NEWLY-PROMOTED Cowley Workers A were edged out by visitors Croft Bar in their Section 1 opener.

After losing the pairs 2-1, the home side fought back to take the opening three singles matches in the Cowley Workers ODDA Winter League.

Darren Allen, Phil Cook and Keith Coleman were on target, but Croft hit back with a hat-trick of their own.

Michael Wilkes, Rob Thorne and Steve Fisher starred to seal a narrow 5-4 win.

TJ’s A cruised to a 7-2 home win in the all-Premier Section clash with Democrats.

Chequers Inn B and Red Lion fought out a closely-fought contest in Section 2.

Ade Cox (180) put Chequers ahead, but the visitors roared back to lead 3-1 thanks to Mark Aust, Neal Lowe (180) and Tony Wheeler.

Chris Webb and James Sutherland hit back to ensure the singles were shared, but Red Lion pinched the contest 5-4 thanks to a 2-1 pairs success.

Hosts George Bar finished strongly to claim a 6-3 victory in Section 3 over Bullnose Morris.

The opening singles matches were shared, with Steve Perks and Colin Hintons registering for the George, while Mark Wheeler and Simon Ballards replied.

But the home side put their foot down with Dan Jones and Carl Church opening up a cushion, before they ran out 2-1 winners in the pairs.

The ODDA summer finals will be held at Cowley Workers Club on Friday November, 15.

All trophies must be collected at the finals.

The men’s singles final will be decided by two players from Section 2 for the first time.

There will be a new name on the trophy, with Darren Allen, from Cowley Workers A, taking on fellow first-time finalist Brian Grant, from Challow CC.

Charlie Dodson (Cricketers Arms) is also in unknown territory in the ladies’ final, where she faces two-time champion Caroline Caldicott (Red Lion).

RESULTS

COWLEY WORKERS ODDA

MEN

Premier & Section 1: Cowley Workers A 4, Croft Bar 5; TJ’s A 7, Democrats Club 2; Kidlington Green SC 6, TJs Club B 3.

Section 2: Chequers Inn B 4, Red Lion 5; Queens Head A 6, Catherine Wheel 3.

Section 3: George Bar A 6, Bullnose Morris 3; Kings Arms 2, Cowley Workers C 7; Littlemore RFC 6, Cowley Workers B 3; Six Bells 3, Cricketers Arms 6.

Section 4: Duke of Monmouth 6, Queens Head B 3; George Lounge 9, TJ’s C 0; Masons Arms 5, Donnington CC 4.

Section 5: Ampleforth Arms 3, Prince of Wales 6; Butchers Arms 5, George Bar B 4; Florence Park CC 7, Rose Hill CC 2; White Hart 2, Marston RBL A 7.

LADIES

Section 1: Cricketers Arms 3, TJ’s A 6; TJ’s B 4, Red Lion 5; Florence Park CC A 2, Witney SC 7.

Section 2: Donnington CC B 6, Blackbird Leys BC 3; Northway CC 3, Kidlington FC B 6; Queens Head A 6, Catherine Wheel 3.

Section 3: Donnington CC A 6, Ampleforth Arms 3; Gladiators SC 4, Florence Park CC B 5; Masons Arms 3, George Lounge A 6.

Section 4: Kidlington FC A 4, Kings Arms 5; George Lounge B 6, New Club B 3; Cowley Workers B 4, Catherine Wheel 5.

Section 5: Cowley Workers A 4, Original Swan B 5; Vikings SC 4, Prince of Wales 5.

This week’s 180s

J Jukes 2 (TJ’s A); A Bowman (Democrats Club), A Cox (Chequers Inn B), N Lowe (Red Lion), M Florey (Six Bells), H Cannon (TJ’s B).

100-plus checkouts

R Kerry 116 (Kidlington Green SC), D Turner 108 (Littlemore RFC), D Allen 100 (Cowley Workers A), M Bray 100 (Queens Head A), S Willoughby 100 (TJ’s B).