Cricketers’ John Townsend clanged off 16 dolls as they came from behind to hold off Gladiators’ challenge with a 2-1 victory in the Premier Division/Section 1.

After Cricketers set 30, Gladiators could muster only 13, from their first four players.

However, Martin Cook bagged a six and anchorman Keith Weller whipped off five dolls to win the leg for Gladiators.

Cricketers levelled the clash at 31-26, before Gladiators set 32 in the decider.

But Cricketers stormed back to win the leg and with it the game with a score of 35.

After almost a season out, Dave Sawyer banged in 15 dolls (5-5-5) for George as they beat Rowing Machine 3-0.

The leg scores were 32-19, 30-21, 25-22. Steve Walton chipped in with a bakers’ dozen (5-6-2).

Six Bells C Kidlington grabbed maximum points against Three Pigeons.

Dick Walsh and Roger Goodall smashed 14 dolls (5-5-4) and Ady Cross and Alan Goodgame both hit a six as they took all three legs 28-26, 32-26, 31-26.

In Section 2, the last two legs were decided by a three-stick shoot-out in the Punch Bowl v Six Bells Quarry clash.

Punch Bowl won the first 17-14 with Six Bells winning the second leg on a three -stick shoot-out after tying 21-21.

The final leg was also tied 19-19, this time, Punch Bowl taking it on a three-stick shoot-out to make it 2-1.

Simon Somerscales for Punch Bowl top-scored with a dozen dolls (5-3-4).

Black Swan had to come from behind to beat Cowley Workers in a close contest. Workers won the opening leg 21-19, but lost the next leg on a three- stick shoot-out after the lsides were locked at 24-24. Black Swan won the decider 20-16.

Martin Green hit 14 dolls (4-5-5) for Black Swan.

Democrats Dan Thompson failed to trouble the doll in the first leg against Viking Sports in Section 3, but then clanged off all six in the next leg.

It was all in vain, though as Vikings won all three legs 19-11, 23-22, 23-17. Alan Davies for Vikings hit a steady 5-4-3.

In Section 4, North Oxford Con Club grabbed their first win of the season with a 3-0 success at King & Queen.

Martin Giles led the way with 12 dolls (5-3-4) in the 18-11, 16-15, 18-16 victory.

Phil Hounslow bagged a six for Chequers C to beat Cowley Con Club 3-0.

They won the opening leg on three sticks after a 20-20 tie won the next leg 25-23 and the final leg by the odd doll 19-18.

After a poor start, Duke Of Monmouth recovered to win the game 2-1 against Red Lion in Section 7.

They could manage only a score of seven in the first leg, but recovered brilliantly to triumph the next two 19-15, 17-10.

GREENE KING OXFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE Section 1: The George 3, Rowing Machine 0; Six Bells C 3, Three Pigeons 0; New Club A 0, Garsington Sports A 3; Gladiators A 1, Cricketers B 2; Chequers A 1, Red Lion A 2.

Section 2: Woodman Inn 3, Yarnton BL 0; Red Lion 3, New Club B 0; Punch Bowl 2, Six Bells 1; Cowley Workers 1, Black Swan A 2.

Section 3: Red Lion 2, Cross Keys 1; Kidlington Sports B 3, Quarry Gate B 0; Green Road Club 2, Seacourt Bridge 1; Garsington Sports B 3, Tiddington Cricket Club 0; Democrats Club A 0, Vikings Sports B 3.

Section 4: Red Lion B 2, Team Monarch 1; Masons Arms A 2, Chandos Arms B 1; King & Queen 0, North Oxford Con Club A 3; Cricketers Arms A 3, Donnington Club A 0; Chequers C 3, Cowley Con Club 0.

Section 5: Littlemore Rugby Club 0, Red Lion 3; Golden Ball B 2, Gladiators B 1; Fairview Inn A 2, Whitmore Arms 1; Ampleforth Arms 3, Crown A 0.

Section 6: Red Lion Yarnton 2, Jolly Sportsman 1; Red Lion Islip 3, Turners Arms 0; Red Lion C Eynsham 3, Red Lion A Kidlington 0; Quarry Gate A 2, Kidlington Sports A 1; Nelson B 2, Kennington Club A 1.

Section 7: White Hart 0, Priory B 3; Vikings Sports C 2, Ashton Club 1; Six Bells B 2, Red Lion B Cassington 1; Northway Club A 3, Nelson A 0; Duke Of Monmouth 2, Red Lion Wolvercote 1.

