THE Braintree Open Darts League's winter season kicked off with the Knockout Cup and plate preliminaries.

Horse and Groom hosted Cressing A and with the visitors three legs ahead after the fifth game, they looked to be favourites, however, a 2-1 win for Tash Whitfield in the sixth bought the home team back into the match.

The result rested on the outcome of the final game and John Abbott's 3-0 win sending Cressing through.

Wethersfield Club took a commanding lead at Bocking, winning seven legs in the opening three games.

Although Keith Sturman gave Bocking some hope with a 2-1 win, Billy Knight-Wood's 3-0 win saw Wethersfield book their place in the cup draw.

The Retreat opened their account with 2-1 wins in the first two games, before Notley Sports' Stewart Thorogood put the visitors back in contention with a 2-1 win that included a 13-dart leg.

Steve O'Neil extended the Retreat's lead with a 2-1 win and although Notley's Nev Walker reduced the deficit to one leg, Tom Roberts and Simon Twin chalked up 2-1 wins in the final two games for the Retreat.

Legends powered their way to an 8-1 lead in their first three games against Cressing B before Paul Baker put Cressing back into the game with a 3-0 win in the fourth.

However, Chris Holden wrapped things up for Legends with a 3-0 win in the fifth game.

Swiss Bell were three legs ahead after three games at the Eagle A, who came back with 2-1 wins in the next three games to leave the teams tied at 9-9 going into the final game.

Steve Carlisle and Deb Webb came to the oche and a 2-1 win for Webb saw the Swiss book their cup place.

Braintree FC took the early advantage against Eagle B with a 3-0 win for Alan Dewar, but the Eagle won the next four games and only needed one leg to progress to the cup draw.

The Football Club's Hayden Acott's 3-0 win over Tony Cook in the sixth won the game for the Football Club, though, as the Eagle had no other player and they had to concede the match.