IT’S now a three-horse race for the Premier Section title after the top two Black Prince and Garsington Sports A both lost for the second successive week, writes ANDY BEAL.

Prince went down at home to Swan A, who are now only two points off the top.

The hosts took the first leg 27-17, but the visitors hit back to win the second 26-19.

In the decider, Prince set a reasonable 26, but Swan hit 28 to snatch victory.

Garsington succumbed 2-1 at home to reigning champions Gladiators A.

The damage was done in the first two legs which Glads won 22-19, 25-22.

The hosts grabbed a precious point by taking the third 28-24.

Garsington’s Darren Cox was in top form with 14 (6-4-4), while Gladiators’ Kevin Baker bagged himself a six in his dozen dolls.

Swan B hold top spot in Section 1 after winning 2-1 at home to Woodman, with leg scores of 23-16, 19-27, 25-15.

Mark Hewitson was top dog for the hosts with 13 (3-5-5).

George dropped a precious point away to Chequers C. After racing into a 2-0 lead – 28-26, 29-24 – the visitors lost the final leg 26-21.

Chequers’ Geoff Townsend (4-4-6) and George’s Kevin Stuart (6-4-4) both hit 14 dolls.

Six Bells E’s title ambitions took a massive hit when they lost 2-1 to Three Pigeons 2-1.

Bells, with a player short, did well to clinch the first leg 24-18, but Pigeons hit back to win the next two 26-21, 28-19.

Fred Sawyer was in top form for the losers with 14 (4-5-5).

Section 2 leaders Bullnose Morris A almost came unstuck at bottom-placed Black Horse B.

After sneaking the first leg 17-16, the visitors lost the next by the same score, before taking the decider 20-15.

Tiddington Cricket Club started off well at home to title chasers Red Lion A Yarnton winning the first leg 19-14. However it went all downhill from there as they could only muster up two scores of ten in the next two legs which The Red Lion easily passed with 16 and 17 in reply.

Section 3 leaders Ampleforth Arms A won their sixth game on the bounce when they beat Littlemore British Legion A 3-0 with leg scores of 19-17, 20-16, 15-15 (10-9 on three sticks)

Seamus O’Malley was in top form as he clanged off 14 (4-5-5) for Six Bells B Kidlington.

But it was all in vain as they lost 2-1 at home to Rose Hill.

The first leg went to the visitors on three sticks after a 17-17 tie, but Bells took the second 18-16.

Rose Hill set the deciding leg with 22. Anchor man O’Malley was left needing all six to tie.

He nearly pulled it off, clanging off the first five dolls, but fell short with his sixth.

Vikings Sports B lead Section 4 by three points after defeating visitors New Club 2-1.

With the game poised at 1-1 (19-15,13-15), New Club set 17 in the final leg. Mick Henley started with a six as they hit 20 to win the leg.

The George B dropped a point at home to The Cricketers Arms. They won the first two legs 17-13, 12-10, but lost the third 13-11.

Six Bells A, Kidlington, keep in contention with a 2-1 win at Red Lion B Marston.

The opening leg was tied 19-19 with The Bells taking it on three sticks. They then went 2-0 up by winning the next leg 17-14.

Desperately needing that third leg, Bells set 16, but it was not quite enough as Lion’s anchor man Stuart Fitchett whipped off the four dolls needed to win the leg by the odd doll.

Section 5 leaders Red Lion B Yarnton 2-1 crashed at home to lowly Florence Park B.

Park raced into a 2-0 lead (17-15, 18-17_. Lion salvaged a point in the final leg 15-14. Keith Bull was top man for the Florence Park with eleven (4-4-3).

The Swan C took full advantage as they swept aside The White Hart A Wolvercote 3-0 (13-8, 18-14, 18-9).

The Blackbird are still in touching distance despite dropping a leg at home to Northway Club C.

After the hosts won the first two legs 14-12, 20-12 the final leg was tied 14-14, with Northway winning it on three sticks.

Section 6 leaders Seacourt Bridge defeated close rivals Cowley Workers 2-1 at home.

The last unbeaten record was ended when Donnington D lost 3-0 away to Catherine Wheel A 3-0 in Division 8.

GREENE KING OXFORD & DISTRICT DISTRICT LEAGUE

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

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

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

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

Section 5: Red Lion B 1, Florence Park Club B 2; The Blackbird 2, Northway Club C 1; Cricketers Arms 2, Vikings Sports C 1; The Swan C 3, White Hart A 0; Bullnose Morris B 2, Ampleforth Arms B 1.

Section 6: Littlemore BL B 1, Prince of Wales 2; Seacourt Bridge 2, Cowley Workers 1.

Section 7: Golden Ball A 3, Red Lion 0; Gladiators D 1, Black Horse A 2; Marston BL A 0, The Tandem 3; Northway Club B 2, Chequers B 1.

Section 8: White Hart Wytham 3, Gladiators C 0.

Top doll scorers: 14 – D Cox (Garsington Sports A), P Sawyer (Six Bells E), S O’Malley (Six Bells A), G Townsend (Chequers C), J Morrison (George A). 13 – K Powell (The Swan A), M Hewitson (The Swan B).

Sixers: D Cox, A Shepherd (Garsington Sports A), K Baker (Gladiators A), G Wilsdon (Black Prince), A Keenan (The Woodman), M Henly (Vikings Sports B), K Neal (Florence Park A), GTownsend (Chequers C), K Stuart (George A).

Blobbers: T Barrett (Red Lion A Marston), L Filler (Cricketers Arms), M Darch (Masons Arms B).

WYCHWOOD LEAGUE

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

Top scorer: J Glenister (Queens Head A) 20.

Sixer: N Baldwin (Three Horseshoes).

BICESTER & DISTRICT LEAGUE

(sponsored by Lodge Garage, Kingswood)

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

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

Div 3: Red Lion Islip 1, White Horse B 2; Shakespeare 1, Red Cow 2; Chearsley Cricketers 2, Bull & Butcher B 1.

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

Div 5: Fox Souldern 1, Crown Twyford 2, Plough MG A 3, Fountain B 0.

Div 6: Bull & Butcher A 3, Safari Garden 0; Black Bull Divas 0, Eight Bells 3.

Sixer: A Moon (Black Bull B).