KEVIN Baker’s 14-doll haul helped Gladiators all but end Woodman’s Premier Section title hopes in the Greene King Oxford & District League, writes ANDY BEAL.

Gladiators triumphed 2-1 as Woodman fell nine points behind leaders Six Bells C Kidlington, who now need just one point to retain their title.

The hosts won the opener 22-20, but Woodman took the second leg 30-28.

Gladiators then won the decider on three sticks after it was tied 21-21.

Meanwhile, leaders Six Bells beat Yarnton British Legion 2-1.

Robert Taylor clanged off 14 dolls (6-5-3) as New Club A opened up a twopoint lead in Section 1 with a 2-1 win over Ampleforth Arms A.

After losing the first leg on three sticks, the hosts levelled before taking the third 29-23.

Black Prince A lost ground after they suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Red Lion A Eynsham.

The visitors clinched the decider on one doll.

Section 2 leaders Bullnose Morris A maintained their two-point advantage after a 2-1 victory at Red Lion B Eynsham.

Bullnose took the first 23-18, before Red Lion drew level 19-17.

However, victory was sealed 23-21 in the decider.

Kevin Stuart whipped off a baker’s dozen (4- 4-5) as Rose Hill Club A moved up to second with a 3-0 win over Florence Park A.

Dennis Sellar found form to clang off 14 dolls (5-4-5) as the Crown Chalgrove put one hand on the Section 3 crown in a 3-0 win at the Cricketers.

It was relatively straight forward for Crown, who won 16-11, 20-11, 21-8.

Six Bells A Kidlington are Section 4 champions after defeating Donnington Club A 3-0 at home.

They were never in any danger, easing to a 19-15, 18-12, 17-13 win.

There was very little to choose between North Oxford Con Club A and Garsington Sports B.

Garsington won the first 13-12, before winning the next on three sticks.

After the third leg was tied 12-12, North Oxford were the victors on three sticks to grab a point.

Brill Sports Club A edged Masons Arms A in a similarly tight match.

New Club B are celebrating after a 2-1 win over Donnington Club C helped them seal the Section 5 title.

They only needed a point, which they wrapped up in the opener 19-14, before securing victory in the third.

Rose Hill Club C boosted their Section 6 hopes with a 3-0 win over Seacourt Bridge.

King & Queen fell two points behind as they dropped a leg in their 2-1 victory against Green Road Club A.

Alan Middleton hit 14 dolls for the clubmen.

Berkshire House A opened up a twopoint lead at the top of Section 7 after claiming maximum points against basement boys Catherine Wheel.

The leaders were never troubled, winning 20-9, 13-9, 18-9.

Second-placed Northway Club A dropped a point in a 2-1 victory over Cowley Workers.

Northway were on course for three points after taking the first two legs 17-6 and 16-10.

However, they went onto lose the final leg 15-13.

In Section 8, Donnington Club B’s threepoint cushion proved crucial as they clung onto their lead despite conceding a leg at home to Red Lion B Kidlington.

After taking an early lead, they lost the second by the odd doll, but wrapped up victory 11-9 in the decider.

Original Swan remain three points behind after beating Pheasant Inn B 2-1.

Steve Ledwell top-scored with 14 dolls (5-5-4) for the Swan.

Despite Kevin Morrisey failing to trouble the doll all night, Section 9 leaders Black Swan came away from Golden Ball B with a 2-1 win.

They stormed the first leg 20-12, but were pegged back in the second 11-9. Golden Ball set 11 in the third, but it was not enough as Swan breezed past with 14.

GREENE KING OXFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Section 9: White Horse 1, White Hart B 2; Kings Arms 0, Red Lion A Cassington 3; Golden Ball B 1, Black Swan 2; Berkshire House B 3, Kite 0.

SIXERS

B Goodwin (Woodman), K Baker (Gladiators), R Taylor (New Club A), K Giles (Ampleforth Arms A), R Goodall (Six Bells C Kidlington), P Townsend (Black Prince B), G Coulthard (Bullnose A), A Middleton (Green Road Club).

BLOBBERS

R Trafford (North Oxford CC A), J Southerd (Brill SC A), R Allport (Littlemore BL), D Lancaster (Marston BL), B Harper (Cowley Workers), N Aiteen (Red Lion A Cassington), M Pestana (Berkshire B), C Gibbs, A Gibbs (both Kite), K Morrisey (Black Swan).

TOP DOLL SCORERS

14 – K Baker (Gladiators), R Taylor (New Club A), D Sellar (Crown), S Ledwell (Original Swan A), A Middleton (Green Road Club). 13 – K Giles (Ampleforth Arms A), G Pitts, S Walton (both Kennington Club), K Stuart (Rose Hill Club A).

ABINGDON & DISTRICT LEAGUE

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

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

C Section: Black Horse A 2, Fox Denchworth A 4; Chequers 3, Bowyers Arms 3; College Oak B 4, Royal Oak 2; Fox Denchworth B 3, Hatchet Childrey 3.

D Section: Red Lion B 6, Wheatsheaf B 0; Vine Cumnor 6, Fleur de Lys 0.

E Section: Boundary House Abingdon 6, Black Swan A 0; FMSSC Morning Star Cholsey 0, Wheatsheaf Drayton 6; Harwell RBL A 6, Vine B Cumnor 0.

F Section: Abingdon Arms Wantage 2, Plough Long Wittenham 4; Spread Eagle C 4, Old Anchor A 2.

G Section: Black Swan B Abingdon 6, Steventon Sports B 0; Brewery Tab B Abingdon 6, Red Lion Drayton C 0; Old Anchor B Abingdon 4, Packhorse Milton 2; Plough Appleton 3, Crown Marcham 3.

H Section: Berinsfield SC C 0, The Bell Grove 6.

SIXERS

D Dix (Abingdon Utd B), R Glen (Stanford in the Vale FC), T Downes (Plum Pudding).

BLOBBERS

A Latiner (Steventon Sports B), C Reed (Stanford in the Vale FC), D Biggs (Black Swan A), J Rolls (Berinsfield SC C), K Beard (FMSSC Morning Star Cholsey), M Hadaway (Plough Appleton), M Parker (Brewery Tab B Abingdon), P Sapwell (Plough Appleton), R Green (Black Swan A), S Byrne (Crown Marcham).