THE race for the Oxford & District League top-flight title is really hotting up after the top-two both fell to 2-1 defeats, writes ANDY BEAL.

Black Prince went down at Three Pigeons, while Garsington Sports were beaten at home to Swan B.

However, the star of the week was Keith Powell.

The Swan A player was in sensational form, bagging a double-sixer in a 16-doll haul (4-6-6) in his side’s 3-0 whitewash over Chequers C.

It saw his side move one point behind second-placed Garsington and three off the top.

Black Prince got off to a poor start at Pigeons losing the opening leg 25-24.

They looked set to level when the hosts scored only 12 from their first five players, only for Dave Lee, Eddie Edwards and Neil Lyon to hit 17 between them to set 29.

That proved too much, and although Prince picked up a point in the final leg, the damage had been done.

Rob Bradford, returning from injury, was in top form for Pigeons with 14 dolls (5-4-5).

However, Garsington could not take advantage when they lost to Swan B.

After the first two legs were shared, the decider went to a three-stick shoot-out, which Swan took to claim victory, despite Trevor Greenaway hitting 14 for Garsington (3-5-6).

Bullnose Morris A have one hand on the Section 2 title after a 3-0 win at home to Garsington Sports B with leg scores of 17-12, 23-17, 23-14.

Red Lion A Yarnton are waiting to pounce if the leaders do slip up with a fourth win on the bounce, this time at home to Queens Head A.

It’s tight at the top of Section 3 with leaders Ampleforth Arms A seeing off closest rivals Donnington Club C 2-1, winning 20-18, 17-19, 19-14.

Propping up the table in Section 4, Red Lion B Marston shocked leaders Vikings Sports B by beating them 2-1.

George B took full advantage of Vikings slip up and recorded a 3-0 home win against Donnington Club B and are now only three points from the top.

Section 5 is set for a thrilling finale with only six points separating the top five.

RESULTS

OXFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE

Premier/Section 1: Six Bells E 1, The Woodman 2; Gladiators A 1, The George A 2; Garsington Sports A 1, The Swan B 2; Three Pigeons 2, Black Prince 1.

Section 2: Red Lion A 2, Queens Head B 1; Bullnose Morris A 3, Garsington Sports B 0; Black Horse B 2, Florence Park Club A 1; Donnington A 2, Gladiators B 1; Tiddington CC 2, Six Bells D 1.

Section 3: Vikings Sports A 0, Red Lion A 3; Littlemore BL A 1, Masons Arms A 2; Ampleforth Arms A 2, Donnington Club C 1; Rose Hill Club 2, Chequers A 1; Queens Head A 2, Six Bells B 1.

Section 4: Six Bells A 1, Green Road Club 2; George B 3, Donnington B 0; New Club 0, Bullnose Morris B 3; Red Lion B 2, Vikings Spts B 1; Cricketers Arms 2, Ampleforth Arms B 1.

Section 5: Vikings Sports C 1, White Hart A 2; Democrats Club A 1, Northway Club C 2; Masons Arms B 1, The Blackbird 2; Cricketers Arms 1, Red Lion B 2.

Section 6: Cowley Workers 2, Prince of Wales 1; Kidlington FC 1, Littlemore BL B 2; North Oxford CC 0, Vikings Spts D 3.

Section 7: The Tandem 0, Bletchindon Sports Club 3; Red Lion 1, Gladiators D 2; Marston BL A 1, Golden Ball A 2.

Section 8: Gladiators C 2, Original Swan 1; Donnington D 3, Democrats B 0; White Hart B 0, Catherine Wheel A 3.

Top dolls scorers: 16 – K Powell (Swan A). 15 – J Glenister (Woodman). 14 – C Buckingham (Woodman), T Greenaway (Garsington Sports A) R Bradford (Black Prince).

Sixers: K Powell 2, M Herbert (Swan A), A Middleton (Green Road Club), P Sawyer (Six Bells E), C Buckingham (Woodman), L Purcell, J Morrison & S Bayliss (George A), T Greenaway (Garsington Sports A), W Harwood (Bletchingdon Sports), E Edwards & N Lyon (Three Pigeons), N King (Red Lion A).

Blobbers: K Winter (Golden Ball A), A Thornton & B Partridge (Red Lion Cassington), R Chambers (Gladiators C), M Ormrod (Swan C), R Saunders (Kidlington FC).

WYCHWOOD LEAGUE

Cock Inn 5, Oxford Yeoman B 5; Chadlington SSC 10, Black Prince B 0; Long Hanborough SSC 7, Masons Arms 3; Black Prince A 10, Queens Head A 0; Masons Arms A 8, Enstone SSC 2; Kings Head 8, Stonesfield SSC 2; Oxford Yeoman A 8, Red Lion 2; Queens Head B 0, Cinnamon Stick 10; Killingworth Castle 1, George & Dragon 9; Elm Tree 6, Three Horseshoes 4.

Top dolls scorer: B Townsend (Black Prince A) 25.

Sixer: J Townsend (Black Prince A).

BICESTER & DISTRICT LEAGUE

(sponsored by Lodge Garage)

Premier & Div 1: Brill S&SC B 1, Pheasant Inn 2; White Lion 3, Black Bull B 0; Highfield SC 1, Crown 2; Black Bull A 3, Muddy Duck 0.

Div 2: Ashton Club 1, Bell Bicester 2; Bull Inn A 2, Nut Tree 1; Prince of Wales 3, Brill S&SC A 0; The Lion 0, Ex Services 3.

Div 3: Barley Mow 0, White Horse B 3; Chearsley Cricketers 0, Red Lion Islip 3; Red Cow 3, Bull & Butcher B 0.

Div 4: White Horse A 3, Chandos Arms 0; Red Lion Finmere 1, Fountain A 2; White Hart 3, The Harrison 0.

Div 5: Plough MG A 2, Crown Twyford 1; Royal Oak 1, Fox Souldern 2; Fountain B 1, Bull Inn B 2.

Div 6: Eight Bells 2, Plough MG Casuals 1; Safari Garden 2, Black Bull Divas 1.

Sixers: B Allen (White Lion), D Munson (Brill S&SC A).