SWAN A ended rivals Garsington Sports A’s hopes of winning the Premier Section when claiming a 3-0 victory, writes ANDY BEAL.

It sees the title race, which was previously a three-way battle, go down to the last weekend of the season, with leaders Swan and second-placed Black Prince vying for top spot.

Against Garsington, Jon Townsend starred for the frontrunners by clanging off 14 dolls (4-4-6), while Alex Chamberlain hit 13 (3-5-5).

Swan were set 25 in the opening leg and anchor man Keith Powell saw them over the line with 26.

They then took the second 29-26, before winning the third on a three-stick shoot-out after it was tied 25-25.

Barry Ruffels threw well for Garsington, whipping off 14.

Black Prince have fallen a point behind Swan after only beating George A 2-1.

Mike Foreman was top-dog for the victors, hitting 13 (3-4-6) in their 22-24, 25-20, 26-20 win.

Swan B may be the Section 1 champions, but they were demolished 3-0 by Gladiators A in leg scores of 29-23, 31-24, 29-24.

Chris Jenkins was in fine form for the victors, clanging off 15 (5-5-5), while Garry Bailey hit 14 for Swan (3-5-6).

Three Pigeons duo Paul Townsend and Neil Lyon are battling it out to be the Premier Section’s top doll scorer.

And they both boosted their chances by hitting 13 and 12 respectively in their side’s 2-1 win against Woodman – 27-25, 24-26, 20-20 (three sticks).

Charlie Buckingham and Ray Grant both hit 13 (4-5-4) for Woodman.

In Section 2, Pete Shepherd clanged off 15 (6-4-5) in Tiddington Cricket Club’s 3-0 home win against Queens Head B – 27-16, 22-14, 21-17.

The Section 3 title race will also go down to the wire.

Mark Washington hit 14 (5-5-4) as leaders Ampleforth Arms A beat Rose Hill 3-0 – 23-20, 24-21, 21-17.

Donnington C, who are two points adrift, kept up the pressure, when beating Littlemore BL A 3-0 with leg scores of 21-15, 18-15, 24-19.

Steve Greenough led the way for Donnington with 13 (5-4-4).

Dave Matthews whipped off 13

(4-4-5), but it was all in vain as Queens Head A lost at home to Red Lion A 3-0 – 22-20, 21-17, 22-18.

Vikings Sports B were crowned Section 4 champions without throwing a stick, after Ampleforth Arms B failed to raise a team and conceded the game.

That dented Six Bells A Kidlington’s bid, but they still ran out 3-0 winners at home to Bullnose Morris B.

It proved to be a long night for Red Lion B Marston at home to Green Road.

The visitors won the opener 20-16 and triumphed 3-0 overall, but not before clinching the two remaining legs on three sticks after they were tied 14-14 and 16-16.

Steve Horwood hit 12 (3-5-4) – his best score of the season – to guide Cricketers Arms Littleworth to a 2-1 win at home to Donnington B – 14-19, 21-13, 17-14.

Just a point separates the top-two in Section 5, with Swan C leading the way after a 3-0 win at Democrats A – 16-15, 14-8, 21-11.

Red Lion B Yarnton lost top-spot after falling to a 2-1 defeat at Northway C – 16-15, 14-12, 24-24 (three sticks).

Section 6 leaders Vikings Sports D lost to Prince of Wales 2-1 – 13-11, 14-14 (three sticks), 14-15.

This has opened up the title race, with Seacourt Bridge a point behind after beating Kidlington FC 2-1 with leg scores of 17-10, 14-18, 14-12.

Paul Harwood starred with 12 (3-5-4) for Seacourt.

The Section 7 champions will also be decided in the final week of the season.

Tandem beat Gladiators D 2-1 – 15-18, 14-7, 19-14 – to remain top.

Bletchingdon Sport are still in the hunt after a 2-1 win at Marston British Legion A – 13-9, 10-18, 14-13.

LATEST RESULTS

GREENE KING OXFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE

Premier/Section 1: Six Bells E 2, Chequers C 1; Gladiators A 3, The Swan B 0; The George A 1, Black Prince 2; The Swan A 3, Garsington Sports A 0; Three Pigeons 2, The Woodman 1.

