KEVIN Stuart clanged off 16 dolls, but could not help George A record a first win of the season in the Greene King Oxford & District League, writes ANDY BEAL.

The Section 1 basement boys were given a great chance to get off the mark thanks to a superb display from Stuart, pictured below, who hit 5-6-5 against Swan B.

But they fell to a 2-1 defeat, with the hosts triumphing 25-24, 27-29, 29-23.

Gladiators A moved a point clear at the top of the Premier Section after beating nearest rivals New Club A 2-1.

Gladiators set a whopping 30 in the first leg, but needed every one with their rivals falling just short on 29.

New Club won the second 28-25, before a tense third leg decided their fate.

Despite setting a paltry 20, New Club almost pulled off an unlucky success, only for Gladiators anchor man Keith Weller to whip off the winning doll with his last stick to take his side to 21.

Chris Jenkins (4-4-6) was top dog for Gladiators, with Kevin Baker (3-5-5) supporting him.

John Horton bagged a six in his 13-doll haul (6-4-3) for New Club.

Garsington Sports Club A enjoyed a well-deserved 2-1 victory at home to Swan A thanks to leg scores of 26-25, 25-28, 30-21.

Lee Thompson (5-4-5) and Jon Townsend (5-5-3) starred for Swan.

Woodman lead Section 1 after whitewashing Black Prince at home.

Spencer Buckingham led the way with 14 dolls as they won 25-20, 28-24, 24-17.

Six Bells E Kidlington made it six wins out of six in Section 2 after they came from behind to beat Vikings A on their own patch.

It looked ominous for Six Bells when they lost the first leg 17-15.

But they upped their game to win the next two 21-15, 22-15.

Ray Townsend was in top form with 14 dolls (4-6-4).

It was unlucky 13 for Gary Watts who whipped off a baker’s dozen (3-5-5) for Black Horse C, only to see his side go down 2-1 at Bullnose A.

Steve Ward was in remarkable form for Six Bells D Kidlington, hitting 15 dolls (5-4-6) to guide them to a 2-1 win over visitors Six Bells A Quarry.

Section 3 leaders Garsington Sports Club B came unstuck at Queens Head, falling to a 2-1 defeat.

Six Bells B Kidlington remain unbeaten in Section 4 after they defeated Black Swan 2-1 with the leg scores of 19-16, 14-18, 15-13.

At the other end, Democrats Club A finally enjoyed a win, beating Swan C 2-1.

Jack Wells produced a superb display as Vikings Sports C stayed top of Section 6 with a 3-0 win over Marston British Legion.

Wells needed four to take the opening leg, but hit five in his 14-doll haul (5-6-3) as Vikings enjoyed leg wins of 13-11, 22-10, 18-9.

In Section 5, Bullnose Morris B beat Masons Arms B 2-1 despite scoring fewer dolls.

Seacourt Bridge crashed to their first defeat of the season, losing 2-1 at Red Lion Old Marston.

Don Quarterman hit a six in his 12 dolls for Seacourt, who almost claimed a whitewash, only to go down 19-18 in the final leg.

Steve Tooke’s 13 dolls (3-5-5) led the way in Catherine Wheel B’s 3-0 win at home to Northway Club C in Section 7.

In Section 8, White Hart Wytham suffered their first defeat, losing 2-1 at home to Golden Ball.

RESULTS

GREENE KING OXFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE

Premier/Section 1: Gladiators A 2, New Club A 1; Red Lion A 1, Three Pigeons 2; Garsington Sports A 2, The Swan A 1; The Woodman 3, Black Prince 0; The Swan B 2, The George A 1.

Section 2: Vikings Sports A 1, Six Bells E 2; Six Bells D 2, Six Bells A Quarry 1; Chequers C 1, Donnington Club A 2; The Crown 2, Gladiators B 1.

Section 3: White House 3, Six Bells A 0; Chequers A 1, King & Queen 2; Queens Head 2, Garsington Sports B 1.

Section 4: The George B 1, Masons Arms 2; Six Bells B 2, Black Swan 2; Green Road Club B 1, Donnington Club C 2; Rose Hill Club 1, Littlemore British Legion A 2; The Swan C 1, Democrats Club A 2.

Section 5: Red Lion 2, Seacourt Bridge A 1; Masons Arms B 1, Bullnose Morris B 2; Littlemore BL B 2, Fox & Goat 1; Cricketers A Cowley 0, Chequers B 3; Cricketers Littleworth 1, Vikings Sports D 2.

Section 6: Vikings Sports C 3, Marston BL 0; Original Swan A 1, Florence Park Club 2; Six Bells B 2, Green Road Club A 1; Donnington Club B 1, Northway Club A 2.

Section 7: Northway Club B 0, Red Lion B 3; Tandem 1, Cricketers Arms B 2; Catherine Wheel B 3, Northway Club C 0; Kidlington FC 3, Catherine Wheel A 0; POW 2, Black Horse A 1.

Section 8: Democrats Club B 3, Original Swan B 0; Seacourt Bridge B 2, Headington Con Club 1; White Hart B 3, Gladiators C 0; White Hart 1, Golden Ball 2.

Sixers: K Stuart (George A), C Jenkins (Gladiators A), J Horton (New Club A), R Townsend (Six Bells E), S Ward (Six Bells D), D Quarterman (Red Lion Marston), J Wells (Vikings Sports C), B Simpson (Donnington A).

Blobbers: I Dillon (Vikings Sports B), P Farrell (New Club B), J Williams (Vikings D), M Davies (Florence Park Club), M Long (The Tandem), V Kemish (Headington Con Club), C Santoliquido (White Hart B), T Matthews (Gladiators C).

Top scorers: 16 – K Stuart (George A). 15 – S Ward (Six Bells D). 14 – L Thompson (The Swan A), S Buckingham (The Woodman), C Jenkins (Gladiators A), R Townsend (Six Bells E), J Wells (Vikings Sports C), B Simpson (Donnington A). 13 – J Townsend (The Swan A), J Glenister (The Woodman), K Baker (Gladiators A), J Horton (New Club A), G Watts (Black Horse C), S Tooke (Catherine Wheel B).

WYCHWOOD LEAGUE

Black Prince B 5, Chadlington SSC 5; Masons Arms A 7, Hanborough SSC 3; Queens Head A 10, Black Prince A 0; Enstone SSC 8, Cock Inn 2; Stonesfield SSC 5, Ye Olde Cross Keys 5; Red Lion 6, Oxford Yeoman A 4; Killingworth Castle 8, Queens Head B 2; George & Dragon 7, Three Horseshoes 3; Woodman Inn 7, Masons Arms 3.

Top scorers: 19 – C Buckingham, J Townsend & B Townsend.

Sixers: R Grant, J Busby, J Townsend.