Title challengers Bicester FC ended Marston British Legion C’s unbeaten record in the Winter League Premier Section despite a superb display from Pete Hall.

The county player rattled off three maximums for Marston, but Bicester’s Joe Palmer, Neil Russell, Andy Thomas (180) and Steve Fisher saw their side to a 6-3 triumph.

Shears, Wantage, took a giant step towards their first title as they increased their lead at the top after their visit to Littlemore British Legion.

Kevin Wilkins gave them the lead with a win over Alan Eckart, Legion levelling when Peter Hermon defeated Kevin Barefoot (180).

Shears then ran away with it as Wes Topley, Simon Davison Dave Exell and Preben Krabben (180) put them 5-1 up and a 2-1 pairs success made the final score 7-2.

Rileys SC A moved three points clear at the top of Section 2 after whitewashing near neighbours Cricketers Arms A 9-0.

Second-placed Cowley Workers Club pipped Follybridge Inn 5-4 at home after a ding-dong encounter.

Paul Davies(180) gave the visitors a 1-0 lead, the home side hitting back with a fine win from Des Slezak, helped by a brilliant 149 finish.

Lee Worrall and Clinton Cantwell made it 3-1 to Folly, only for Workers to level it up again through Simon Powell and Lyndon Richards. A 2-1 pairs win sealed it for Workers.

The Section 4 top-of-the-table encounter saw leaders Quarry Gate A visit second-placed Prince of Wales A and increase their advantage with a 7-2 triumph.

Democrats A made it eight victories from nine games when they defeated the visiting Nelson 6-3 and extended their lead at the top of Section 6 to 16 points, RESULTS Premier & Section 1: Littlemore RBL 2, Shears 7.

Section 1: Cricketers Arms 0, Rileys Club 9; Chequers A 7, Marsh Harrier A 2; Cowley Workers 5, Follybridge Inn 4.

Section 3: Green Rd 6, Rileys Club 3; Prince of Wales 4, Three Horseshoes 5; Nuffield Lounge 7, Masons A 2.

Section 4: Blackbird Bar A 6, Masons C 3; Prince of Wales 2, Quarry Gate A 7.

Section 5: Democrats Club 6, Nelson 3; Marston RBL A 2, Original Swan B 7.

Section 6: East Oxford CC 6, Chequers B 0.

Section 7: Red Lion 4, Original Swan C 5; Masons D 5, Rose Hill B 4.

Section 8: Headington RBL 7, Prince of Wales B 2.

Section 9: White House A 3, Kennington SC 6; Quarry Gate C 3, Shelley 6.

Section 10: Ampleforth 3, Blackbird Bar B 6; Black Horse 6, Three Horseshoes 3; Crown House 0, Catherine Wheel B 9; Marsh Harrier B 4, White House B 5.

Ladies Premier & Section 1: Quarry Gtae C 5, Vikings SC 4.

Section 2: Donnington CC A 7, Follybridge Inn 2; Gladiators A 3, Berinsfield A 6; Crown House 1, East Oxford 8.

Section 3: Nuffield Lounge A 7, Prince of Wales 2; Littlemore RBL A 6, Nuffield B 3.

Section 4: Catherine Wheel D 4, Marston RBL 5.

Section 5: Democrats 4, Six Bells B 5.

Section 6: Rose Hill 8, Chequers C 1; Six Bells A 6, Cowley CC 3; Cricketers Arms 5, Golden Ball A 4.

Section 7: Masons Arms 2, Catherine Wheel A 7; Crown Inn 6, JR Hospital 3.

Section 8: JR Hospital A 7, Quarry Gate A 2.

This week’s 180S P Hall (Marston RBL C) 3, A Thomas (Bicester FC), P Krabben (Shears), K Barefoot (Shears), D Ingram (Littlemore RBL), S James (Marsh Harrier A), M Atherton (Nuffield Lounge), A Webb (Masons C), J Sutherland (Masons C), B Chahal (Nelson), P Fox (Original Swan), C Cantwell (Follybridge), S Tricker (Rileys).

100-plus finishes D Slezak (Cowley Workers) 149, J Palmer (Bicester FC) 127, M Murphy (Original Swan C) 124, N Pollard (Green Rd) 120, R Mortimer (Red Lion) 120, D Cooper (Green Rd) 116, S Holly (Rileys) 116, P Davies (Follybridge) 116, G Manning (Bicester FC) 113, S Davison (Shears) 112, E Johnson (East Oxford CC) 111, N Russell (Bicester FC) 111, N Norris (Kennington SC) 110, W Topley (Shears 103).