Reigning champions Cricketers B are the new Greene King Oxford & District League Premier Section leaders following a 3-0 win at home to Three Pigeons in their top-of-the-table battle, writes ANDY BEAL.

However, the match was much closer than the scoreline indicates with Cricketers winning the opening leg 28-26, before taking the next two 24-23. Ivor Clarke (5-5-3) top-scored for the Cricketers with 13 dolls.

Billy Trinder and Martin Ruffels hit 5-4-5 for 14 dolls apiece for Garsington Sports A, but it was not enough to stop New Club A posting a 2-1 home win.

The first leg was tied 24-24 with New Club taking it on three sticks. They took the next 29-24, before Garsington finished strongly to win the last 33-21.

Dick Walsh (3-6-5) clanged off 14 dolls as Six Bells C Kidlington came from behind to win 2-1 at home to Red Lion B Kidlington.

Alan Goodgame (5-2-6) shone for Six Bells.

Alan Holt (5-6-4) was the week’s top scorer with 15 dolls as Section 2 strugglers Black Prince posted a 2-1 win at home to the Griffin.

Colin Butler (4-5-2) led the way with 11 dolls as leaders Vikings B won 3-0 at home to Six Bells Quarry.

Allen Prince and James Gilding hit sixes, but it could not prevent New Club B going down 2-1 to Donnington Club C in Section 5.

In Section 7, second-placed Nut Tree had a scare before winning 2-1 at home to Red Lion Yarnton, with anchor man Martin Pratley whipping off the four dolls needed to take the deciding leg with a stick to spare.

Corner House’s Nigel DeBanks had mixed fortunes in their 2-1 home win over Prince of Wales Horspath Road in Section 10 .

He started off with a blob, before hitting a six in the next leg and then finished off with a three.

Colin Fox (4-5-4) hit 13 dolls as Kennington Social Club B inflicted only the second defeat of the season on Section 10 leaders Priory with a 2-1 home win.

GREENE KING OXFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE

Premier Section 1 & 1A: Six Bells C Kidlington 2, Red Lion B Kidlington 1; New Club A 2, Garsington Sports A 1; Gladiators A 1, Red Lion Brill 2; Cricketers B 3, Three Pigeons 0; Black Swan 0, Red Lion A Eynsham 3.


Section 2: Vikings Sports B 3, Six Bells 0; Red Lion B Eynsham 2, Woodman 1; Black Prince 2, Griffin 1; Cowley Workers 2, Chequers A 1.


Section 3: Three Horseshoes 1, Chequers C 2; Team Monarch 3, Cowley Con Club 0; Rose Hill Club B 2, Kidlington Green SC 1; Masons A 2, Vikings Sports A 1; Bullnose Morris A 2, Original Swan A 1.


Section 4: Seacourt Bridge 1, King & Queen A 2; Garsington Sports B 3, Kidlington Sports B 0; Fairview A 0, Six Bells A 3; Donnington Club A 3, Kennington Club A 0.


Section 5: Donnington Club C 2, New Club B 1; Crown A 3, Vikings Sports C 0; Folly Bridge 1, North Oxford Con Club 2; Chequers B 2, Marston British Legion 1.

Section 6: Red Lion A Wolvercote 3, Masons B 0; Red Lion A Kidlington 3, Chandos A 0; Quarry Gate 2, Florence Park Club A 1; King & Queen B 0, Red Lion Wendlebury 3.

Section 7: Six Bells D 2, Golden Ball B 1; Red Lion Islip 3, Cricketers A 0; Red Lion C Eynsham 3, Donnington Arms 0; Nut Tree 2, Red Lion A Yarnton 1; Kidlington Sports A 3, Northway Club A 0.


Section 8: Crooked Pot 1, Red Lion B 2; Original Swan B 1, Rose Hill Club A 2; Golden Ball A 2, Fairview B 1; Catherine Wheel 3, Six Bells B 0; Brill Sports Club A 1, Kings Arms 2.