Section 2: Red Lion A 2, Gladiators B 1; Bullnose Morris A 3, Florence Park Club A 0; Donnington Club A 1, Black Horse B 2; Tiddington Cricket Club 3, Queens Head B 0.

Section 3: Vikings Sports A 1, Chequers A 2; Littlemore BL A 0, Donnington Club C 3; Masons Arms A 2, Six Bells B 1; Rose Hill Club 0, Ampleforth Arms A 3; Queens Head A 0, Red Lion A 3.

Section 4: Six Bells A 3, Bullnose Morris B 0; Cricketers Arms 2, Donnington Club B 1; Ampleforth Arms B 0, Vikings Sports B 3; New Club 1, The George B 2; Red Lion B 0, Green Road Club 3.

Section 5: Vikings Sports C 2, The Blackbird 1; Democrats Club A 0, The Swan C 3; Northway Club C 2, Red Lion B 1; Florence Park Club B 1, Masons Arms B 2; Cricketers Arms 1, White Hart A 2.

Section 6: Catherine Wheel B 2, Littlemore BL B 1; Prince of Wales 2, Vikings Sports D 1; Kidlington FC 1, Seacourt Bridge 2; North Oxford Con Club 2, Marston BL B 1.

Section 7: The Tandem 2, Gladiators D 1; Red Lion 1, Northway Club B 2; Marston BL A 1, Bletchingdon Sports 2; Black Horse A 1, Golden Ball A 2.

Section 8: Original Swan 1, Catherine Wheel A 2; White Hart B 1, Headington Con Club 2.

Sixers: A Beal (Gladiators A), M Foreman (Black Prince), G Bailey (The Swan B), N Lyon (Three Pigeons), P Shepherd (Tiddington Cricket Club), D Simms (Ampleforth Arms A), B White (Northway Club C), J Townsend (The Swan A), B Ruffels (Garsington Sports A).

Blobbers: D Simms (Bullnose Morris B), E Hopkins (Littlemore BL B), T Weller (North Oxford Con Club), P Soanes (Bletchingdon Sports), M Smith (Marston BL A), G Clarke (Original Swan).

Top doll scorers: 15 – C Jenkins (Gladiators A), P Shepherd (Tiddington Cricket Club). 14 – G Bailey (The Swan B), M Washington (Ampleforth Arms A), J Townsend (The Swan A), B Ruffels (Garsington Sports A). 13 – M Foreman (Black Prince), B Townsend (Gladiators A), P Townsend (Three Pigeons), C Buckingham, R Grant (The Woodman), S Greenough (Donnington Club C), D Matthews (Queens Head A), A Chamberlain (The Swan A).

WYCHWOOD LEAGUE

Oxford Yeoman B 2, Queens Head A 8; Black Prince B 10, Masons Arms A 0; Masons Arms B 2, Black Prince A 8; Enstone SSC 0, Chadlington SSC 10; Stonesfield SSC 8, George & Dragon 2; Cinnamon Stick 8, Killingworth Castle 2; Three Horseshoes 9, Oxford Yeoman A 1; Three Horseshoes 10, Stonesfield SSC 0; Oxford Yeoman B 7, Cock Inn 3.

Top scorer: L Thompson (Queens Head A) 20.

Sixer: N King (Black Prince B).

BICESTER AND DISTRICT LEAGUE

(sponsored by Lodge Garage, Kingswood)

Premier/Div 1: Pheasant Inn 1, Highfield SC 2; Muddy Duck 1, Black Bull B 2; Crown 0, White Lion 3; Black Bull A 3, Brill S&SC B 0.

Div 2: Ashton Club 2, Bull Inn A 1; Brill S&SC A 0, Ex Services 3; Prince of Wales 2, Bell Bicester 1; Nut Tree 3, The Lion 0.

Div 3: Bull & Butcher B 1, Red Lion Islip 2; Red Cow 3, Barley Mow 0; Shakespeare 1, Chearsley Cricketers 2.

Div 4: Butchers Arms 2, Red Lion Finmere 1; The Harrison 2, Chandos Arms 1; Fountain A 1, White Horse A 2.

Div 5: Crown Twyford 3, Fountain B 0; Bull Inn B 3, Royal Oak 0.

Div 6: Black Bull Divas 0, Bull & Butcher A 3; Plough MG Casuals 2, Safari Garden 1.

Sixer: K White (Ex Services).