Gladiators A battled their way into the semi-finals of the Johnsons Buildbase Oxford & District League’s Team Knockout Group B Cup with an aggregate points victory over Nelson B, writes PETE EWINS.

Holding a 3-2 lead going into the home leg, Gladiators went down 3-2 for a 5-5 aggregate score, but their greater points tally was enough to take them through.

Gladiators took the first game when Frank Cox beat Ian Gordon 6,740-3,050.

But Nelson hit back with Sean Stratford defeating Keith Gardner 6,180-4,780 and Lewis Stratford seeing off Bert Lovegrove 5,280-3,620 to make it 2-1 on the night 4-4 on aggregate.

Bob Pincombe then scored 10,260 with the break to level the leg and put Gladiators 5-4 up on aggregate.

Needing victory by just over 13,000 to take Nelson through, Dave Bartlett put up a terrific effort, but fell short with 9,920 in the last game, leaving Gladiators victorious.

It was a similar story in Group A where Horse & Harrow went through on aggregate points after their clash against Vikings finished 5-5 on aggregate.

Horse & Harrow took a 3-2 lead into the second leg only to be beaten 3-2 at home.

Meanwhile, Dave Rose won through to the next round in the Off The Spot Competition after a brace of wins.

He defeated Phil Clark at Berinsfield and then knocked out Kevin Godfrey at the Vikings.

In the Pairs Cups, Geoff and Craig Mace beat Richard Garrett and Terry Green at Headington Conservative Club.

In the Threes quarter-finals, Horse & Harrow’s Gary Johnson, Maxi McDonnell and Paul Lawson progressed with an aggregate 39,990-20,210 win over Vikings.

Jason Cattermole led the Vikings’ challenge with scores of 11,580 and 13,860.

The Oxfordshire Open takes place at Didcot Conservative Club on Saturday (10am).