Section 8: Queens Head B 1, Red Lion 2; Nut Tree 0, Folly Bridge Inn 3; Donnington Arms 2, Fairview Inn B 1; Cricketers A 2, Six Bells A 1; Chandos Arms A 1, Masons Arms B 2.

Section 9: Donnington Club B 0, Golden Ball A 3; Cavalier 1, Black Horse 2; Catherine Wheel B 2, Chequers B 1; Brill Club A 1, Northway Club B 2.

Section 10: Red Lion A 0, Cricketers Arms B 3; Marston BL 2, Shelley Arms 1; Crown B 1, Brill Club B 2.

Section 11: North Oxford Con Club B 3, Green Ox 0; Kings Arms Wheatley 3, Eight Bells 0; Black Swan B 1, Hollybush A 2.

Section 12: Kite 2, Priory A 1; Red Lion B 1, Original Swan C 2; Kennington Club B 1, Kings Arms A 2; Hollybush B 1, Kidlington Sports C 2.

SIXERS: C Proudfoot, M Cook (Gladiators A), J Townsend (Cricketers B), S Walton (George), A Cross, A Goodgame (Six Bells C), M Berry (Red Lion A Eynsham), T O’Brien (Black Swan A), B Williams (Kidlington Sports B), D Thompson (Democrats A), D Britnell (Green Road Club), P Hounslow (Chequers C), I Sharp (Chandos Arms B).

BLOBBERS: G Quigley (Turners Arms), J Leahey (Duke Of Monmouth), M Patterson (The Crown B), B Harwood (Red Lion A Cassington), D Wittchowci (Shelley Arms), M Keady (Black Swan B), M Sinclair, M Ash (Hollybush A), H Ladell, F Merauld, R Coleman (Green Ox), D Newman (Kite), C Blake (Red Lion B), L Wilton (Hollybush B), J Dykes (Kings Arms A).

WARBURTON’S BICESTER & DISTRICT LEAGUE Div 1: Highfield SC A 2, Football Club 1; Black Bull B 1, Bull Launton 2; Shakespeare 3, Prince of Wales 0; Crown B 0, Black Bull A 3.

Div 2: Barley Mow 2, Bull & Butcher A 1; Red Cow A 2, Red Lion 1; Ashton Club 0, Highfield SC B 2; Bull & Butcher B 3, Fountain 0.

Div 3: Royal Oak 0, Crown A 3; Six Bells A 0, Hundred Acres 3; White Hart 2, Sow and Pigs 1; Hobgoblin 1, Red Cow B 2.

Div 4: White Horse A 2, White Horse B 1, Nightingale 3, Six Bells B 0; KEA 1 Seven Stars 2.

Sixers: Eddie Gordon, Keith Vickers.

ABINGDON & DISTRICT LEAGUE Prem/Section A: Spread Eagle B 5, Tandem 1; Abingdon Legion 0 Abingdon United A 6; Spread Eagle 0, Fox Steventon 6; Berinsfield SC A 0, Steventon Sports 6; Red Lion Drayton A 3, Cumnor Cricket Club 3.

B Section: Abingdon United D 0, Abingdon United B 6; Plough East Hendred 0, Red Lion Drayton C 6; College Oak A 4, White Horse 2; Admiral Benbow 6, Abingdon Con Club 0.

C Section: Waggon & Horses 3, Plough Long Wittenham 3; Abingdon United C 6, Brewery Tap A 0; White Horse A 4, Flowing Well 2; The Hatchett 6, The Fox Denchworth 0; Magic Midget 5, Eight Bells Eaton A 1.

D Section: Dean Court SC 2, Volunteer Grove 4; Wheatsheaf Didcot 4, Bowyers Arms 2; Abingdon Arms 2, North Star B 4; Vine Cumnor 3, Barley Mow 3.

E Section: North Star A 4, Stanford FC 2; Old Anchor 6, North Star C 0; Eight Bells Eaton B 2, Harwell Legion 4; Brewery Tap B 2, Chequers Charney Bassett 4.

F Section: Red Lion Drayton B 6, Magic Midget B 0.

G Section: Water Witch 0 Didcot Con Club 6; Crown Marcham 4 College Oak B 2; Steventon Sports B 6, Cross Keys Wallingford 0.

H Section: North Star D 6, Shoulder of Mutton 0; Shears Wantage 0, Didcot Labour Club 6; Good Lake Arms 4, Plough Inn Hanney 2; Fitzharris Arms 4, Fleur De Lys 2; GWSC Didcot 2, Rose & Crown 4.

Sixes: G Brown, B Duff, C Brind, B Moody, D Butler.