SWAN A and Gladiators A’s Premier Section title battle will go down to the last week of the season after both recorded 3-0 victories, writes ANDY BEAL.

Leaders Swan secured a maximum win over Six Bell A Quarry to stay two points ahead in the Greene King Oxford & District League.

But they needed anchor man Keith Powell to knock off the two dolls needed for the first leg, before claiming the next two.

Gladiators came away from Woodman with a 3-0 win, but it was a closer contest than the scoreline suggests, with threesticks needed in the second leg.

Only one point separates the top three in Section 1, but Garsington Sports A moved top after beating New Club A 3-0.

Yarnton British Legion are second on dolls scored after suffering a third successive defeat in a 2-1 loss at George A.

Kevin Stuart starred for the hosts with 14 (5-5-4), while Mark Poulter hit 13 (4-4-5) for Yarnton.

Rob Bradford clanged off 13 (3-6-4) as Black Prince beat Bullnose A 2-1 away from home.

Swan B overcame Six Bells D 3-0 in the Section 2 top-of-thetable clash, leaving them two points clear.

Simon King (5-4-4) and Mark Hewitson (5-3-5) both hit 13 for Swan, as did Pete Rampton (4-4-5) for Bells.

Crown’s bid is over after they needed maximum points against Donnington D, but lost the second leg in a 2-1 win.

James Gilding-Brant was in impressive form as he clanged off 14 (5-4-5) for New Club B in their 2-1 win at Gladiators B.

Four teams are still battling it out for the Section 3 title and leaders Vikings A were forced to come from behind to see off Masons Arms A 2-1.

Chequers A could not take advantage as they also dropped a point at home to Six Bells D Kidlington.

Florence Park A slipped a point behind after they lost 2-1 at home to George B.

Blackbird secured the Section 4 crown by beating Cricketers Arms 3-0.

At the other end of the table, Masons Arms B moved off the bottom after an impressive 3-0 win at Garsington Sports B.

There was a thriller in Section 5 as four sixes were hit during Democrats’ 2-1 win at Donnington C.

Brian French, Sid Sidall and Peter Stroud were the maximum men for the visitors, while Cliff Lewis repeated the feat for the hosts.

Prince of Wales endured an up and down evening in 2-1 defeat against Phesant Inn.

They lost the opener after setting seven and, despite winning the second, they could only hit four in the decider.

In Section 6, Ian Sharp was in fine form for Fox & Goat, bagging a six in a haul of 14, but his side lost 2-1 to Vikings Sports C.

Vikings Sports D wrapped up the title by beating Chequers B 3-0.

NORTHWAY hold pole position in the race for the Section 7 crown, despite losing 2-1 away at Donnington B.

Green Road A have completed their games and threw away any chances they had of the title in a 2-1 win as they needed maximum points.

One point separates the top three in Section 8 and Black Horse lead the chasing pack despite having a free week.

Rivals Golden Ball B triumphed 3-0 at White Hart Wytham, while Cricketers Arms won 2-1 against Catherine Wheel, for whom Mick Griffin hit 12 (5-4-3).

The top two clashed in Section 9 and Golden Ball A lost their second game on the bounce in a 3-0 defeat to Bletchingdon Sports.

With Golden Ball playing all their games, the title is now in Bletchingdon’s hands as they need two points from their final match.

LUKE Purcell and Pete Rampton will vie for their first Oxford singles title.

George’s Purcell beat Roger Goodall, of New Club B, 2-1 in the last eight, and Crown’s Pete Sellar in the semi-final.

Rampton, from Six Bells D Kidlington, advanced with wins over Black Prince’s Rob Bradford and Chris Jenkins, of Gladiators A.

All teams and players who hold cups from last season need to return them to Gladiators Club as soon as possible.

RESULTS

GREENE KING OXFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE

Premier & Section 1: New Club A 0, Garsington Sports A 3; Bullnose Morris A 1, Black Prince 2; Six Bells A 0, Swan A 3; Woodman 0, Gladiators A 3; George A 2, Yarnton BL 1.

Section 2: Swan B 3, Six Bells D 0; Six Bells A 1, Red Lion 2; Gladiators B 1, New Club B 2; Crown 2, Donnington D 1; Queens Head 2, North Oxford Con Club B 1.

Section 3: Chequers A 2, Six Bells B 1; Chequers C 3, Tiddington CC 0; Vikings Sports B 2, King & Queen 1; Masons Arms 1, Vikings Sports A 2; Florence Park A 1, George B 2.

Section 4: Berkshire House 2, Red Lion A Marston 1; Garsington Sports B 0, Masons Arms B 3; Cricketers Arms 0, Blackbird 3; Green Road B 2, Donnington A 1; Three Horseshoes 1, Littlemore BL 2.

Section 5: Swan C 3, Rose Hill A 0; Donnington C 1, Democrats A 2; Black Swan 3, Six Bells B 0.

Section 6: White Hart A 2, Seacourt Bridge 1; Vikings Sports D 3, Chequers B 0; Fox & Goat 1, Vikings Sports C 2; Prince of Wales 1, Pheasant Inn 2.

