Neil Lyon just missed out on the magic 18 as he helped Three Pigeons to a 2-1 win against Garsington Sports in their Premier Section clash.

Lyon (pictured below) missed with his first stick, but then clanged off the next 17, and for good measure hit a six in the beer leg.

In a high scoring game, Pigeons won the opener 28-27 and lost the next leg 27-30, before they triumphed 32-27 in the decider.

Martin Ruffels top-scored for Garsington Sports with 14 dolls, 5-5-4.

Section 1 side Vikings Sports almost pulled off the shock of the season as they just lost out to unbeaten Premier leaders Cricketers.

Vikings set 24 in the first leg, which should have been easy pickings for Cricketers, but with five players having already thrown, they had only 11 on the board.

Geoff Townsend (4) Kevin Baker (5) and Den Sellar (4) came to Cricketers rescue to tie the leg 24-24.

Cricketers then won the three-stick shoot-out.

Vikings won the second leg 28-24, with Gary Smith hitting a sixer. Cricketers took the final leg 28-21.

In Section 2, Gladiator’s Martin Cook hit a baker’s dozen (6-3-4) as they beat Cricketers A Littleworth 3-0. Leg scores were 20-18, 26-19, 21-20.

Eamon Hanlon also hit 13 dolls 5-4-4 for Cowley Workers but it was all in vain as they lost at home to Dogwood 2-1.

Workers set 19 in the first leg, but it was not quite enough as Dogwood’s anchor man Robin Busby whipped off the three dolls needed to win the leg by the odd doll.

Workers levelled in the next leg winning it 24-22, but again in the final leg only set 19, this time Dogwood going past by two dolls with a score of 21.

Turners Arms John Weller clanged off a baker’s dozen (6-3-4) as did Steve James (5-3-5) for George, but it was Turners Arms who triumphed 25-20, 26-20, 22-15.

In Section 3 Highfield Club’s Keith Vickers was the hero with 14 dolls (4-6-4) as they came from behind to beat Green Road Club 2-1.

Green Road won the first 22-18 and then set 19 in the next leg.

Highfield replied slowly and left Vickers six to tie the leg.

After tickling the doll with his first effort, he whipped off the next five to tie the leg before his side triumphed after a three-stick shoot-out. They won the decider 19-17.

North Oxford Con Club dented Section 4 leader’s title ambitions Whitmore Arms by beating them 3-0. Mick Rowe led the way with 12 (4-4-4) as they won all three legs 19-16, 18-16, 17-14.

There’s now a three way tie in Section 5 after Democrats Club beat King & Queen 2-1.

Democrats won the first 22-20 with Chris Jenkins hitting a six.

King & Queen levelled in the second leg 24-19 with Democrats winning the match in the final leg 17-16. Jenkins was top dog with 13 dolls Despite John Honour hitting 13 dolls (5-5-3) Section 6 leaders Red Lion Brill crashed 2-1 at Ampleforth Arms.

Red Lion lost the opener 17-18, before winning the next 17-14, but lost the deciding leg 14-15.

In Section 7, Unicorn Inn battled to a 3-0 win against Blacks Head Inn.

Unicorn Inn won the first two legs on a three-stick shoot-out after the sides were locked at 7-7 and 6-6. Unicorn took the final leg 8-5.

Graham Morton clanged off a dozen dolls (4-4-4) to lead Chequers C to a 3-0 win at Red Lion C Eynsham in Section 8 . They won the legs 16-11, 18-15, 15-10.

Jolly Postboys are second in Section 9 after beating Blackbird 3-0.

Dave Soanes hit 12 dolls (5-4-3) in scores of 19-11, 19-13, 17-12.

Fairview B top the section with a 2-1 win against Ashton Club. After losing the first leg 11-10, they won the next two 10-9, 18-11.

Joe Bandrowski smashed 13 dolls (3-5-5) for Masons Arms B in Section 10, but it was in vain as they lost 2-1 against Chequers.

Chequers won the first two legs 15-14, 18-12, but took the last 13-12 for a point.

Headington British Legion came from behind to beat Black Horse 2-1 in Section 11.

Horse won the first on a three-stick shoot-out, but Legion won the next two 14-10, 12-9.

Prince Of Wales B knocked George Botley off the top in Section 12 with a 2-1 victory, with leg scores of 8-7, 13-8 and 10-4.