But his tally of 5-6-5 was still not enough to prevent opponents Seacourt Arms claiming a 2-1 victory.

It was close in all three legs, with only two dolls separating the teams in each.

Kings Arms took the first 20-18 but lost the next two 22-20, 19-17, with Seacourt's anchor man Robin Charlton hitting the winning dolls.

Also in Section 2, Black Swan's veteran Reg Costar, 75, hit his best ever score of 11 (4-5-2) as they beat Plough 2-1 with leg scores of 21-16, 21-24 and 26-12.

The Green brothers, Dave and Martin, chipped in with 13 and 11 dolls respectively for the winners.

In the top section, newcomers Squire Bassett beat Premier outfit Highfield Club 2-1, with Ray Dempsey and Paul Sawyer both hitting a six in their 13 dolls. The leg scores were 25-26, 20-17 and 30-22.

It was unlucky 13 for Red Lion's Bryan Hunt in Section 3 as he whipped off a six in his baker's dozen, but still finished oin the losing side 3-0 at Turners Arms.

Neil Ireson was in top form for the home side with 14 dolls (5-5-4). Arms proved too strong in the 29-16, 24-18, 25-23 scoreline.

Littlemore Rugby Club and Democrats 16-16-16 both hit 48 dolls in their Section 4 clash, but it was the consistent throwing by Demos, who threw 16 in each leg, that saw them sneak through 2-1.

Fairview took all three legs at home to Littlemore British Legion. Alan Gardiner had mixed fortunes for the winners, as he hit two ones followed by a perfect six.

Team Monarch are finding their promotion from Section 11 to Section 5 hard going, after losing 3-0 at New Club. Russell Simmonds top-scored for the winners with 4-3-3.

Red Lion, Garsington, had no problems as they took all three legs at home to Chandos Arms 15-13, 18-10, 17-12. Rob Tipping led the way with 11 dolls.

Anchor man Ady Varney was the hero for Cavalier as they beat Kidlington Sports 2-1 in Section 9.

With the game nicely poised at 1-1, Varney hit the three dolls needed to take the decider 13-12. Sports' Dave Edmonds came out on top with nine dolls.

In Section 10, Shelly's Phil Chaundy hit 12 dolls in a 16-14, 18-12, 13-14 victory over Jolly Postboys He was well supported by Graham Moon with 11 dolls.

Wolvercote British Legion came away from Red Lion Cassington with a 2-1 win.

Legion won the first leg 12-7, but lost the next on a three-stick shoot-out before taking the final and deciding leg 13-12, with Shaun Bricknell whipping off the winning doll.

Derek Brook helped himself to a maximum six in his dozen dolls in Section 12 as Red Lion Islip took all three legs away at Folly Bridge Inn 17-9, 16-9, 12-11.

League newcomers Blue Mile got their first points with a 2-1 win over The Kings Arms Ladies in Section 13. Russell Brown throwing well for seven dolls in the legs of 8-5, 4-5 and 6-5.

Premier & Section 1: The George 0, Cricketers Arms 3; Garsington Sports 3, The Fox 0; The Plough A 2, Three Pigeons 1; White House 3, New Club 0; Squire Bassett 2, Highfield Club A 1.

Section 2: Kings Arms 1, Seacourt Bridge 2; Royal Sun 1, The Woodman 2; Black Swan 2, The Plough 1; Cowley Workers 2, Duke Of Monmouth 1; The Star A 2, Red Lion A 1.

Section 3: The Turners Arms 3, Red Lion 0; Vikings B 1, Six Bells 2; Gardiners Arms 2, Green Road Club 1; Marston BL 1, Lord Kitchener A 2.

Section 4: Littlemore Rugby 1, The Democrats 2; Golden Ball B 1, Whitmore Arms 2; Masons A 1, Star & Garter 2; Fairview A 3, Littlemore BL 0; Cowley Con Club 1, Kidlington Sports B 2.

Section 5: Red Lion A 3, Chandos Arms B 0; Tiddington CC 3, Quarry Gate A 0; New Club B 3, Team Monarch 0; The Crown A 2, Bicester Town FC 1 .

Section 6: Quarry Gate B 1, Kings Arms 2; Lord Kitchener 1, Post Office 2; Highfield Club B 3, The Bull 0; The Nut Tree 3, Vikings A 0; North Oxford Con1, Black Swan 2.

Section 7: Blacks Head Yankees 0, Crown B 3; The Red Cow 3, The Star A 0; Brill Sports Club 2, Blacks Head Bombers 1; Ashton Club 2, Prince Of Wales 1; The Star B 3, Barley Mow 0.

Section 8: Chandos Arms A 2, New Club C 1; Ampleforth Arms 3, Kennington Club A 0; Northway Club 2, Catherine Wheel B 1.

Section 9: Kidlington Sports A 1, The Cavalier 2; Yarnton BL 1, Golden Ball A 2; Gladiators B 3, Shelly B 0; Democrats B 3, Black Boy A 0; The George 1, The Nelson A 2.

Section 10: Shelly Arms A 2, Jolly Postboys 1; Red Lion Yar 2, White House B 1; Red Lion B Brill 1, Red Lion Wend 2; Donnington Club B 1, Red Lion Eyn 2; Red Lion B Cass 1, Wolvercote BL 2.

Section 11: Cherwell Club 3, Red Lion 0; White Hart 1, Masons B 2; Cricketers 2, Vikings C 1; The Nelson B 3, The Fairview B 0.

Section 12: Folly Bridge Inn 0, Red Lion Islip 3; Cricketers A 1, The Bullnose 2; John Radcliffe Club 0, Woodstock Arms 3; Kennington Club B 1, Cherwell Club B 2; Jolly Sportsman 0, Red Lion B 3.

Section 13: Red Lion B Mar 3, Friar 0; Quarry Gate C 2, Squire Bassett B 1; Blue Mile 2, Kings Arms Ladies 1.

Sixers: D Sawyer (George), G Townsend (Cricketers), T Greenaway (Garsington Spt), C Pollard (Kings Arms), J Cooper (DOM), B Munt (Red Lion), A Gardiner (Fairview), D Brook (Red Lion), R Dell (Plough), D Walsh (White House), P White (New Club), RTownsend , P Sawyer (Squire Bassett).

Blobbers: M Lewis (Royal Sun), M Thompson (Democrats), P Bryant (Kings Arms), R Alto (Blacks Head Yankees), A Harris (Brill Sports), B Moss, R Merry (Blacks Head Bombers), J Pratley (Yarnton BL), PThomas (Bullnose), T Ball (Friar),

M Beauchamp (Squire Bassett), S Whales (Barley Mow), N Mac, T Baker (Kings Arms Ladies), R Clark, B Langridge (Blue Mile), N Cooper (Black Boy), I Thomas (George), D Perkins (Fairview).