PREMIER leaders Gladiators A fought out an epic battle against New Club A in the Greene King Oxford & District League, writes ANDY BEAL.

The first two legs went to one and three-stick shoot-outs.

New Club set the opening leg with 26 and in reply Glads’ anchor man Keith Weller whipped off the four dolls needed to tie the leg.

Glads set in the three sticks with a whopping 16, but New Club matched that to send it to a one-stick shoot-out.

New Club set this time with two, and in reply Gladiators had to rely on their seventh man to hit the winning doll.

In the second leg, Gladiators scored 28 and New Club anchor man Pete Shepherd clanged off the four needed to tie the leg.

Glads then set 13 in the three sticks which New Club passed with a player to spare.

The deciding leg went to Gladiators 27-21, but Roger Goodall top-scored for New Club with 13 (4-5-4).

Six Bells A Quarry finally recorded their first win of the season away at George A, but they had to do it the hard way after losing the opening leg 26-17.

In the second they were set 23, and with lead-off man Jim Clemson hitting a six, they sailed past with 27 to level the match.

Bells secured victory in the last leg 25-19.

Kevin Stuart hit 14 dolls (5-5-4) for George.

Black Prince beat Garsington Sports A 2-1, with some fine individual scores and three sixes.

Darren Grant and Rob Bradford both hit 13 dolls for Prince, while Clive Proudfoot and Ken Maunder did the same for Garsington in the leg scores of 31-25, 30-23, 21-23.

Jon Townsend bagged a six in his 15-doll haul (4-6-5) for Swan A in their 2-1 home win over Yarnton British Legion.

Swan won the opening leg 26-23 with the visitors storming back in the next leg 29-26. Swan set and won the final leg 26-22.

Willy Waite was in top form for Bullnose A with 14 dolls (6-3-5) as they beat a resilient Woodman side 22-20, 23-18, 29-25. Ray Grant was top dog for Woodman with 13 dolls.

In Section 2, only one doll separated Six Bells A Kidlington and Crown Chalgrove (62-61).

The Bells raced into an early lead, winning the first two legs 22-20, 22-20 with Crown winning the last leg 21-18.

In Section 8, Wayne Townsend bagged 11 dolls for Red Lion A Cassington in their 2-1 win at White Hart Wytham.

Anchor man Stewart Holmes recorded three blobs on the night, but Black Horse still managed to grab maximum points at home to Cricketers Littleworth.

Northway Club C stay top after a 3-0 win at home to Golden Ball B.

In Section 9, Bletchingdon Sports – enjoying their first season in the league – won 3-0 away at White Hart B.