SIX Superleague teams contested the fourth East Anglia Invitational Challenge Cup at Clacton Railway Club.

Five Essex sides took part, including 2017 winners Brightlingsea, Kelvedon, hosts Clacton Railway, Chelmsford and Thorpe.

Stratford St Mary, the eventual winners, flew the flag for Suffolk.

There were some strong teams in action and two former England internationals, the current England disability darts captain and no fewer than 20 former or current British Inter-County Championship (BICC) players.

Sheila Busby, a stalwart of Essex darts with 248 BICC appearances to her name, presented the trophies, supplied by Timeless Tattoos, of Clacton.

In the first round of games, Stratford St Mary kicked off by defeating Clacton Railway 18-6.

Chelmsford and Kelvedon battled out a 12-12 draw while Brightlingsea set their stall in attempting to reclaim the trophy with an emphatic 20-4 victory over Thorpe.

In the second round, Brightlingsea carried on their surge as they opened an eight-point lead at the top with a 15-9 victory over Clacton Railway.

Kelvedon notched up their first victory as they defeated Stratford St Mary 13-11.

Chelmsford also recorded a first win as they defeated Thorpe 16-8.

In the third round, Kelvedon maintained their unbeaten start by defeating Clacton Railway 14-10.

Chelmsford also remained unbeaten as they inflicted a first defeat on Brightlingsea, 14-10, while Stratford St Mary capitalised and jumped into first place as they defeated Thorpe 17-10.

In the fourth round, Chelmsford added another twist in the competition as they defeated Clacton Railway 18-6.

It meant they leapfrogged the leaders into top spot going into the final round of games.

Kelvedon, also unbeaten, gave themselves a great chance of lifting the trophy as they defeated Thorpe 18-6 to move into third place and only three points off the top.

Brightlingsea defeated Stratford St Mary 13-11 in another close game.

After the fourth round of games, the standings meant any one of four teams could be crowned as champions, with Chelmsford sitting on 66 points, Brightlingsea on 64, Kelvedon 63 and Stratford St Mary 61.

In the final round, Clacton Railway and Thorpe played out another Tendring derby with both sides looking for a first victory and it was the former who ran out 17-7 winners.

Chelmsford suffered their first defeat of the tournament as Stratford St Mary clinched an emphatic 19-5 victory to move themselves onto 82 points, with Chelmsford finishing on 71.

In the other game, Brightlingsea defeated Kelvedon 16-8 which moved them onto 82 points.

However, they narrowly finished second as Stratford St Mary claimed the title on legs difference, winning 76 legs with +32 difference compared to Brightlingsea’s 74 legs won and +28 difference.

This produced a dramatic end to the tournament - the closest finish since the competition started four years ago.

Chelmsford and Kelvedon both finished joint third as the teams couldn’t be separated.

Clacton Railway finished fifth and Thorpe sixth.

Stuart Hunt (Stratford St Mary) picked up the Moet champagne courtesy of Clacton Railway Club for his highest finish of 154.