING champions Oldham hit the ground running in the Lancashire GMC Super Eights Elite League.

The town team opened their campaign with a trip to Lune Valley — and returned home with an impressive 8-2 win.

Dave Adshead set the ball rolling with a 4-1 victory — he averaged 74.49 for every three darts thrown — before new boy Steve Gallimore swept aside his opponent 4-0 (74.73).

Dave Airey (4-3, 77.21) and Dave Rawstron (4-1, 70.50) added to Oldham’s tally before Lune Valley got off the mark.

Paul Cartwright made it 5-1 thanks to a 4-1 triumph (79.92), while Andy Pearson held his nerve in a 4-3 win (72.32).

Lune Valley secured their second success in game eight, but that was as good as it got for the hosts.

Lee Holden beat his rival 4-3 (73.21), before another fresh signing, Paul Phillips, wrapped things up with a superb 4-1 victory in which he averaged 81.97.

Oldham travel to Wigan in their next league match on Sunday, October 12.

Meanwhile, Oldham regular Mark McGeeney was celebrating a £3,000 first prize after winning the England Darts Classic. He beat 20-year-old Wesley Harms, from Holland, 6-2 in the final at Selsey, West Sussex.