DEMOCRATS Club were given a tough baptism in the top flight when they lost 7-2 at home to Cowley Workers in Premier & Section 1 of the Greene King ODA Summer League.

The newly-promoted hosts were level at 1-1 when Ashley Presley replied to Aaron Stevens’s win for Cowley.

The visitors took control with victories from Jon Jukes, Darren Allen, Lyndon Richards and Pete Hall, who recorded five maximums between them.

A 2-1 pairs success increased their scoreline to 7-2.

Red Lion A recorded a resounding 9-0 success at home to George Lounge following their promotion to Division 2.

Chequers Inn A, who went up with Red Lion, lost 5-4 at home to Black Bull, whose wins came from wins from Chris Room, Trevor Skinner, Martin Parsons, Tony Wheeler and George Baker George Bar came from behind to win 5-4 at Butchers Arms in Section 4, their singles wins coming from Will Banks (180), the consistent Joe Carr and Craig Kilpin.

Corner House B stormed back from 4-0 down to beat hosts Crown Inn 5-4 in Section 6.

Golden Ball triumphed 8-1 at home to Red Lion B, thanks to successes from Ian Marsden, Andrew Quinn, John Weller, Lee Cox and Daniel Pratley.

Rose Hill won 5-4 at Original Swan in Ladies’ Section 3.

The singles matches were shared. Bernie Elderkin, Emma Elderkin and Lindsey Boyce won for the visitors, with Swan’s replies coming from Jane Moss, Kirsty Quince and Bev Walton. But Rose Hill edged the pairs 2-1.

GREENE KING ODDA SUMMER LEAGUE

MEN

Premier & Section 1: Democrats 2, Cowley Workers Club 7; Kings Arms 2, Abingdon Unity 7.

Section 2: Red Lion A 9, George Lounge A 0; Corner House A 7, Cricketers Arms A 2; Catherine Wheel 3, Chequers Inn B 6; Chequers Inn A 4, Black Bull 5.

Section 3: Cricketers Arms B 7, Littlemore RFC B 2; Duke of Monmouth 5, Cricketers Arms C 4; Original Swan A 5, Six Bells 4.

Section 4: Butchers Arms 4, George Bar 5.

Section 5: Masons Arms 3, Florence Park 6.

Section 6: Golden Ball 8, Red Lion B 1; Crown 4, Corner House B 5; New Club 3, Donnington CC B 6.

LADIES

Premier & Section 1: Blackbird Bar 8, Cowley Workers Club 1; Red Lion 1, Blackbird Leys BC 8.

Section 2: George Lounge B 8, Six Bells 1.

Section 3: Original Swan 4, Rose Hill CC A 5.

Section 4: Donnington CC A 3, Florence Park CC C 6; Masons Arms 7, Chequers Inn A 2; Bletchingdon SC 7, Marston RBL 2.

Section 5: Rose Hill CC B 7, New Club A 2; Cowley Workers B 0, Duke of Monmouth B 6.

MAXIMUMS

P Hall (Cowley Workers) 2, D Allen (Cowley Workers) 2, A Bateman (Red Lion Ladies), J Jukes (Cowley Workers), R Adnams (Democrats), P Say (Democrats), L Radford (Kings Arms), J Goodenough (Cricketers Arms A), S Coling (Chequers Inn B), K Smith (Cricketers Arms B), W Banks (George Bar), P Crowther (Masons Arms), V Williams (New Club).

TON-PLUS CHECK-OUTS

J Jukes (Cowley Workers) 133, M Ashburner (Cricketers Arms C) 120, L Radford (Kings Arms) 110, R Reveley (Corner House A) 107, V Williams (New Club) 103, D Beaven (Red Lion A) 101, S Allen (Red Lion A) 100.