Neil Lyon fell agonisingly short of the magic 18-doll mark as Three Pigeons lost 2-1 at home to George in the Greene King Oxford & District league.

Lyon, who finished with a 17 doll-haul, helped Three Pigeons take the first leg 33-26, only for them to go down 24-30, 24-29 in the next two.

Teammate Dave Townsend chipped in with a sixer in his 14 dolls, while George's Kevin Giles whipped off 15 (4-5-6).

Eddie Lacey (pictured) clanged off 15 dolls (6-5-4) for White House as they kept up the pressure in the Premier section with a 3-0 demolition of Seacourt Bridge.

They claimed maximum points in the 29-18, 26-21, 29-26 success.

Littlemore British Legion ruled the roost in Section 2 after beating Lord Kitchener in a closely-fought encounter.

They set the first leg with 23, and Kitchener looked like they were going to pass it with ease, but anchorman Graham Collett failed to trouble the doll and they fell two short.

Legion then set the second leg with 21 and this time Collett did the business to whip off the dolls to take it to three sticks which the Legion won.

Kitchener took the final leg 25-19. Martin Spindlow top scored for Kitchener with 13 4-6-3.

Masons A move into second spot in Section 4 after just getting the better of Vikings A.

They claimed the first two legs 19-18, 20-14, but lost out on taking maximum points after tying the final leg 17-17 and losing it on a three-stick shoot-out. Den Middleton top-scored with 11 dolls.

Plough stay top after beating Fairview Inn 2-1 with leg scores of 20-13, 12-17, 15-12.

In Section 5, Black Swan almost got their first victory of the season at home to Whitmore Arms.

Swan took the first leg on three sticks after tying 18-18 but lost the second 20-17.

They then lost the final leg and game 18-17. John Curran shone for Swan with 13 dolls. 6-3-4.

The leading scorer in Section 6, Jim Clemson, was in top form again, clanging of 13 dolls 6-3-4,, but Six Bells still lost out away at Team Monarch 2-1 for whom Antony Bull hit his first ever six in his 10 dolls.

Darren Cox contributed12 as Monarch ran out winners 16-23, 22-19, 24-16.

Although White House won 3-0 they needed two three stick throw-offs to defeat Star.

They easily took the first leg 10-17, but drew the next two 15-15.

The Star B opened up a gap in Section 7 after defeating Crown B 3-0. Bill Mellis top-scored with 11 dolls 6-2-3 as they acquired all three legs 16-9, 12-11, 15-11.

Prince of Wales still prop up the table after a 3-0 home defeat by Ashton Club.

Rock bottom Donnington Arms almost gained their first victory in Section 10 against Cherwell Club, but it wasn't to be. They lost the first leg 11-7, but then was unlucky to lose out on the next two 13-12, 14-13. Geoff Dee was top scorer for Cherwell with 8 dolls. The Priory scored an emergency 9-9-9 in all three legs, but still lost out 2-1 away at Folly Bridge in Section 11. They won the first leg on three sticks but lost the next two 11-9, 13-9.

Jolly Postboys B have withdrawn from Section 9 and all records have been expunged.