AN INCREDIBLY close contest between Red Lion Eynsham’s two teams was decided on a hat-trick of shoot-outs after all three legs were tied, writes ANDY BEAL.

It was the B team, from Section 1, who held their nerve against the Premer Section A side, winning 2-1 on three sticks after following 21-21, 23-23, 23-23 ties.

John Horton (5-5-4) and Kevin Giles (5-4-5) scored 14 dolls apiece as New Club A clipped Three Pigeons’ wings with a hard-fought 2-1 away win.

Horton led the way as the visitors took the first two legs 28-23, 31-25.

But Giles helped claw back the final leg 27-25 to avoid a whitewash.

Gladiators A remain top of Section 1 following a 2-1 win at Garsington Sports A.

Chris Jenkins (4-5-4) was in fine form as he clanged off 13 dolls, but they had to do it the hard way after losing the opener 24-20.

The lead was short-lived, though, as the away side recovered well to take the next two 26-24, 19-17.

Cricketers B stretched their lead in the Premier Section as they won three close legs at Six Bells C Kidlington.

They went ahead after coming out on top in a three stick shoot-out and went on to claim maximum points by taking the next two legs 26-25, 27-25.

Cowley Workers ended their wait for a Section 2 win by beating The Woodman 2-1 at home.

The strugglers were staring another defeat in the face when the visitors won the first leg 18-8.

They levelled with a 26-22 victory in the next and sealed the win on three sticks after the final leg finished 16-16.

Dan Brown (3-4-6) whipped off 13 dolls but finished on the losing side as Seacourt Bridge lost a tight match 2-1 at home to Queens Head A in Section 3.

Queens Head went ahead with a 17-15 win, before the sides shared a shoot-out victory apiece after the next two legs were tied 18-18.

Steve James (5-3-5) was the visitors’ star, also claiming a baker’s dozen.

Phil Jackson bagged a six in his 13-doll haul to help Three Horseshoes beat visitors Chequers C 2-1.

The home side won the opener 18-17, but were pegged back on three sticks after the second leg was tied 17-17.

The decider also finished all square, at 19-19, and the Horseshoes took the shoot-out to win the leg and match.

Section 4 leaders Original Swan A had their lead trimmed as they lost 2-1 away to second-placed Crown.

After sharing the first two legs 15-13, 17-21 the away side set 20 in the final leg, which Crown anchor man Terry Bagnall matched with four dolls and the hosts snatched victory on three sticks.

Chris Webb was in superb form, clanging off 15 dolls (6-5-4), but Six Bells B Quarry still lost 2-1 at Kidlington Sports Club B.

The Sportsmen fell behind 14-9 before taking the next two legs 20-16, 20-18.

King & Queen B boosted their Section 5 chances with a 3-0 win at Masons Arms B.

The first two legs were relatively comfortable at 21-17, 20-15, but they had to rely on three sticks in the final leg after it was tied 11-11.

Chandos Arms gave hosts and Section 6 leaders Donnington Club C a fright after winning 14-10 in the first leg.

The high-fliers took the next 20-9, but only won the decider 16-15.

George A kept the pressure on the leaders with a 2-1 win over The Priory.

Monty Morgan’s 11 dolls (4-2-5) helped the visitors respond after losing the first leg 13-12 to comfortably win the next two 16-12, 23-9.

Cricketers A’s unbeaten record in Section 7 was ended by a 2-1 home defeat against Six Bells A Kidlington.

Bells won the opener 17-13, but the home side hit back with a 19-17 win in the following leg.

It set up a decider, which the visitors won 16-13 to inflict a first defeat on the title hopefuls.

Brill Sports Club A whitewashed Catherine Wheel in a strange scoring match.

The first leg was tied 5-5, with Brill winning on three sticks, and the hosts secured victory by winning the next 12-9.

Catherine Wheel forced another shoot-out after the final leg was tied 15-15, but again lost out on the three- stick shoot-out.

Section 8’s Bullnose Morris B scored 16 dolls in each of their legs, which was enough to win 3-0 at Northway Club, who scored 12-13-12.

Mick Croft (4-4-3) and Simon Hopkins (4-3-4) whipped off 11 dolls each as Kings Arms hit a season’s best 50 dolls in their 3-0 away win over Red Lion A Cassington.

The Section 9 contenders won 18-6, 16-12, 16-10.