Defending ODDA Winter League champions Original Swan A got their season off to a winning start when they visited Section 1 opponents College Oak – but they were made to fight all the way.

Playing the pairs first, Premier side Swan went into the singles 2-1 up, but the home side levelled when Les Radford defeated Simon Smith 3-2, with Radford hitting three ton-plus finishes (112, 104, 114).

Tim Tricker (180) and Jon Jukes (180) put Swan 4-2 ahead, only for Rob Cook and Mark Breakspear to level it up at 4-4.

In an exciting final game, Nick Cobb (180) just got the better of Paul Champ 3-2 to seal it for Swan.

Premier side Marston RBL C also struggled to see off visiting Section 1 side Littlemore BL.

Littlemore led three times in the singles through Alan Eckaret, Darryl Ingram and Peter Hermon, Marston levelled each time thanks to Ronnie Anderson, Nigel Russell and Steve Foster.

Hermon’s victory included hitting a brilliant outshot of 124 (60, 48, double 8), while Foster went out on 122 (54, 18, 50). Marston captured the pairs 3-0 for a 6-3 success.

RESULTS Premier & Section 1: Marston RBL C 6, Littlemore RBL 3; Angel 4, Butchers Arms 5; College Oak 4, Original Swan 5; Bicester Town FC 2, Shears 7.

Section 2: Marsh Harrier A 4, Folly Bridge 5; Cricketers A 2, Rose Hill CC A 7; Chequers A 6, Cowley Workers 3; Rileys 6, Steventon 3.

Section 3: Prince of Wales 3, Green Rd 6; 3 Horseshoes 6, Bullnose Morris 3; Catherine Wheel C 4, Masons A 5.

Section 4: Nuffield Bar 1, Quarry Gate A 8.

Section 5: Marston RBL 6, Berinsfield 3; Masons B 4, Railway A 5.

Section 6: Democrats B 3, Cricketers B 6; Vikings A 4, Chequers 5; Quarry Gate B 3, Catherine Wheel A 6.

Section 7: Red Lion 5, Vikings B 4; Rose Hill B 3, Queens Head 6; Masons D 3, New Club 6.

Section 8: Prince of Wales B 4, Chequers D 5; Village Inn 4, Ampleforth 5; Headington RBL 2, Golden Ball 7; Jolly Postboys 6, Fairview 3.

Section 9: Kennington 8, Black Swan 1; Priory 5, Shelley 4; White House 4, Red Lion 5; Chequers C 5, Quarry Gate 4.

Section 10: Catherine Wheel B 4, Plough 5; Ampleforth 2, Marsh Harrier B 7; Blackbird Bar B 5, White House B 4; Crown House 5, Black Horse 4.

Ladies Premier & Section 1: Butchers A 4, Florence Pk B 5; Quarry Gate C 4, Nuffield Bar 5; Florence Pk A 9, Berinsfield B 0; Vikings A 4, Blackbird Bar 5.

Section 2: Berinsfield A 5, East Oxford 4; Gladiators A 6, Crown House 3; Donnington A 5, South Oxford 4; Folly Bridge 3, Grove House A 6.

Section 3: Three Horseshoes 2, Prince of Wales 7; Nuffield B 2, Donnington B 7.

Section 4: Quarry Gate B 3, Fairview 6.

Section 5: Cherwell Club 3, Chequers A 6; Catherine Wheel C 4, Littlemore RFC 5; Hollybush 3, Six Bells B 6.

Section 6: Grove House B 7, Rose Hill 2; Cowley C5, Golden Ball A 4; Priory 2, Chequers C 7; Six Bells A 6, Cricketers 3.

Section 7: JR Hospital B 5, Catherine Wheel A 4; Crown 5, Masons Arms 4; Cowley A 3, Ampleforth 6.

Section 8: Wh House 6, Quarry Gate A 3.

This week’s 180s: L James (Vikings Ladies), R Parker (Marston RBL C), T Buckingham (Butchers Arms), T Tricker (Original Swan A), J Jukes ( Original Swan A), N Cobb (Original Swan A), S Davison (Shears), A Thomas (Bicester Town), J Plmer (Bicester Town), G Grant (Rose Hill A), J Taylor ( Rose Hill A), D Davies (Cricketers A), M Smith (Steventon), D Lucas (Steventon), T Baughn (Steventon), J Battle (Catherine Wheel), A Warden (Masons A), B McNish (Masons A), C Webb (Masons A), C Pollard (Quarry Gate A), A Hamp (Queens Head), J Ewins (Ampleforth), R Arnson (2) (Chequers C), J Crawford (Golden Ball.

This week’s 100-plus finishes: B Radford (College Oak) 156, D Hopkins (Cricketers A) 155, D Exell (Shears) 136, M Breakspear (College Oak) 135, J Smith (Three Horseshoes) 132, P Herman (Littlemore RBL) 124, S Foster (Marston RBL) 122, S Pollard (Quarry Gate) 116, R Wilson (Prince of Wales) 115, C Evans (Red Lion) 115, D Buckingham (Bicester FC) 114, L Radford (College Oak) 114, A Wilson (Quarry Gate) 114 L Radford (College Oak) 112, D Slezak (Cowley Workers) 110, T Baughn (Steventon) 106, M Bull (Butchers Arms) 106, S Smith (Steventon) 104, S Davison (Shears) 103, N Norris (Kennington) 101.