PREMIER Division leaders Swan A slipped to a shock 2-1 defeat at Red Lion A Yarnton in a game where the wind dominated, writes ANDY BEAL.

The gusty conditions meant only three players reached double figures, with the table-toppers struggling to adapt.

Red Lion set and won the opening two legs 23-18, 20-16 before Swan snatched a point with a 23-18 success in the third.

Defeat saw the chasing pack close right in, with Gladiators A now just a point behind after their 3-0 win at Garsington Sports.

A six from Chris Jenkins helped his side to a 28-19 opening-leg win, before 24-18 and 24-22 victories saw them to a whitewash.

Barry Townsend, playing his first game this season, was top dog for Gladiators with 13 dolls (4-4-5).

Woodman are one point further back in third after a 2-1 home win over George A.

Neil Pratley hit a six to get the hosts off to a flying start, but their rivals hit back to level.

Woodman then claimed the deciding leg to stay in touch with the leaders.

Charlie Buckingham (3-5-4) hit 12 dolls for Woodman, with George’s Liam Purcell (1-5-5) scoring 11 after a bad start.

Jimmy Kent had no problem with the wind as he whipped off 14 dolls

(5-5-4) to guide New Club A to a 3-0 win at Chequers A.

Their leg scores of 26-18, 26-10,

23-16 leaves Chequers still seeking their first win of the season.

Black Prince got off to a flier at Swan B, taking the opening leg 29-12.

But that proved their only success of the night as Swan levelled in the next leg on three sticks after it was tied 21-21 and then won the deciding leg 23-22.

Mick Phipps (4-6-3) hit a baker’s dozen for Prince.

Six Bells D Kidlington are a point clear at the top of Section 2 after a 2-1 victory over Bullnose A.

They moved ahead of Donnington C, whose title ambitions were hit by a 2-1 defeat at Tiddington Cricket Club, for whom Mike Robinson and Pete Shepherd hit sixes in the final leg.

Gladiators B marched on in Section 3 with a 2-1 victory over struggling Littlemore British Legion A.

They are now four points clear of Queens Head, Seacourt Bridge and Six Bells A.

Just two points separate the top four sides in Section 4.

Catherine Wheel B are still the ones to catch after they returned to winning ways with a 2-1 success at Green Road A.

They won the first leg 11-10 and then sealed victory with a 19-14 triumph in the next.

However, they were denied the whitewash when Green Road took the third 13-10, despite the efforts of Bob Brown (4-4-3) who hit double figures for the first time.

Red Lion B Yarnton are now level on points after a 3-0 win over Vikings Sports A.

Cowley Workers B are just a point behind in third after a 2-1 triumph at Blackbird, thanks largely to Eamon Hanlon’s 13 dolls (3-5-5).

Bullnose Morris complete the top four, another point back, after their 2-1 success at Northway C.

Vikings Sports C moved into second spot in Section 5 with a routine 3-0 win over basement boys The Tandem with leg scores of 11-10, 15-7, 15-11.

Section 6 leaders Red Lion B Kidlington fell to only their second defeat when they lost 2-1 to Prince Of Wales, who are now in third, just two points off top spot.

RESULTS

OXFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Top doll scorers: 14 – J Kent (New Club A), D Simms & M Washington (Ampleforth Arms A). 13 – M Phipps (Black Prince), B Townsend (Gladiators A), E Hanlon (Cowley Workers), I Sharp (Red Lion B Marston), A Surman (Six Bells B).

Sixers: M Phipps (Black Prince), C Jenkins (Gladiators A), N Pratley (Woodman), M.Robinson & P Shepherd (Tiddington Cricket Club).

Blobbers: L Constable (Tandem), W Taylor (Bletchingdon Sports), F Delaney & E Mazey (Democrats Club), J Perks (Vikings Sports D), E Hopkins (Littlemore BL B).

BICESTER & DISTRICT LEAGUE

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

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

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

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

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

Sixer: J Launchbury (Crown A).