NEWCOMERS Waggon & Horses got off to a winning start in the opening match of the new Cowley Workers Club ODDA season.

Fighting back from 2-1 and 3-2 behind, victories in two pairs rubbers secured a thrilling 5-4 win at Croft.

Challow British Legion suffered their heaviest defeat when hosts TJ’s A recorded a stunning 9-0 win.

Newly-promoted Cricketers Arms C lost 6-3 to Chequers in Section 2, despite winning the opening leg through Trevor Ballard.

But singles successes for Dale Jacobs, Darren Beavans, Craig Inness and Mick Kennett put them on the way to victory.

In the ladies’ section, Florence Park Community Centre saw off TJ’s A 6-3 thanks to singles wins from Carol Bowman, Lyn Padbury, Jackie Merritt and Helen Pitsons.

Blackbird Leys Bowls Club trailed 3-0 at Northway Social Club in Section 2 after Suzanne Jones, Denise Presley and Michelle Wicks won the opening matches.

Nicola Merritt, Dannie Phipps and Emma Baldwin levelled, before a 2-1 pairs success secured a thrilling victory.

COWLEY WORKERS CLUB ODDA RESULTS

Premier & Section 1: Croft Bar 4, Waggon & Horses 5; TJ’s A 9, Challow RBL 0; Kidlington FC 5, Democrats 4.

Section 2: Chequers Inn A 6, Cricketers Arms A 3; Cowley Workers Club A 7, George Bar A 2; TJ’s B 6, Black Bull 3.

Section 3: TJ’s D 5, Cricketers Arms A 4; Donnington CC C 3, Chequers Inn B 6; George Lounge 7, Red Lion 2.

Section 4: Marston RBL A 6, Masons Arms 3; Littlemore Rugby Club 3, Original Swan A 6; Duke Of Monmouth 5, Donnington CC B 4.

Section 5: Horspath CC 6, New Club 3; Kings Arms 6, TJ’s C 3; George Bar B 5, Butchers Arms A 4; BCA Berinsfield 5, Cowley Workers Club 4.

Section 6: Ampleforth Arms 4, George Lounge B 5; Prince Of Wales D 6, Rose Hill 3; Butchers Arms B 3, Marston RBL 6.

Ladies Premier & Section 1: Florence Park CC B 6, TJ’s 3; Florence Park Lounge 6, Rose Hill CC 3.

Section 2: Northway SC 4, Blackbird Leys Bowls Club 5; Bletchingdon SSC 3, Donnington CC B 6; Donnington CC A 5, Gladiators Club 4.

Section 3: Catherine Wheel 6, Six Bells 3.

Section 4: New Club A 2, Florence Park C 7; East Oxford CC 3, Chequers Inn 6.

Section 5: Kidlington FC A 6, Cowley Workers Club A 3; Red Lion 6, New Club B 3; Vikings SC 6, TJ’s 3.

180s: K Wilkes 2; M Laverack 2 (both Croft Bar); P Smith (Kidlington FC); D Smith (TJ’s A); T Weatherall; B Brown; N Baldwin (all George Bar A); J Buck (Cowley Workers A); A Haslam (TJs B); M Kennett (Chequers A); M Worral (Donnington CC C); M Woodley (Cricketers Arms A); R Beauchamp (Marston RBL B).

100-plus finishes: 144 A Webb (Chequers B), 140 M Ashburner (Cricketers Arms C), 132 S Wilkes (Croft), 121 A Haslam (Challow RBL), 121 S Gosling (TJ’s), 120 D Wyatt (Challow RBL), 118 A Quinn (TJ’s A), 118 A Phelps (Berinsfield CC), 117 T Wheeler (Black Bull), 116 J Ewins (Ampleforth Arms), 113 T Oliver (Cowley Workers A) 110 D Butler (George Bar A), 110 S Ashburner (Cricketers Arms C), 110 M Tilling (Donnington CC B), 110 N Jackson (Donnington CC C), 105 P Smith (Kidlington FC).