PREMIER Section frontrunners Swan A and Gladiators A both lost to lower opposition to blow open the title races in the top two divisions, writes ANDY BEAL.

Leaders Swan A lost 2-1 at Section 1 outfit Black Prince in the Greene King Oxford & District League, while second-placed Gladiators fell to the same score at Garsington Sports A.

It means a point still separates the top two in the Premier, but five teams are covered by six points in the division below.

Rob Bradford got the Prince off to a perfect start against the Swan, whipping off a six as they triumphed 32-25.

The hosts clinched the second leg, but the visitors avoided the whitewash by taking the third.

Dick Walsh top-scored with 13 (4-5-4) for the Swan, as did Darren Grant for Prince (3-5-5).

Garsington hit their best score of the season as they came from behind to beat Gladiators 2-1.

Despite setting 26, the visitors stormed past with 32 to take the lead.

Garsington won the second 30-26 and claimed the decider 32-26.

Barry Ruffels clanged off 14 (5-4- 5) and Steve Greenough 13 (3-5-5) for Garsington.

Gladiators’ star men were Barry Townsend with 14 (5-4-5) and Kevin Giles with 13 (3-6-4).

Bullnose Morris A remain top of Section 1 after edging closest rivals Yarnton British Legion 2-1.

Jeff Glenister and Neil Pratley (5-4- 4) both a hit a baker’s dozen as Woodman saw off George A 2-1.

Mark Hewitson hit 14 (5-6-3) for Section 2 leaders Swan B in their 3-0 win at Gladiators B.

Six Bells D Kidlington are still hot on their tail, but had to come from behind to beat Donnington Club D.

Steve Ward was the star man for Six Bells, hitting 13 (3-5-5).

Chequers A opened up a five-point gap at the top of Section 3, with a 2-1 triumph over Vikings Sports B.

John Cleaton starred with 13 (5-3-5) to help King & Queen to a 2-1 win over Tiddington Cricket Club.

Seven teams remain in the hunt in Section 4, but Blackbird sit top after seeing off Masons Arms B 2-1, for whom Joe Bandrowski hit 12 (3-4-5).

Donnington Social Club A move level second with Red Lion A Marston after beating them 2-1.

Monty Morgan was on fire as he clanged off 13 (6-5-2) to lead Rose Hill Club B to a 2-1 home win over Six Bells B in Section 5.

Paul Edwards hit his highest total for many years with 11 (5-1-5) as Red Lion Yarnton roared past Red Lion Marston 3-0.

GLYN Millard came to leaders Vikings Sports D’s rescue as they edged White Hart A 2-1 in Section 6.

Chasing 16, they fell short with 12 to lose the first, before they levelled in the second.

Anchor man Millard needed to whip off three to win the last leg and he did so with no trouble.

Pheasant Inn remain second after a 3-0 home win over Rose Hill Club B.

Section 7 pacesetters Northway Club A beat Green Road Club B 2-1 in a match which included a low-scoring 9-7 win in the second leg.

Anchor man Dean Plumstead came to Florence Park B’s rescue in all three legs against Original Swan A.

He clanged off five to win the first and helped force a three-stick shootout in the second, which Florence won.

Plumstead was then needed to hit the two to help his side claim maximum points.

Black Horse stay top of Section 8 despite crashing to a 3-0 defeat at Golden Ball B.

Kidlington Football Club took full advantage and moved within two points after they had a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Catherine Wheel.

In Section 9, Bletchingdon Sports Club fell to their second defeat as Kings Arms came away with a merited 2-1 win.

RESULTS

GREENE KING OXFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE

Premier & Section 1: Garsington Spts A 2, Gladiators A1; Six Bells A 2, New Club A 1; Yarnton BL 1, Bullnose Morris A 2; Swan A 1, Black Prince 2; George A 1, Woodman 2.

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

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

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

Section 5: Red Lion Yarnton 3, Red Lion B Marston 0; North Oxford CC A 0, Black Swan 3; Rose Hill A 2, Six Bells B 1; Donnington C 2, Swan C 1.

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

Section 7: Northway A 2, Green Road B 1; Florence Park B 2, Original Swan A 1; Donnington B 2, Northway B 1.

Section 8: Kidlington FC 3, Catherine Wheel 0; Golden Ball B 3, Black Horse 0.

Section 9: Bletchingdon Spts Club 1, Kings Arms 2; Headington CC 0, Golden Ball A 3; Gladiators C 3, Corner House 0.

Sixers: K Giles (Gladiators A), E Lacey (Yarnton BL), M Berry (Swan A), D Leopold (Black Prince), P Farrell, A Lewis (New Club B), M Hewitson, M Revill (Swan B), D Green (Chequers C), M Morgan (Rose Hill A).

Blobbers: K Sellar (Crown), S Wormald (Cricketers Arms), P Pitt (Vikings Spts C), M Davies (Florence Park B), V Kemish (Headington CC), R Chambers (Gladiators C), S Gibbons (Corner House).

Top doll scorers: 14 – B Townsend (Gladiators A), B Ruffels (Garsington Spts A), M Hewitson (Swan B). 13 – S Greenough (Garsington Spts A), K Giles (Gladiators A), R Goodall (New Club A), D Walsh (Swan A), D Grant (Black Prince), J Gleister, N Pratley (Woodman), S Ward (Six Bells D), J Cleaton (King & Queen).

ABINGDON & DISTRICT LEAGUE (sponsored by M Tutty Plumbing & Heating)

Premier & A Section: Abingdon United B 6, Tandem 0; Plum Pudding3, Berinsfield SC A 3; Spread Eagle 6, Abingdon RBL 0; Abingdon RBL A 2, Spread Eagle B 4.

B Section: Berinsfield SC 2, Plum Pudding B 4; Chequers Charney 4, Royal Oak Didcot 2; Fleur De Lys 1, College Oak A 5; Vine A 0, Abingdon United C 6.

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

D Section: Red Lion C 1, Saxton Rovers 5; Bell at Grove 6, Harwell RBL A 0; College Oak 4, Bear & Ragged Staff 2.

E Section: Black Horse A 2, Plough Long Wittenham 4; FMSSC Morning Star 0,Waggon and Horses B 6; North Star A 2, Abingdon Arms Wantage 4; Queens Arms Didcot 2, Spread Eagle D 4; Waggon & Horses A 6, Waggon & Horses C 0.

F Section: Boundary House A 4, Crown Marcham 2; Old Anchor B 3, Old Anchor A 3; Packhorse 4, Boundary House 2; RAL Rec Soc 0, Brewery Tap A 6.

G Section: George & Dragon Upton 6, Berinsfield SC C 0; Plough Appleton 6, Black Horse B 0.

Sixers: B Adams (Tandem), D Cross (Spread Eagle B), S Wilson (Berinsfield SC A).

Blobbers: B Cowley (Boundary House A), F Moon (Waggon & Horses C), J Taylor (Red Lion C), L Rollinson (Crown Marcham), M Allen (Black Horse B), M Jones (Berinsfield SC A), T Wells (Bell at Grove).