IT was a case of who roared the loudest as Section One leaders Red Lion Cassington fell to their first defeat of the season when Red Lion Kidlington came from behind to beat them 2-1.

Cassington won the opening leg 22-17 and then set 17 in the second. In reply, three dolls from anchor man Alan Goodgame saw Kidlington over the line by the odd doll. In the deciding leg, Cassington set 18. A great start from Kidlington saw them hit 12 at the halfway stage, however a couple of blobs left Goodgame needing five to win. He went one better to hit a maximum six and top scored with a baker’s dozen (4-3-6).

Premier champions The Black Prince came away from The New Club with a maximum win. Hitting 86 dolls in total, they swept away their hosts 29-26, 30-24, 27-23 and moved back to the top of the table. Mick Phipps (5-3-5) and Roger Goodall (5-4-4) top scored.

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Section One’s Rose Hill B beat Premier’s Swan A on their own patch 3-0, winning the legs 24-19, 23-21, 20-19. Graham Hambridge (6-5-1) and Gary Coulthard (3-4-5) both hit a dozen dolls for Rose Hill, while Lee Thompson’s 13 dolls (4-5-4) were all in vain.

In Section Two, Gladiators B’s Keith Tanner clanged off 13 dolls (5-3-5), however it could not prevent the Glad’s from falling to a 2-1 home defeat against Chequers A. Mark Tilling had a mixed night for Seacourt Bridge in their 3-0 loss at Red Lion B Kidlington. He hit three dolls in the first leg and then blobbed out in the next. In the final leg, he redeemed himself with a maximum six. Red Lion won the legs 19-16, 19-10, and the last one on three sticks after an 18-18 tie.

The Blackbird won 2-1 at home against Donnington Club A. The first leg had to be decided on one stick in the Blackbird’s favour after it was tied 16-16, and again on three sticks. Blackbird then hit a respectable 23 in the second leg, in which Donnington could only hit 14 in reply. Donnington won the final leg 18-15.

Donnington Club D rule the roost in Section Three and remain unbeaten after they beat Rose Hill A 2-1. Donnington won the opening leg 18-14, with Rose Hill hitting straight back in the second 15-14. Donnington won the final leg 15-14, leaving Rose Hill still seeking their first win.

OTHER RESULTS

Section Four: Masons Arms B 2, Duke Of Monmouth 1; Northway Club B 2, Six Bells B 1; Kidlington FC A 2, The Swan C 1; Cricketers Arms 2, George B 1; Littlemore Rugby Club 1, Cowley Workers 2.

Section Five: Headington Con Club 3, Golden Ball 0; Democrats Club 0, Catherine Wheel 3; Six Bells C 3, Northway Club C 0.

SIXERS: M.Tilling (Seacourt Bridge); A Goodgame (Red Lion Kidlington); G Hambridge (Rose Hill B).

BLOBBERS: N Lovegrove (Donnington A); R Blacker (Vikings Sports); P River, F Delaney, G Wood (Democrats Club); M.Stimpson (Catherine Wheel); S Hannon (Cowley Workers); K.Webb (Donnington B).

TOP DOLL SCORERS: 13: K Tanner (Gladiators B); L Thompson (Swan A); A Goodgame (Red Lion Kidlington); R Goodall, M Phipps (Black Prince).