Section 1 side Gladiators produced the shock of the season by defeating Greene King Oxford & District League Premier leaders Cricketers 2-1 on their own patch in a low-scoring game, writes ANDY BEAL.

Cricketers started off well by taking the first leg 23-21, and with the Gladiators setting only 19 in the second leg the home side were looking good for maximum points.

But, unbelievably, Cricketers could muster only 15.

Cricketers then set 22 in the decider and after a slow start Gladiators left anchor man Keith Weller four to win.

After missing with his first stick, Weller clanged off the next four to give the Gladiators a surprise win.

For the first time in many years, not one Cricketers player hit double figures, in fact the only player to do so all night was Gladiators' Martin Cook with 12 dolls.

White House took full advantage by defeating George 2-1 to go level with Cricketers at the top of the Premier Section.

White House took the opening leg 28-26, before the George took the second 32-30.

George then set the final leg with 26, and with the White House anchor man, Steve Ward, needing just three to win, he whipped off a six to take the leg 30-26.

Kevin Giles (4-4-6) top scored for the George with 14 dolls.

Anchor man Neil Lyon came to Three Pigeons' rescue twice to secure a 2-1 win at home to Garsington Sports.

With Garsington winning the opening leg 31-28, they then set 25 in the next leg. The Pigeons left Lyon needing four to win, which he achieved with a stick to spare, taking the leg 26-25.

In the decider, Garsington set 24 and this time Lyon was left five to take victory, and he clanged off the winning doll with his last stick.

In Section 4, Vikings beat Quarry Gate 3-0 in a match that was closer than the scoreline suggests.

Vikings took the first leg 18-13, and had to rely on a three-stick shoot-out in the second after tying 17-17.

Vikings then took the last 22-21.

Quarry Gate's James Light hit a six in his 11 dolls.

Mick Fitchett (4-4-4) threw consistently to help the Bull to their first away win with a 2-1 victory at Rose Hill Dwarfs.

They lost the first leg 22-17 won the second on three sticks after tying 17-17, and won the decider 18-15.

Mark Revill scored his first six in Red Lion Eynsham's 3-0 win over Red Lion Islip.

Revill ended up with 11 dolls as the Eynsham side took all three legs, 16-14, 17-15, 26-20.

In Section 7, Red Cow beat Ashton Club 2-1. They won the first leg on three sticks after drawing 7-7 and then took the second 8-5.

The third leg was also drawn 8-8, but Ashton club took the leg on three sticks.

Roger Herbert top scored for Red Cow with eight dolls.

In Section 10, Catherine Wheel's Trevor Paczogkia (4-2-4) notched ten dolls in a 2-1 win over Donnington Club B.

Stuart Bishop (5-3-4) starred with 12 dolls as Chequers D came away from the Black Swan with a 3-0 win in Section 11.

RESULTS Premier/Section 1: Kings Arms 3, New Club A 0; George A 1, White House A 2; Woodman 1, Red Lion A 2; Three Pigeons 2, Garsington Sports 1; Cricketers B 1, Gladiators A 2.

Section 2: Red Lion Brill 1, Royal Sun 2; New Club B 2, Black Swan A 1; Kidlington Sports B 2, George B 1; Tiddington Cricket 2, Turners Arms 1; Six Bells 2, Plough 1.

Section 3: North Oxford Con 2, Fairview A 1; Vikings Sports B 3 0, Quarry Gate 0; White House B 1, Chequers B 2; Donnington Club A 3, Gardiner Arms 0; Cowley Con Club 1, Green Road Club 2.

Section 4: Chequers A 1, Masons A 2; Quarry Gate A 0, Vikings Sports A 3; Red Lion B Eynsham 3, Red Lion Islip 0; Bull 2, Rose Hill Dwarfs 1; Cowley Workers 3, Golden Ball B 0.

Section 5: Dogwood 1, Highfield Club A 2; Vikings Sports C 2, Kidlington Sports A 1; Chandos Arms A 2, Crown A 1; Lord Kitchener B 3, Blackbird 0; Red Lion Garsington 3, Whitmore 0.

Section 6: Queens Head 2, Kennington Club A 1; Brill Club A 1, Cricketers A 2; Golden Ball A 2, Nut Tree 1; Nelson A 2, Democrats 1.

Section 7: Red Cow 2, Ashton Club 1; Crown B 1, Brill Club B 2; Plough B 3, Black Head 0; Highfield Club B 0, Eight Bells 3; Barley Mow 3, Unicorn 0.

Section 8: Gladiators B 2, Cricketers A 1; Chequers C 0, Chandos Arms B 3; Jolly Postboys 2, Six Bells A 1; Black Horse A 2, White Hart 1; Kings Arms 1, Red Lion 2.

Section 9: Headington BL 1, Shelley 2; Red Lion B Cassington 0, Cavalier A 3; Masons B 2, Nelson B 1; Fairview B 2, Littlemore Rugby 1; Red Lion Wolvercote 3, Somerset House 0.

Section 10: Catherine Wheel 2, Donnington Club B 1; Cricketers B 0, Plough A 3; Kidlington Sports C 1, Red Lion A Cassington 1; Red Lion C Eynsham 3, Yarnton BL 0.

Section 11: Donnington Arms 2, Black Horse B 1; George Inn A 0, Kings Arms Ladies 3; Black Swan B 0, Chequers D 3; Kennington Club B 1, Jolly Sportsman 2; White Hart 2, Folly Bridge 1.

Section 12: Six Bells B 2, John Radcliffe Club 1; Cavalier B 2, George Inn B 1; Jack Russell 2, Prince of Wales Iffley 1; Oxford Rugby Club 2, Railway Club 1.

SIXERS R Wade (New Club), K Giles, F Hillier (George A), M Jordan (White House B), M Ruffels, Garsington Spts), A Goodgame, S Ward (White House A), A Middleton (Green Road Club), J Light (Quarry Gate A), M Revill (Red Lion B), D Stansfield (Cricketers A).

BLOBBERS M Pratley (Nut Tree), S Lawes (Crown B), K Daly (Brill Club), H Homan, S Merz (Unicorn), M Lee (Gladiators B), B Eilerston, A Hodges, J Kirk (Red Cow) J Bunning (Red Lion B), D Byrne, B Buckingham (Yarnton BL), T Harris (George A), D Heppi (George B).