THE George A were denied the Oxford & District Section One title in the final leg of the season.

In a dramatic week where positions changed constantly, the front-runners needed all three points at home to The Ampleforth Arms A to finish above The Blackbird A.

They won the first two legs 18-17, 23-15, but The George came up short by three dolls as they chased a set of 20. Kevin Stuart was on form again with 13 dolls (3-6-4).

Premier champions The Black Prince suffered only their second defeat as North Leigh FC triumphed 2-1.

They won the opening leg 27-25, but the west Oxfordshire side turned it around with wins of 27-21, 32-27. Geoff Glenister was in exceptional form, bagging himself a six in his 14-doll haul (4-4-6).

The Swan A finished runners-up after fighting back to beat Gladiators A 2-1.

Glads took the first leg on three sticks, but Swan levelled with a 26-24 victory and claimed the decider 29-23.

The Section Two title went to the wire as The Six Bells A held their nerve with a 2-1 win over Gladiators B.

They lost the first leg 15-13, but scores of 21-19, 21-19 were enough to claim the title by two points.

Red Lion B Kidlington had to match the Bells result to force a play-off, but opponents Red Lion Yarnton roared loudest as they won 20-17, 23-17, 24-20 to share the runners-up spot. Kidlington’s Steve Ward clanged off 13 dolls (3-5-5) to no avail.

Section Three went to the last leg as The Blackbird A claimed the title by a point, beating Red Lion Kidlington 2-1 while closest rivals Masons Arms A lost 2-1 at The Cricketers Littleworth.

Masons lost the first two legs 15-11, 20-17, so a win on three sticks after a 19-19 tie in the finale was academic.

There will be a play-off in Section Five after The Swan A lost 2-1 at The White Horse to finish level with Littlemore RFC. Chris Cox hit a baker’s dozen (6-4-3) for The White Horse.

OTHER WEEK 18 RESULTS

Premier/Section One: Garsington Sports 1, New Club 2.

Section Two: Seacourt Bridge 3, Donnington A 0; Chequers A 2, Vikings A 1; Queens Head 2, Chequers B 1.

Section Three: Ampleforth Arms B 3, George B 0; Catherine Wheel 3, Vikings B 0; Donnington B 1, Cowley Workers 2.

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

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

SIXERS: G Glenister (North Leigh FC), K Stuart (George A).

BLOBBERS: D Rees, H Morgan, B Woodward, B Woodward (White Hart), K Henly (Vikings B), K Philpott (Kidlington FC), H Parsons (Masons A).

TOP DOLL SCORERS: 14: G Glenister (North Leigh FC), 13: A Shepherd (New Club), S Ward (Red Lion B), K Stuart (George A), C Cox (White Horse).