Section 7: Northway B 0, Bullnose Morris B 3; Original Swan A 1, Green Road A 2; Donnington B 2, Northway A 1; Marston BL 1, Red Lion B 2.

Section 8: Democrats B 1, Kidlington FC 2; Red Lion A 0, Northway C 3; Cricketers Arms 2, Catherine Wheel 1; White Hart 0, Golden Ball B 3.

Section 9: Gladiators C 1, White Hart B 2; Golden Ball A 0, Bletchingdon Sports 3; Headington CC 2, White House 1.

Sixers: N Pratley (Woodman), J Morrison (George A), N King (Yarnton BL), R Poore (Queens Head), C Lewis (Donnington C), B French, S Siddall, P Stroud (Democrats A), I Sharp (Fox & Goat).

Blobbers: B Fell (Red Lion A Marston), R Aston (Red Lion A Cassington), P Prestdige (Kidlington FC), C Gibbs (Democrats B), C Fisher (Bletchingdon Sports), R Chambers (Gladiators C), D Woodward (White Hart B), A Bracey (Headington CC), P Maloney (White House).

Top doll scorers: 14 – K Stuart (George A), I Sharp (Fox & Goat), J Gilding (New Club B). 13 – S Buckingham (Woodman), N King (Yarnton BL), R Townsend (North Oxford CC B), P Rampton (Six Bells D), S King, M Hewitson (Swan B).

BICESTER & DISTRICT LEAGUE

Premier & Div 1: White Lion A 1, Launton S&SC A 2; Black Bull A 3, Muddy Duck 0; Nut Tree 0, Crown A 3; Shakebull 2, Black Bull B 1.

Div 2: Bell Bicester 2, Highfield SC A 1; Bull Inn A 1, Barley Mow 2; Ashton 3, Red Lion Finmere 0; Lion 1, White Horse B 2.

Div 3: Red Lion Islip 1, Brill S&SC B 2; White Horse A 1, Red Cow 2; Highfield SC B 3, Ex Services 0; Bull & Butcher B 2, Prince of Wales 1.

Div 4: Crown B 1, Chandos Arms 2; Chearsley Cricketers 2, Bull & Butcher A 1; Brill S&SC A 3, Fountain A 0; White Hart Wanderers 2, Safari Garden 1.

Div 5: Hundred Acres 1, Red Lion Stratton Audley 2; Poachers Pocket 0, Black Bull Divas 3; Launton S&SC B 1, KEA 2; Eight Bells 3, Nightingale 0.

Div 6: Fountain B 2, Plough Marsh Gibbon 1; Royal Oak 3, Crown Gawcott 0; Butchers Arms 1, White Lion B 2.

Sixers: T Hawkins (Launton S&SC A), K Powney (Black Bull A), N Brock (Black Bull A).

ABINGDON & DISTRICT LEAGUE

Premier Section: Plum Pudding 2, Steventon Sports A 4; Spread Eagle B 1, Abingdon United B 5; Abingdon RBL A 2, Tandem 4; Berinsfield SC A 4, Spread Eagle 2; Hart Harwell A 6, Abingdon RBL 0.

B Section: Abingdon Con Club 4, Berinsfield SC 2; Abingdon United C 4, Fleur De Lys 2; Royal Oak Didcot 0, College Oak A 6; Vine A 2, Chequers Charney 4.

C Section: Fox Denchworth B 6, Bowyers Arms 0; Red Lion B 4, Plough East Hendred 2; Stanford in the Vale FC 4, Red Lion A 2; Wheatsheaf Drayton 1, Fox Denchworth A 5.

D Section: Bear & Ragged Staff 5, Harwell RBL B 1; Harwell RBL A 6, Eight Bells Eaton 0; Saxton Rovers 0, Wheatsheaf Didcot 6; Bell at Grove 4, Red Lion C 2.

E Section: Abingdon Arms Wantage 2, Black Horse A 4; North Star A 4, Waggon and Horses A 2; Queens Arms Didcot 4, Waggon & Horses B 2; Spread Eagle D 4. F.M.S.S.C Morning Star 2; Waggon & Horses C 4, Plough Long Wittenham 2.

F Section: Boundary House A 2, North Star B 4; Brewery Tap A 2, Packhorse 4; Crown Marcham 4, Brewery Tap B 2; RAL Rec Soc 2, Old Anchor B 4.

G Section: Black Horse B 0, Berinsfield SC C 6.

Sixers: D Bradshaw (Hart Harwell A), D Butler (Tandem), G Brown (Spread Eagle), M Greenaway (Berinsfield SC A), R Waine (Berinsfield SC A).

Blobbers: C Steptoe (Bowyers Arms), J Morris (Red Lion A), J Perry (Waggon & Horses A), J Samways (Hart Harwell A), L Rollinson (Crown Marcham), M Allen (Black Horse B), M Crick (Black Horse B), R Tyrrell (North Star B), R Yates (Packhorse), S Hetherington (Bell at Grove).