AUNT SALLY: Purcell cleans up to spark title party

The runaway Section 2 leaders confirmed their promotion as they preserved a 100 per cent record with a 2-1 win at The Griffin.

Purcell (4-6-3) and Kevin Stuart (4-4-5) both claimed a baker’s dozen as the visitors recovered from losing the opening leg 19-18, to win the next two 18-16, 24-22.

At the other end of the table Six Bells A Quarry moved well clear of the bottom two with a 3-0 home win over struggling Cowley Workers.

James Bennett (5-5-4) top scored with 14 dolls in a comfortable 20-16, 23-15, 21-18 victory.

The champagne is on ice at Cricketers B, who still need a point to retain their Premier Section title following a 2-1 home defeat to Vikings B.

Vikings fell behind 27-24, but had Robin Charlton to thank as they won the next two legs, despite the efforts of the home side’s Geoff Townsend (6-4-5) and Philip Adams (5-5-4).

The anchor man whipped off five dolls to tie the second leg 29-29, which Vikings took on three sticks, and Charlton’s four in the final leg won it 27-26.

The Ruffels brothers both hit sixes as hosts Garsington Sports A upset second-placed Six Bells C Kidlington 2-1.

The visitors impressively took the lead 34-31, before the Sportsmen, led by Barry (3-5-6) and Martin (6-4-3) levelled 30-29.

Six Bells, who also had sixes from Alan Surman (6-5-3) and Alan Goodgame (6-3-4), were edged out in the decider on three sticks after it finished 27-27.

Neil Lyon (5-5-5) was in sparkling form for Three Pigeons but still finished on the losing side.

They lost 2-1 away at Red Lion B Eynsham, 27-26, 19-31, 29-24.

Gladiators A stayed on course for the Section 1 title after coming from behind to defeat visitors Red Lion A Eynsham.

Lead-off man John Allnutt (4-5-5) showed them the way with 14 dolls in the 23-25, 27-17, 30-17 victory.

Three Horseshoes kept their slim Section 3 title hopes alive by winning the deciding leg on three sticks away to leaders Red Lion B Yarnton.

They fell behind 18-17, levelled 25-17 and took the last on a shoot-out after it was tied 18-18.

The race at the top of Section 4 was blown open as Original Swan A stumbled to a 2-1 defeat at home to Tiddington Cricket Club.

Swan went ahead 19-11, but lost the next 16-10 and Tiddington cruised to the win with a 23-18 win in the last leg.

Crown A took full advantage and moved top after a 2-1 win at New Club B.

They took the first two legs 19-10, 19-14 but missed out on maximum points as the hosts won the final leg 17-14.

The section’s top scorer Chris Webb (5-4-5) again hit form but could not prevent Six Bells B Quarry going down 2-1 at Masons Arms A.

The hosts won the first leg on three sticks after it was tied 24-24 and confirmed the win with a 20-17 success in the second leg, before Six Bells grabbed a point in the final leg 22-20.

Glyn Millard (3-5-5) starred as Fairview A won 2-1 against Queens Head A in Section 5 with scores of 18-17, 14-15, 18-15.

Peter Dunnill hit his first ever six for Fairview B as they came from behind to beat Chequers B 11-12, 14-8, 14-12 in Section 6.

Monty Morgan (5-5-3) and Ray Winfield (3-4-5) played their part as George A swept to a 3-0 home win against Kidlington Sports A, 21-11, 26-17, 15-13.

Brill Sports Club edged closer to glory in Section 8 with a 3-0 win at Donnington Arms.

Ted Houghton (3-4-4) top scored for Brill in the 12-7, 16-13, 15-11 victory.

Bullnose B stayed in touch with a 2-1 home win over Florence Park.

They won the first two legs 12-7, 13-8, but failed to claim maximum points in the final leg, which Park claimed 11-10.

Red Lion A Cassington scored fewer dolls but came out on top in the battle of Section 9’s bottom two.

Rock bottom Crown B won the opener 11-6, but Lion hit back 13-12, 11-10.

Neil Butler (5-3-3) hit double figures to inspire Corner House to a 15-7, 15-7, 12-6 success.

In Section 10 Neil Butler for Corner House clanged off 11 dolls (5-3-3) to inspire them to a 3-0 home win against Red Lion C Kidlington.