Section 9: Northway B 3, Crown B 0; Jolly Sportsman 2, Brill Sports Club B 1; Chequers D 3, White Hart 0; Crown 3, Donnington Club B 0.


Section 10: North Oxford Con Club B 1, Littlemore BL 2; Kennington Club B 2, Priory 1; Cricketers 0, Bullnose B 3; Corner House 2, Prince of Wales 1.

Section 11: Red Lion C Kidlington 1, Red Lion B Wolvercote 2; Red Lion A Cassington 3, George & Dragon 0; Kings Arms 1, Florence Park B 2.

Sixers: P Townsend (Three Pigeons), D Walsh, A Goodgame (Six Bells C Kidlington), A Holt (Black Prince), A Prince, J Gilding (New Club B), M Fellows (Red Lion A Wolvercote), K Adams (Crown Chalgrove), N Debanks (Corner House), A Middleton (Rose Hill B).


Blobbers: A Simpson (Donnington Club A), K Brown (Chandos Arms), S Jackson (Original Swan B), P English (Crooked Pot), G Holdel (Catherine Wheel), S Neale, D Wolfman (White Hart), S Venney (Red Lion C Kidlington), J Jardine, E Foster (Cricketers Littleworth), C Long (George & Dragon), S McConway, H Hyde (Kings Arms Kidlington).


ABINGDON & DISTRICT LEAGUE
Premier/A Section: Abingdon United 3, Steventon Sports 3; Fox 6, Spread Eagle 0; Tandem 5, Abingdon Legion 1; Berinsfield SC 6, Red Lion 0.


B Section: College Oak 4, Plough 2; North Star 0, Fox Denchworth 6; Hart of Harwell 0, Berinsfield SC 6; Red Lion 6, Admiral Benbow 0; Barley Mow 0, Abingdon Utd 6.


C Section: Plough 2, Vine 4 ; Black Horse 3, College Oak 3; Vine 0, Abingdon United 6; Steventon Sports 0, Abingdon Con Club 6; White Horse 4, Waggon & Horses 2.


D Section: Chequers 5, Pack Horse 1; Wootton Legion 6, Brewery Tap 0; Crown 5, Standford FC 1; Fleur De Lys 6, North Star 0.


E Section: Eight Bells 6, Harwell Legion 0; Boundary House 3, Hatchet 3.


F Section: Abingdon Arms 6, Bear 0; Plough 4, Hart of Harwell 2; Cross Keys 0, Didcot Con Club 6; North Star 6, North Star 0.


G Section: Horse & Harrow 1, Morning Star 5; Old Anchor 2, Plough 4; Spread Eagle 0, Queens Arms 6.

H Section: Challow Legion 0, Drayton Park Gold Club 6; Bear & Ragged Staff 6, Plough 0; Abingdon Legion 6, Midget 0; Spread Eagle 4, GWRSA 2; Cross Keys 5, Cross Keys 1.


J Section: Wheatsheaf 2, Hinds Head 4; Peachcroft SC 2, Waggon & Horses 4; Red Lion 6, Rose & Crown 0; Steventon Sports 5, Cross Keys 1.


Sixes: A Bell, M Thomas, C Brind, P Soden, K Fisher.


BICESTER & DISTRICT LEAGUE
(sponsored by Hook Norton Brewery)

Divs 1 & 2 Cup semi-finals: Black Bull A 0, White Lion A 2; Bull & Butcher B 0, Highfield SC A 2.


Divs 1 & 2 Plate semi-finals: Highfield SC B 0, Prince of Wales 2; Shakespeare 1, White Lion B 2.

Divs 3, 4 & 5 Cup 2nd round: Eight Bells 1, Launton S&SC B 2; Angel B 0, White Horse A 2; White Horse B 1, Sow & Pigs 2; Black Bull C 2, Six Bells 0.

Divs 3, 4 & 5 Plate semi-finals: Crown A 2, Gardeners Arms 0; Plough Marsh Gibbon 0, Crown B 2.