LEAGUE leaders The Black Prince saw off The Blackbird in a high-quality contest in Oxford & District Premier Section.

There was some exceptional throwing on show as the table-toppers won the opening leg 28-19, before claiming the next 29-24.

The Prince were taken to three sticks in the third despite setting 30, with The Blackbird unable to match their haul of 12.

In all, the leaders racked up 87 dolls helped by 14 from Roger Goodall (5-4-5), 13 from Rob Bradford (3-4-6) and Jon Townsend chipping in with a six.

Willy Waite top-scored for The Blackbird with a baker’s dozen (3-6-4), while teammate Graham Hambridge added 11.

Mark Revill (4-4-6) and Mark Hewitson (4-4-5) starred as The Swan A edged out North Leigh FC 25-24, 26-24, 25-24.

New Club ended their five-week losing streak with a 3-0 win over a depleted Ampleforth Arms A, Simon Jones leading the way with 14 dolls (3-6-5).

Elsewhere, Donnington C beat Gladiators A 2-1 as Marc Joines (4-5-6) and Steve Greenough (5-5-4) impressed.

In Section Two, Steve Walton whipped off 14 dolls (5-5-4) for Donnington A against Six Bells A, but it was all in vain as they crashed to a 3-0 defeat.

The visitors won the opening leg on three sticks after a 14-14 tie, completing the whitewash with scores of 25-20 and 16-15.

Gladiators B had a fine 2-1 victory over title-chasers Queens Head, Keith Tanner (4-4-4) leading the way in the leg scores of 21-16, 16-21 and 24-9.

Red Lion A Yarnton kept their title hopes alive with a 2-1 win at Vikings A.

The visitors won a tight first leg, before Vikings set 30 in the second to level the scores.

Lion set 18 in the decider and anchor man Steve Brandon blobbed out with two to win, handing victory to the visitors.

OTHER WEEK 11 RESULTS

Section Two: Red Lion B 1, Chequers A 2; Chequers B 2, Seacourt Bridge 1.

Section Three: Masons Arms A 0, Blackbird A 3; Cowley Workers A 3, Cricketers 0; Ampleforth B 0, Catherine Wheel 3; Vikings B 3, George B 0; Red Lion A 1, Donnington B 2.

Section Four: Six Bells C 1, The Tandem 2; Duke of Monmouth 0, Masons Arms B 3; Red Lion B 1, Bletchington Sports 2; Kidlington FC 1, Six Bells B 2; Six Bells Quarry 2, Rose Hill 1.

Section Five: Northway C 1, White Horse 2; Red Lion 3, White Hart 0; Cricketers 2, Golden Ball 1; Littlemore RFC 2, Northway Club B 1.

SIXERS: M. Revill (The Swan A), M Joines (Donnington C), W Waite (The Blackbird B), R Bradford, J Townsend (The Black Prince), Reece Wain, M Holton (Vikings A), S Jones (New Club).

BLOBBERS: S Coupe (Six Bells B), S Brock (Bletchington Sports), M Murphy (Catherine Wheel), S Warmer (The George B), A Brown (Ampleforth B).

TOP DOLL SCORERS: 15: M Joines (Donnington C); 14: M Revill (Swan A), S Greenough (Donnington Club C), R Goodall (The Black Prince), S Walton (Donnington A), S Jones (New Club); 13: M Hewitson (Swan A), W Waite (The Blackbird B), R Bradford (The Black Prince), S Bell (Six Bells Quarry).