Kevin Baker went agonisingly close to the magic 18 for The Cricketers as they beat The White House 2-1.

To make matters worse, it was with his final stick that he missed, as it flew just over the top of the doll.

Cricketers took the opening two legs, 36-27, 34-31 and lost the final leg 28-30.

Barry Townsend and Den Sellar both hit sixes, as did Alan Goodgame (15 dolls) for The White House.

Keith Powell and Martin Herbert both hit a six in their 2-1 win at Garsington Sports.

Seventeen-year-old Luke Purcell showed his elders how it should be done by clanging off a six in his 12 dolls to help New Club defeat The Woodman 2-1.

In Section 2, Andy Kay was in top form with 16 dolls (6-5-5) as Royal Sun beat The Plough 2-1. They won the opening leg 22-15, but Plough levelled in the second leg 21-15 before Sun won the decider 20-18.

Tiddington Cricket Club were bowled out for a duck as visitors Black Swan took all three legs 23-19, 22-16, 24-18.

Despite captain Mick Rudman failing to trouble the doll, Vikings B still managed to beat Gardiner Arms 2-1 in Section 3.

Steve Reeves with 13 and Robin Charlton with 14 bailed their captain out in the leg scores of 23-17, 23-19, 22-26.

Phil Hounslow was in top form as he hit 15 dolls (6-4-5) to help Quarry Gate come from behind to beat The Bull in Section 4.

Rose Hill Dwarfs just got the better of Golden Ball in a close match.

Rose Hill took the first leg 18-17 and then set the next leg with 12, but Golden Balls anchor man, Monty Morgan, hit the two dolls to take it 13-12. Rose Hill easily took the deciding leg 20-13.

OXFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE Premier/Sec 1: Cricketers B 2, White Hse A 1; Garsington Sp 1, Red Lion A 2; Glad A 0, George A 3; New Club A 2, Woodman 1.

Sec 2: TIdd Cricket 0, Black Swan A 3; Geroge B 2, Red Lion 1; Plough 1, Royal Sun 2; Turner 1, New Club B 2; Kid Sp B 2, Six Bells 1.

Sec 3: Gardiner Arms 1, Vikings B 2; Donnington A 2, Quarry Gate B 1; Chequers B 2, North Ox Con 1; Green Rd Club 1, Fairview A 2; White House B 1, Cowley Con Club 2.

Sec 4: Red Lion Islip 0, Chequers A 3; Red Lion Eyn 2, Masons A 1; Rose Hill Dwarfs 2, Golden Ball B 1; Quarry Gate A 2, Bull 1; Vikings A 0, Cowley Work 3.

Sec 5: Lord Kitchener B 1, Kidlington Sp A 2; Chandos A 1, Red Lion Gars 2; Crown A 1, Dogwood 2; Whitmore Arms 3, Highfield A 0; Blackbird 1, Vikings C 2.

Sec 6: Brill Sp A 3, Team Monarch 0; Golden Ball A 0, Democrats 3; Nut Tree 1, Nelson A 2; Crick A 2, Queens 1.

Sec 7: Eight Bells 2, Crown B 1; Plough B 1, Barley Mow 2; Blacks Head 0, Red Cow 3; Unicorn 1, Ashton 2; Highfield B 1, Brill Club 2.

Sec 8: Red Lion Wend 1, Crick A 2; Six Bells A 1, Gladiators B 2; Jolly Postboys 2, Kings Arms 1; Black Horse A 2, Chandos B 1.

Sec 9: Littlemore Rugby 0, Red Lion B Cass 3; Nelson B 3, Headington BL 0; Fairview B 1, Cavalier A 2; Somerset Arms 3, Shelly 0; Masons 1, Red Lion Wolv 2.

Sec 10: Red Lion A 1, Cath Wheel 2; Yarnton BL 3, Crick B 0; Kid Sp C 1, Northway 2; Fox 2, Donn B 1; Red Lion C 0, Plough 3.

Sec 11: Black Swan B 2, White Hart 1; Jolly Sportsman 2, George A 1; Folly Bridge 0, Black Horse B 3; Chequers D 1, Donn Arms 2.

Sec 12: PoW Iffley 0, Six Bells B 3; Railway Club 3, Kite 0; George B 2, PoW Horspath Rd 0; Cavalier B 0, Oxford Rugby 3.

Sixes: K Baker (2), D Sellar, B Townsend (Crick), A Goodgame (White Hse), K Powell, M Herbert (Red Lion Eyn), M Cook (Gladiators), S Walton (George), L Purcell (New Club), D Hopkins (Crick A), A Kay (Royal Sun), C Edgington (White Hse), P Hounslow (Quarry Gate), R Jacobs (Northway), A King (Red Lion).

Blobbers: M. Rudman (Vikings B), P Harris (Woodman), C Young (Brill Club), M Cresry (Demos), M Tuck (Crown B), S McGonigal (Plough), B Timms, B Hendron (Blacks Head), B Lashley (Kings), S Bull (Cricketers), S Green (Northway), B Spacey, J Wilmott (Fox), G Daley (Folly Bridge), R Castle (PoW Iffley), R Ash (Kite), L Corbett (Cavalier B), S Chambers (Highfield), G Gutierree, J Perron (Unicorn).

SE OXON FRIDAY LEAGUE Premier/Sec 1: Lamb A 5, Plough 1; Black Swan 5, Garsington SC 1; George 4, Bull A 2; Quarry Gate 3, Tiddington 3.

Sec 2: Black Horse 2, Crown B 4; Six Bells 6, Star & Garter 0; Queens 4, Wheatsheaf 2; Cricketers 3, Tiddington 3.

Sec 3: Fleur de Lys 3, New Club B 3; Lamb B 4, Kings Head 2; Plough 6, Monarch 0; Cricketers 5, Rising Sun 1.

Sec 4: Crown B 1, Watlington SC 5; Carriers B 6, Carriers A 0.

Sixes: C Webb, S Lockey, G Anderson.