Rutherford (RAL) A joined Drayton A at the top of the Didcot & District League Division 1 table after beating Marlborough A 6-4, writes Dan Church.

Trebles from Chris Lansley and Neil Hurford ensured the visitors whis-ked away to their fifth victory of the season.

Drayton spurned the opportunity to extend their advantage at the top after stumbling to a 5-5 draw at home to Abingdon A.

Karl Bushell (3) put the hosts ahead, but braces from Abingdon’s Chris Smith and Paul Garner pinned back the leaders.

Drayton B soared six points clear at the top of Division 2 after marching to two victories in a week.

First, they hammered second-placed RAL C 9-1 on their home table thanks to maximums from David Hudson and Geoff Cherrill, before securing a 6-4 away win over their C team.

Antony Krason’s treble looked set to inflict a third defeat of the season for the leaders.

but doubles from trio Hudson, Cherrill and Stephen Gardner helped Drayton scramble home.

Moreton D opened up a four-point gap at the top of Division 3 after brushing off hosts Letcombe B 6-4.

Doubles from Hiten Patel and Daniel Artene helped Letcombe to overtake Gerald Batt-Rawden, who bagged yet another maximum for the hosts as he maintained his 100 per cent start to the campaign.

Marlborough F destroy-ed Upton B 10-0 in Division 4.

Maximums from trio Ron Wright, Deryck Cross-ley and Steve Cobrin completed the whitewash for the home side, leaving them just four points off top-spot despite staying put in fourth.

RESULTS

Div 1: Marlborough A 4, RAL A 6 (C Lansley 3, N Hurford 3); Marlborough C 6 (R Powell 3), Moreton B 4; Moreton A 6 (N Pattman 3), Marlborough B 4; Drayton A 5 (K Bushell 3), Abingdon A 5; RAL B 5, Letcombe A 5 (R Taylor 3).

Div 2: Drayton B 9 (D Hudson 3, G Cherrill 3), RAL C 1; RAL C 5, Marlborough D 5 (T Chamberlain 3); Moreton C 5, Drayton D 5 (A Rodman 3); Sutton A 8 (J Lin 3), RAL D 2; Drayton C 4 (A Krason 3), Drayton B 6.

Div 3: Sutton B 6 (A Nicholson 3), Sutton C 4; Letcombe B 4 (G Batt-Rawden 3), Moreton D 6; Wallingford 6 (J Turner 3), Grove A 4.

Div 4: Marlborough F 10 (R Wright 3, D Crossley 3, S Cobrin 3), Upton B 0; Letcombe D 9 (J Croft 3, M Emanuel 3), Moreton E 1; Drayton F 9 (A Lovelock 3, P Weir 3), Letcombe D 1; Abingdon D 5, RAL E 5 (E Thomas 3).

Div 5: Grove B 5, Marcham 5 (R Butt 3); Drayton H 1, Moreton F 9 (J Rau 3, M Rau 3); Drayton G 6 (L Waddup 3), Grove B 4.