Six Bells C Kidlington clipped the Three Pigeons wings 2-1 as the top two clashed in the Greene King Oxford & District League Premier Section.

The victory sees Six Bells move three points clear with three games to go.

Three Pigeons took the opening leg 28-22, before setting 29 in the second.

The hosts matched them, though, with anchor man Steve Ward whipping off the four dolls needed for a tie.

Three Pigeons could set only ten in the three-stick shoot-out, which the Six Bells passed with players to spare.

The decider saw the visitors set 25, and once again Ward came to the Six Bells’ rescue by hitting the four dolls needed to tie the leg.

The hosts then set 15 in the three-stick shoot-out, which proved more than enough.

Andy Beal (5-5-4) top-scored for Six Bells with 14 dolls.

Garsington Sports A’s Section 1 title bid took a knock with a 2-1 defeat at Red Lion A Eynsham.

Red Lion won the first leg 26-25, and then were set 27 in the next.

A four from anchor man Keith Powell levelled for Red Lion, who went on to take it 11-10 on three sticks.

Garsington, for whom Barry Ruffels (5-4-5) starred with 14 dolls, grabbed a point in the final leg 26-24.

New Club A stepped up their challenge with a 2-1 home victory over Rose Hill Club A. Kevin Stuart (5-5-4) hit 14 dolls for Rose Hill.

Ampleforth Arms A came out on top 3-0 at home to leaders Six Bells Quarry in the battle of the top two in Section 2.

The hosts won the opening leg on three sticks after it was tied 25-25, before taking the next two legs 23-17, 21-14 to take over at the summit.

The Woodman moved up to second after an impressive 3-0 victory at home to Red Lion Kidlington.

Charlie Buckingham (4-5-4) led the way with 13 dolls as the hosts won all three legs 25-20, 29-19, 23-18.

Andy Lewis (5-5-4) clanged off 14 dolls for basement boys Three Horseshoes A, but it was all in vain as they lost 2-1 at home to Red Lion B Eynsham.

Both teams hit 58 dolls in the 16-17, 21-22, 21-19 leg scores.

In Section 3, Vikings A’s Pete Kennett (5-4-4) hit a baker’s dozen as they came from behind to win 2-1 at Masons Arms A.

Masons Arms B gave their Section 4 title ambitions a boost with a 2-1 win at the Pheasant Inn A.

James Morrison (4-5-5) led the way for the victors with 14 dolls.

Leaders Queens Head almost came unstuck at The Original Swan A, before winning 2-1.

Section 5 leaders Vikings Sports D dropped a leg in a 2-1 win at home to bottom team White Hart.

After comfortably winning the first two legs 17-14, 18-14 they failed to take maximum points in the final leg 17-20.

In Section 7, Terry Buckle (6-3-4) hit a rare six in his 13-doll haul, but it couldn’t prevent the Blackbird losing 3-0 at Northway Club B.

Kevin Vickers Snr (3-3-5) top-scored for Northway with 11.

A clash between the two top runners saw Six Bells B Kidlington record a 2-1 victory at Rose Hill Club B.

Mark Edwards (4-3-4) hit 11 dolls for Rose Hill.

It’s still wide open in Section 8, and Gladiators B boosted their chances, while denting close rivals Chequers C after recording a 2-1 away win.

Winston Cadogan (3-4-4) hit double figures for the first time this season with 11 dolls for the Gladiators.

RESULTS

GREENE KING OXFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE

Premier/Section 1: Six Bells C Kidlington 2, Three Pigeons 1; Red Lion A Eynsham 2, Garsington Sports A 1; New Club A 2, Rose Hill Club A 1; Gladiators A 3, Black Prince 0.

Section 2: Woodman 3, Red Lion Kidlington 0; Vikings Sports B 3, Team Monarch 0; Three Horseshoes A 1, Red Lion B Eynsham 2; Griffin 2, Chequers A 1; Ampleforth A 3, Six Bells 0.

Section 3: Tiddington Cricket 3, Kennington Club 0; Six Bells A Kidlington 1, Crown A Otmoor 2; Masons A 1, Vikings Sports A 2; Crown Chalgrove 1, Chequers B 2; Bullnose Morris A 3, Ampleforth C 0.

Section 4: Pheasant A 1, Masons B 2; Original Swan A 1, Queens Head 2; New Club C 2, George A 1; Kidlington Green SC 3, Vikings Sports C 0; Cowley Workers 1, Donnington Club A 2.

