RED BERET’S Ridley League return ended in tears as the Chelmsford pub was voted out after a three-month fight for players.

Member clubs accepted the Beret’s resignation following two successive match cancellations, a sad landmark for a club which reached the Darts Cup final – and won two individual darts titles – only 16 years ago.

The ruling means a Dominoes Cup reprieve for near-neighbours Compasses, beaten by the Beret in the opening round, who will now resume their bid at Chelmsford City FC next month.

Draw for the team events: Darts Cup 2nd Rd draw: CCFC A v Bird in Hand, CCFC B v Compasses, Cricketers v Black Bull, Dog & Partridge v Chequers B (to be played Mar 15). Dominoes Cup 2nd Rd draw: CCFC A v Compasses, Chequers B v Chequers A, Cricketers v Dog & Partridge, Lt Waltham SC v CCFC B (to be played Mar 22).

Reigning champs Darren and Jenny Kochan (Lt Waltham SC) went out of the Mixed Pairs at the second hurdle, beaten by clubmates Mark Chapman and Lou Morton at Felsted Chequers. Matt Day and Amanda Dodd (Chequers A) also reached the last four.

Qualifiers at the Dog & Partridge were Wayne Goodwin and Donna Hazell (Chequers B) and Shane and Caroline Kochan (Cricketers). Goodwin and Del Kochan (Cricketers) hit 180s, and the top double-in starts were 160 by Martin Compton (CCFC A) and 152 from Tony Bamsey (Lt Waltham SC). Chequers 1st Rd: D & J Kochan (Lt Waltham SC) bt L Hayes & J Westrip (Compasses) 2-1; M Cain & B West (Dog & Partridge) bt T Huxtable & H Rolfe (Bird in Hand), no score. 2nd Rd (no scores given): R Wilks & W Barker (Chequers A) bt Cain & West; M Chapman & L Morton (Lt Waltham SC) bt Kochan & Kochan; M Day & A Dodd (Chequers A) bt A Readman & M Rolfe (Bird in Hand); S Devenish & C Ewers (CCFC B) bt S Richardson & C Parnell (CCFC B). Qtr-finals (no scores given): Chapman & Morton bt Wilks & Barker; Day & Dodd bt Devenish & Ewers.

Dog & Partridge 1st Rd: P Wiffen & M McGowan (Black Bull) bt K Hemsworth & J Childs (Cricketers) 2-0; M Compton & S Cove (CCFC A) bt D Kochan & M Wiley (Cricketers) 2-1; T Bamsey & K Ketley (Lt Waltham SC) bt B & J Devenish (CCFC A) 2-0; W Goodwin & D Hazell (Chequers B) bt T & M Hook (Bird in Hand) 2-1. 2nd Rd: Compton & Cove bt Wiffen & McGowan 2-0; Goodwin & Hazell bt Bamsey & Ketley 2-1; N Cummins & M Sturgeon (Chequers B) bt D Suckling & S Reed (Dog & Partridge) 2-0; S & C Kochan (Cricketers) bt B French & S Barr (Bird in Hand) 2-0. Qtr-finals: Goodwin & Hazell bt Compton & Cove 2-0; Kochan & Kochan bt Cummins & Sturgeon 2-0.

Fixtures (Feb 23): CCFC B v Bird in Hand, Chequers B v Black Bull, Compasses v Cricketers, Dog & Partridge v Chequers A.