DICK Walsh was in tremendous form to steer Swan A to a 3-0 win at home to Chequers A, writes ANDY BEAL.

He clanged off 15 dolls (6-5-4) in the Greene King Oxford & District League Premier/Section 1 clash.

Swan triumphed in leg scores of 28-23, 24-21, 24-23, with Mick Berry also on form for the victors, hitting 13 (4-6-3).

Gladiators A recorded their first win, when beating Black Prince 3-0 at home – 24-23, 22-19, 30-23.

Kevin Giles top-scored for the hosts with 13 (4-4-5), with Phil Austin whipping off the same number of dolls.

Spencer Buckingham’s six in the opening leg set Woodman on their way to a 3-0 home win over Swan B in leg scores of 29-26, 25-24, 29-26.

Mark Hewitson’s 13-doll haul (4-4-5) proved in vain for the visitors.

Garsington Sports tasted defeat for the first time, losing 2-1 at home to Red Lion A Yarnton.

Mark Poulter whipped off 14 (3-5-6) as the visitors triumphed 23-14, 18-19, 23-19.

Six Bells E Kidlington’s 2-1 victory at home to Gladiators C involved an extraordinary high-scoring second leg.

The hosts took the opener on three sticks after it had been tied 21-21 in the Section 2 clash.

Gladiators then set 18 in the second, before Six Bells replied with an impressive 32.

This saw three players – Robin Busby (5), Lee Hazell (6) and Ray Townsend (6) – hit 17 dolls between them.

Bells completed the whitewash when winning the final leg 22-17.

Steve Walton clanged off 14 dolls (5-3-6) as Donnington Club B beat Bullnose Morris A 3-0 in scores of 18-17, 17-16, 28-20.

The anchor man was tested in the opener as he needed to hit five to win the opener, but showed he was more than up to the challenge.

In Section 3, Gladiators B made it four wins in a row when beating Six Bells B Kidlington 3-0.

But they came close to losing the opener, with Six Bells anchor man Seamus O’Malley blobbing when needing just two as they triumphed 16-15, 22-17, 18-17.

Red Lion B Yarnton and Vikings Sports B played out a thriller in Section 4.

Hosts Red Lion triumphed 3-0, but needed three sticks to win the first leg after it had been tied 13-13.

Not even a three or one-stick shoot-out could separate the sides in the second, the home team eventually going 2-0 up on six sticks, before taking the final leg 12-10.

The league’s two winless teams met in Section 6, with Duke of Monmouth beating Golden Ball 3-0 in scores of 13-10, 13-7, 17-10.

Paul Turner starred for the victors, clanging off 11 (5-2-4).

Catherine Wheel A hit only one more doll than White Horse, but it proved enough as they triumphed 2-1 in leg scores of 9-11, 9-8, 10-10 (three sticks).

Chris Cox was the only player to hit double figures in the Section 7 clash at Headington Conservative Club.

His ten-doll haul (3-4-4) helped the hosts beat White Hart Whytham 10-12, 15-3, 9-8.

RESULTS

GREENE KING OXFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE

Premier/Section 1: George A 1, New Club A 2; Gladiators A 3, Black Prince 0; Garsington Sports 1, Red Lion A 2; Swan A 3, Chequers A 0; Woodman 3, Swan B 0.

Section 2: Ampleforth Arms A 1, Donnington Club C 2; Red Lion A Marston 1, Six Bells D 2; Six Bells E Kidlington 3, Gladiators C 0; Red Lion A Kidlington 2, Tiddington Cricket Club 1; Donnington Club A 3, Bullnose Morris A 0.

Section 3: Queens Head 2, Masons A 1; Rose Hill Club 1, Six Bells A 2; Six Bells B 0, Gladiators B 3; Littlemore BL A 0, George B 3: New Club B 0, Seacourt Bridge 3.

Section 4: Catherine Wheel B 2, Cowley Workers Club 1; Red Lion B 3, Vikings Sports B 0; Vikings Sports A 3, Northway Club C 0; Bullnose Morris B 3, Blackbird 0; Green Road Club A 3, Swan C 0.

Section 5: Cricketers Arms Cowley 2, Donnington Club B 1; Tandem 2, Vikings Sports D 1; Vikings Sports C 2, Red Lion B 1; Masons Arms B 1, Littlemore BL B 2; Cricketers Arms Littleworth 3, Ampleforth Arms B 0.

Section 6: Chequers B 3, Green Road Club B 0; Kidlington FC A 2, Prince of Wales 1; White Horse 1, Catherine Wheel A 2; Bletchington Sports 0, Red Lion B 3; Duke of Monmouth 3, Golden Ball 0.

Section 7: Headington Con Club 2, White Hart Wytham 1; Northway Club B 1, East Oxford Con Club 2; Yarnton BL 1, Marston BL 2; Democrats Club 3, White Hart Wolvercote 0; Red Lion Cassington 3, Kidlington FC B 0.

Top scorers: 15 – D Walsh (Swan A), L Hazell (Six Bells E Kidlington). 14 – J Breakspear (Donnington Club C), S Walton (Donnington Club A), M Poulter (Red Lion A Yarnton). 13 – K Giles (Gladiators A), M Berry (Swan A), M Hewitson (Swan B), R Townsend (Six Bells E Kidlington), P Austin (Black Prince).

Sixers: S Wells, L Hazell, R Townsend (all Six Bells E Kidlington), J Breakspear (Donnington Club C), D Walsh, M Berry (both Swan A), S Walton (Donnington Club A), S Buckingham (Woodman), M Poulter (Red Lion A Yarnton).

Blobbers: J Mazey (Red Lion B Marston), L Butler (Northway Club B), B Garry (Headington CC), D Baker (New Club B), S Ings (Ampleforth Arms B), B Foster (Marston BL), D Woodward (White Hart Wolvercote).

BICESTER AND DISTRICT LEAGUE

(sponsored by Lodge Garage Mazda, Kingswood)

Premier/Div 1: Crown A 3, Pheasant Inn 0; Ex Services 1, Black Bull A 2; White Lion 3, Highfield SC 0; Black Bull B 1, Nut Tree 2.

Div 2: The Lion 0, Red Cow 3; Bell Bicester 2, Muddy Duck 1; Brill S&SC B 3, Prince of Wales 0; Bull Inn A 2, White Horse 1.

Div 3: Ashton Club 2, Bull & Butcher B 1; Barley Mow 1, Shakespeare 2; Butchers Arms 3, Brill S&SC A 0; Chearsley Cricketers 0, Chandos Arms 3.

Div 4: Fox 3, White Hart 0; Hundred Acres 0, Bull Inn B 3; Red Lion Finmere 2, Plough A 1; The Harrison 0, Crown Twyford 3.

Div 5: Bull & Butcher A 1, Crown B 2; Black Bull Divas 2, Eight Bells 1; Plough Casuals 0, Fountain 3; Blacks Head 2, Safari Garden 1.