THE Black Prince saw their unbeaten run in Oxford & District Premier ended by Gladiators A in a high-scoring thriller.

The leaders set the first leg and hit 26, thanks to a six from anchor man Mick Phipps, but opposite number Kevin Baker’s three put the hosts ahead.

Gladiators’ formidable 31 proved too much for the Prince’s 24 as they made it 2-0, but the best was yet to come.

The visitors set a challenging 29 and a poor start left the last five players needing 23 to win.

They were up for the challenge as Scott Thompson (five), Martin Cooke (six) and Baker (five) completed the whitewash.

Cooke (3-4-6) top-scored for the hosts, with Rob Bradford (4-4-5) and Phipps (6-2-5) impressing for the Prince.

Meanwhile, The George A won 2-1 at North Leigh FC.

The visitors triumphed 24-19 in the first leg, before anchor man Kevin Stuart managed four dolls to take the next one 26-25.

North Leigh redeemed themselves with a 28-21 win in the third, helped by Geoff Glenister (4-5-5).

Meanwhile, Red Lion B Kidlington opened a five-point lead in Section Two after a hard-fought 3-0 victory at home to Queens Head.

They won the first two legs 23-11, 16-14, before anchor Steve Ward whipped off five dolls to secure an 18-17 triumph in the third.

Red Lion A Yarnton dropped a leg against basement boys Donnington A, who responded to a 21-20 defeat in the first by levelling the scores at 16-12.

Anchor Mark Poulter whipped off four dolls to snatch the leg 18-17 as he managed 4-4-4.

Donnington’s Ian Walters also hit 12 (5-3-4).

In Section Three, Pete Kennett was in scintillating form as he clanged off 14 dolls (3-6-5) to help table-toppers Masons Arms win 3-0 at The Catherine Wheel.

OTHER WEEK NINE RESULTS

Premier/Section One: New Club 3, Blackbird B 3; Ampleforth Arms A 3, Donnington C 0; Garsington Sports 0, The Swan A 3.

Section Two: Six Bells A 0, Chequers B 3; Seacourt Bridge 3, Vikings A 0; Chequers A 1, Gladiators B 2.

Section Three: Cricketers Arms 1, Red Lion A 2; Donnington Club B 2, Vikings Sports B 1; George B 1, Cowley Workers A; Blackbird A 2, Ampleforth Arms B 1.

Section Four: Masons Arms B 1, Six Bells Quarry 2; Rose Hill Club 3, Kidlington FC 0; Six Bells B 2, Duke Of Monmouth 1; Bletchington Sports 2, Six Bells C 1; The Tandem 2, Red Lion B 1.

Section Five: White Horse 1, Littlemore RFC 2; Northway Club B 3, Cricketers Arms 0; Golden Ball 3, Northway Club C 0.

SIXERS: B Ruffles (Garsington Sports), M Herbert (Swan A), M Cooke (Gladiators A), M Phipps (Black Prince), P Kennett (Masons Arms A).

BLOBBERS: J Brown (George B), P Soanes (Bletchington Sports), G Richmond (Six Bells Quarry), D.Eggleton, D Filer (Cricketers Cowley), G Thomas (Littlemore RFC).

TOP DOLL SCORERS: 14: G Glenister (North Leigh FC), P Kennett (Masons Arms A);13: B Ruffles (Garsington Sports), M Herbert (Swan A), M Cooke (Gladiators A), R Bradford (Black Prince).