ALAN Holt’s 15-dolls (4-5-6) were in vain for Black Prince A as they were pipped by Section 2 leaders Yarnton British Legion, writes ANDY BEAL.

Hosts Black Prince won the opening leg 27-19, but fell one doll short in the next to miss out 26-25.

Despite a six from Holt, the final leg went to Yarnton, 28-24.

Woodman’s Paul Bennett was another 15-hitter (5-5-5) as they came from behind to beat Ampleforth Arms A 2-1.

Rob Bradford’s six helped visitors Ampleforth off to a flier 30-23, before Woodman responded to win the next two 29-19, 25-21.

New Club A should have ruined Premier Section leaders Six Bells C Kidlington’s unbeaten run.

Six Bells went ahead 29-22 and the home side looked on course in the second leg when they set 31.

But New Club levelled by clanging off 34, before a marathon decider.

The teams both posted 23 dolls and could not be separated on three sticks or one stick.

It went back to six sticks, where Six Bells, whose top scorer was Roger Goodall (5-4-5) edged it 23-22.

Garsington Sports A remain at the foot of the table and drifting after losing 3-0 at Gladiators.

The hosts took the first leg on three sticks after it was tied 26-26 and went on to complete the whitewash 27-20, 26-25.

Chris Webb (4-6-5) completed the week’s trio of 15 hitters by leading Ampleforth Arms C to a 19-13, 27-20, 27-21 home win over Red Lion A Kidlington in Section 2.

Steve Tooke (3-6-4) whipped off his third six of the season to help Golden Ball A to a 2-1 win at Florence Park A.

The visitors won the first leg 21-15, before Florence Park levelled 21-20.

Golden Ball cruised to a 21-13 victory in the final leg.

Mark Hewitson (4-5-4) whipped off 13 dolls as Red Lion B Eynsham won 2-1 at Six Bells A Quarry.

The Lion pinched the first two 17-15, 22-21, with the home side taking the third 21-16.

There was also a baker’s dozen for Dick Brownsill (4-3-6) as Tiddington Cricket Club beat Division 3 leaders Crown 24- 17, 13-19, 24-16.

Chequers C and Brill Sports Club B produced an epic first leg.

The teams tied 20-20 and remained level through three sticks, one stick and back to six.

Brill Club won it second time around on three sticks and, although they were pegged back 24-15, the visitors won the decider 17-14.

Garsington Sports B’s Section 4 title aspirations were damaged when visitors Pheasant Inn A came from behind to claim a 2-1 win.

North Oxford Con Club boosted their Section 5 title hopes with a 2-1 win away to rivals Red Lion A Marston.

The first two legs were shared 15-12, with Red Lion coming from behind.

The club men set the final leg with 18 and it was just enough, as Red Lion came up one short with 17 in reply.

Robin Cooper hit a rare six in Section 6, but it could not prevent Rose Hill Club C losing 2-1 at home to Red Lion C Eynsham.

They started well, winning the first leg 16-11, but went on to lose the next two 15-11, 15-13.

Berkshire A stay top of Section 7 after a mixed night at Blackbird.

They set and won the opening leg 20-16, before losing the next leg 11-10.

In the deciding leg they hit 20 again and the hosts replied with only 12.

Nick Chapman (5-1-4) top-scored for Berkshire.

Northway Club A moved level with the Berkshire at the top after a comfortable 3-0 home win over the Catherine Wheel.

The 13-10, 16-10, 12-10 result meant the basement boys are the only team yet to win this season.

In the clash between the Red Lion, from Yarnton and Marston B, it was the former who roared the loudest.

Ron Squires (2-4-5) was their top man in an 11-9, 15-9, 17-13 success.

RESULTS

GREENE KING OXFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE

Premier & Section 1: Woodman 2, Ampleforth Arms A 1; Gladiators 3, Garsington Sports A 0; Six Bells C Kidlington 2, New Club A 1; Red Lion A Eynsham 2, Black Prince B 1; Black Prince A 1, Yarnton BL 2.

Section 2: Six Bells A Quarry 1, Red Lion B Eynsham 2; Rose Hill Club A 2, Bullnose Morris A 1; Kennington Social Club 1, Vikings Sports B 2; Florence Park A 1, Golden Ball A 2; Ampleforth Arms C 3, Red Lion A Kidlington 0.

Section 3: Vikings Sports A 1, Masons Arms B 2; Griffin 2, Chequers A 1; Crown 1, Tiddington CC 2; Cricketers Arms 0, Queens Head 3; Chequers C 1, Brill Club B 2.

