VETERAN Dennis Baxter rolled back the years by clanging off 15 dolls (4-6-5) as George beat Kidlington Sports 3-0 in the Premier Section, writes ANDY BEAL.

He was assisted well by Steve Walton and Kevin Giles, who both hit 13 dolls, as their side won all three legs 27-17, 31-19, 30-18.

Garsington Sports lead-off man Barry Ruffels led the way with 14 dolls (5-4-5), but still ended up on the losing side as Red Lion, Eynsham ran out 25-23, 25-24, 20-25 winners.

In Section 2, only one doll separated Gladiators and Six Bells Quarry.

Six Bells won the opening leg 19-18 and then set 18 in the second.

Gladiators’ anchor man Brian Richards whipped of the three dolls needed to take the leg to three sticks, which Six Bells won.

Six Bells set 19 in the final leg, and once again it went to a three-stick shoot-out, with Gladiators winning it by the odd doll.

John Weller hit a baker’s dozen (4-4-5) as Turners Arms beat New Club B 2-1.

Turners won the opening two legs 21-16, 21-20, but lost the third 24-18.

Barry Gilding was top-scorer for New Club with a dozen dolls (3-4-5).

Highfield Club’s Brian Causby chalked up 12 dolls including a maximum (6-3-3) in Section 3, but it was all in vain as Red Lion Marston came away with all three points.

Kevin Stuart’s 14-doll haul for Lion paved the way as they took all three legs 23-20, 23-16, 24-22.

Quarry Gate scored more dolls than Tiddington Cricket Club, but still ended up losing 2-1.

Tiddington claimed the first leg 22-20 and only just won the second leg on a one-stick shoot-out after tying 23-23, and then 12-12 on three sticks.

Quarry Gate gained a consolation point in the final leg, claiming a 21-15 win.

Another veteran, Mick Beane, showed the youngsters how it’s done as he rattled off 13 dolls (3-5-4) for Seacourt Bridge in Section 4 as they beat Whitmore Arms 2-1.

With the match level at 1-1, Whitmore set 19 in the final leg and with Seacourt slow in their reply, they left Beane four to win.

But Beane was up to the task, reaching his target with a stick to spare to claim the leg by the odd doll.

In Section 6, Brill Sports Club travelled to Northway Club and won the first leg on three sticks after drawing 15-15.

They then wrapped up the match in the second, with Northway coming back well to take the final leg 18-12.

Ian Houghton top-scored for Lion with 12 dolls (5-5-2), while Bernie Traynor was the top dog for Northway with ten (2-4-4).

Alan Horton led the way with a dozen dolls (5-3-4) as Brill Sports Club fended of the challenge from Eight Bells in Section 7.

Brill won the first and last legs 10-4, 15-9 with Bells claiming the middle one 12-10.

In Section 10, Red Lion Yarnton won the opening leg as they hit an impressive 23 at home to Donnington Arms.

They soon came back with a bump, however, as Donnington levelled the match 13-10 in the next.

The final and deciding leg went to Lion 10-7.

Donnington’s Graham Moody top-scored with 11 dolls (4-5-2).

Section 1: Vikings Sports B 0, Six Bells C 3; Three Pigeons 3, Black Swan A 0; The George A 3, Kidlington Sports B 0; Red Lion A 2, Garsington Sports 1; New Club A 0, Cricketers B 3.

Section 2: Turners Arms A 2, New Club B 1; Gladiators A 1, Six Bells 2; Cowley Workers 0,George B 3.

Section 3: Quarry Gate 1, Tiddington Cricket 2; Highfield Club A 0, Red Lion Marston 3; Cross Keys A 3, Red Lion B Eynsham 0.

Section 4: Seacourt Bridge 2, Whitmore Arms 1; North Oxford Con Club 2, Fairview Inn A 1.

Section 5: Vikings Sports C 1, The Bull 2; Red Lion Kidlington 2, Golden Ball B 1; Democrats Club 1, Cowley Con Club 2; Chequers A 1, Chandos Arms B 2.

Section 6: White Hart 2, Team Monarch 1; Six Bells A 1, Marston British Legion 2; Queens Head 0, Red Lion Brill 3; Northway Club A 1, Brill Club A 2; Ampleforth Arms 1, Nelson A 2.

Section 7: Red Cow 3, Highfield Club B 0; Brill Club B 2, Eight Bells 1; Blacks Head Inn 1, Turners Arms B 2; Ashton Club A 2, Crown B 1.

Section 8: Red Lion Wolvercote 3, Jolly Sportsman 0; Red Lion Wendelbury 1, Red Lion B Cass-ington 2; Red Lion C Eynsham 1, Gladiators B 2; Golden Ball A 2, Chequers C 1; Cricketers A 1, Red Lion Islip 2.

Section 9: Littlemore Rugby Club 1, Ashton Club B 2; Jolly Postboys 2, Folly Bridge Inn 1; Chandos Arms A 2, The Blackbird 1.

Section 10: Red Lion Yarnton 2, Donnington Arms 1; Masons Arms B 1, Jack Russell B 2; Catherine Wheel A 3, Rose Hill Club 0.

Section 11: Oxford Rugby Club 3, John Radcliffe Club 0; Headington British Legion 2, Kings Arms A 1; Donnington Club B 3, Prince Of Wales A 0; Cricketers Arms B 2, Black Horse 1.

Section 12: Kings Arms B 3, The Priory 0; Jack Russell A 3, White Hart 0; Black Swan B 1, The George 2.