Section 5: Vikings Sports D 2, White Hart A 1; George B 2, North Oxford Con Club A 1; Donnington Club C 3, Red Lion Islip 0; Brill Sports Club A 1, Cricketers A 2.

Section 6: Seacourt Bridge 3, Brill Sports Club B 0; Red Lion Yarnton 2, King & Queen B 1; Chandos 2, Red Lion C Eynsham 1; Ampleforth B 3, Three Horseshoes B 0.

Section 7: Rose Hill Club B 1, Six Bells B 2; Northway Club B 3, Blackbird 0; Kings Arms B 3, Prince of Wales 0; Headington BL 3, Bullnose Morris B 0; Catherine Wheel A 1, Donnington Club B 2.

Section 8: Red Lion Old Marston 2, Red Lion B Cassington 1; Marston BL 2, Littlemore BL 1; Cricketers 2, Northway Club A 1; Chequers C 1, Gladiators B 2.

Section 9: Kite 0, White Hart 3; Red Lion A Cassington 1, Kings Arms A 2; Florence Park A 3, Littlemore Rugby Club 0; Crooked Pot 3, Original Swan B 0.

Section 10: Kidlington FC 3, Catherine Wheel B 0; Headington Con Club 0, Pheasant B 3.

SIXERS

R Taylor (New Club A), P Dempsey (Three Pigeons), T Buckle (Blackbird).

BLOBBERS

J Stephens (George A), S Andrews (Pheasant A), K Smith (North Oxford Con Club), P Kiplin (Chandos Arms), L Walker (Three Horse-shoes B), L McAllister (Prince of Wales), B Harper (Cowley Workers), F Delaney, R Stimpson (Kite), D Loveridge (Littlemore Rugby Club), P Gary, V Kemish (Headington Con Club).

TOP DOLL SCORERS

14 – A Beal (Six Bells C), A Lewis (Three Horseshoes A), B Ruffels (Garsington Sports A), J Morrison (Masons B), K Stuart (Rose Hill Club A).

13 – C Buckingham (Woodman), D Cox (Team Monarch), P Kennett (Vikings Sports A), T Buckle (Blackbird).

ABINGDON & DISTRICT LEAGUE

Premier & A Section: Abingdon United B 6, Tandem 0; Fox 2, Spread Eagle 4; Plum Pudding 6, Abingdon Legion 0; Steventon Sports 0, Berinsfield SC 6.

B Section: Hart Harwell 6, Chequers Charney 0; Red Lion 4, Vine A 2; Spread Eagle B 2, Abingdon United D 4; Fox 3, College Oak A 3.

C Section: Berinsfield SC 6, Royal Oak 0; Black Horse A 6, Hinds Head 0; Fleur De Lys 0, Stanford FC 6.

D Section: North Star A 4, Bowyers Arms 2; The Hatchet 4, Peachcroft SC 2; College Oak B 1, DC Bystander 5.

E Section: Crown Didcot 6, White Horse B 0; Bear & Ragged Staff 4, Saxton Arms 2; Kennington SC 0, Red Lion 6; Morning Star 2, Abingdon United C 4; Queens Arms 6, Pack Horse 0.

F Section: Cross Keys B 2, Abingdon Arms 4; Boundary House 6, Brewery Tap A 0; Harwell Legion B 0, Goodlake Arms 6.

G Section: Plough Long Wittenham 3, Old Anchor 3; George & Dragon 2, Crown S Morton 4; Brewery Tap B 6, North Star B 0.

H Section: Black Swan B 1, Steventon Sports 5; Crown Marcham 0, Black Swan A 6; Eight Bells 1, Cross Keys 5; Wheatsheaf Didcot 1, Harwell Legion A 5.

Sixers: B Duff (Abingdon United B).

BICESTER & DISTRICT LEAGUE

(Sponsored by Hook Norton Brewery)

League Cup (Divs 1 & 2) semi-finals: Highfield SC A 0, Black Bull A 2; Nut Tree 0, Launton SASC A 2.

League Plate (Divs 1 & 2) semi-final: White Lion 2, Muddy Duck 1.

Supplementary Cup (Divs 3-5) 2nd round: Safari Garden 2, Black Bull C 0; Ex Services 2, Fountain A 0; Barley Mow 2, White Horse B 1; White Hart Originals 2, Plough Marsh Gibbon 12.

Supplementary Cup (Divs 3-5) semi-finals: Launton S&SC B 2, Highfield B 0; Kings Head B 1, Red Lion Stratton Audley 2.

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