Section 4: Six Bells A Kidlington 3, George 0; North Oxford Con Club A 2, Donnington Club A 1; Masons Arms A 2, Vikings Sports D 1; Garsington Sports B 1, Pheasant Inn A 2; Brill Social Club A 2, Rose Hill Club B 1.

Section 5: Vikings Sports C 3, Littlemore BL 0; Red Lion A Marston 1, North Oxford Con Club B 2; New Club B 2, Six Bells B Kidlington 1; Donnington Club C 2, Green Road Club B 1; Chequers B 2, Six Bells B Quarry 1.

Section 6: White Hart A 1, Three Horseshoes 2; Seacourt Bridge 1, Six Bells D Kidlington 2; Rose Hill Club C 1, Red Lion C Eynsham 2; King & Queen 3, Marston BL 0; Green Road Club A 1, Prince of Wales 2.

Section 7: Red Lion Yarnton 3, Red Lion B Marston 0; Northway Club A 3, Catherine Wheel 0; Democrats Club 1, Florence Park B 2; Blackbird 1, Berkshire A 2.

Section 8: Pheasant Inn B 1, Cricketers Arms 2; Original Swan A 3, Chandos Arms 0; Northway Club C 3, Kidlington FC 0; Donnington Club B 2, Red Lion B Cassington 1; Red Lion B Kidlington 2, Northway Club B 1.

Section 9: Kings Arms 1, The Kite 2; Berkshire B 3, White House 0; Red Lion A Cassington 3, Headington Con Club 0.

SIXERS

K Neal, C Jenkins (Gladiators), R Bradford (Ampleforth Arms A), A Holt (Black Prince A), H Johnson (Yarnton BL), S Bayliss (Rose Hill Club A), S Tooke (Golden Ball A), C Webb (Ampleforth Arms B), R Peachey (Griffin), I Sharp (Pheasant Inn A), P Pitt (Vikings Sports C), R Cooper (Rose Hill Club C), D Brownsill (Tiddington CC).

BLOBBERS

R Allport, C Parslow (Littlemore BL), B Fuller (Catherine Wheel), T Martin (Chandos Arms), T Blackman (Kings Arms), F Delaney, E Mazey (The Kite).

TOP DOLL-SCORERS

A Holt (Black Prince A), C Webb (Ampleforth Arms C), P Bennett (Woodman) 15; R Goodall (Six Bells C Kidlington) 14; A Beal (Six Bells C Kidlington), A Shepherd (New Club A), D Brownsill (Tiddington CC), D Green (Chequers C), G Townsend (Gladiators), J Horton (New Club A), M Hewitson (Red Lion B Eynsham), M Poulter (Yarnton BL), S Tooke (Golden Ball A), T Nicholls (Six Bells A Kidlington) 13.

ABINGDON & DISTRICT LEAGUE

Premier & A Section: Abingdon Utd B 6, Spread Eagle B 0; Fox Steventon 2, Plum Pudding 4; Spread Eagle 4, Abingdon Utd D 2; Steventon Sports A 4, Berinsfield SC A 2; Hart Harwell A 4, Tandem 2.

B Section: Abingdon Con Club 4, College Oak A 2; Red Lion A 6, North Star A 0; Stanford in the Vale FC 3, Plough East Hendred 3; Waggon & Horses A 0, Abingdon RBL A 6.

C Section: Black Horse A 4, Fox Denchworth B 2; College Oak B 2, Chequers 4; Fox Denchworth A 4, Abingdon Utd C 2; Royal Oak 4, Hatchett Childrey 2.

D Section: Plum Pudding B 2, Vine Cumnor 4.

E Section: Black Swan A 6, Boundary House A Abingdon 0; FMSSC Morning Star Cholsey 4, Harwell RBL A 2; Wheatsheaf Drayton 4, Bear & Ragged Staff 2.

F Section: Abingdon RBL B 2, Brewery Tap A 4.

G Section: Brewery Tap B Abingdon 5, Black Swan B Abingdon 1; Old Anchor B Abingdon 3, Plough Appleton 3; Red Lion Drayton C 2, Waggon & Horses B Southmoor 4.

Blobbers: D Arnott (Old Anchor B Abingdon), L Beard (FMSSC M/ Star Cholsey), M Whild (Old Anchor B Abingdon), P Baker (Wheatsheaf Drayton), R Hearman (FMSSC Morning Star Cholsey).