22nd July report

Neil Lyon was so close to hitting the maximum 18 dolls as Three Pigeons beat Garsington Sports 2-1 in the Premier Section. Lyon missed with his first stick by a mile and then clanged off the next seventeen, and for good measure hit a six in the beer leg. In a high scoring game Pigeons won the opening leg 28-27, lost the next leg 27-30 and won the final and deciding leg 32-27.Martin Ruffels top scored for Garsington Sports with 14 dolls, 5-5-4.
Section One side Vikings Sports almost pulled off the shock of the season as they just lost out to Premier unbeaten leaders The Cricketers. Vikings set 24 in the first leg, which should have been easy pickings for The Cricketers but with five players already thrown, they only had 11 on the board. Geoff Townsend (4) Kevin Baker (5) and Den Sellar (4) came to their rescue to tie the leg 24-24. Cricketers won the three stick play off. Vikings won the second leg 28-24 with Gary Smith hitting a six in the process. Cricketers won the game in the final leg 28-21.

In Section Two Gladiator’s Martin Cook hit a bakers dozen (6-3-4) as they beat Cricketers ‘A’ Littleworth 3-0. Leg scores 20-18, 26-19, 21-20.
Eamon Hanlon also hit 13 dolls 5-4-4 for Cowley Workers but it was all in vain as they lost at home to The Dogwood 2-1. The Workers set 19 in the first leg but it was not quite enough as The Dogwoods anchor man Robin Busby whipped of the three dolls needed to win the leg by the odd doll. Workers levelled in the next leg winning it 24-22 but again in the final leg only set 19, this time The Dogwood going past by two dolls with a score of 21.
Turners Arms John Weller clanged off 13 dolls 6-3-4 as did Steve James (5-3-5) for The George but it was The Turners Arms who won all three legs 25-20, 26-20, 22-15.

In Section 3 Highfield Club’s Keith Vickers was the hero with 14 dolls (4-6-4) as they came from behind to beat Green Road Club 2-1. Green Road Club won the opening leg 22-18 and then set 19 in the next leg. Highfield replied slowly and left Vickers six to tie the leg. After tickling the doll with his first stick he then whipped off the next five not only to tie the leg but win it on three sticks. They then won the deciding leg 19-17.

North Oxford Con Club dented Section 4 leader’s title ambitions Whitmore Arms by beating hem 3-0. Mick Rowe led the way with a steady 4-4-4 as they won all three legs 19-16, 18-16, 17-14.

There’s now a three way tie in Section 5 after Democrats Club beat The King & Queen 2-1. Democrats won the first leg 22-20 with Chris Jenkins hitting a six. King & Queen levelled in the second leg 24-19 with Democrats winning the match in the final leg 17-16. Jenkins was top dog with 13 dolls

Despite John Honour hitting 13 dolls ( 5-5-3) Section 6 leaders Red Lion Brill crashed 2-1 away at The Ampleforth Arms. Red Lion lost the opening leg 17-18 won the next 17-14 but lost the deciding leg 14-15.

In Section 7 the first two legs between Blacks Head Inn and The Unicorn Inn were tied 7-7, 6-6, and had to be decided on three sticks, with Unicorn Inn winning them both. They then wrapped up maximum points in the final leg 8-5.
Graham Morton was in consistent form as he banged of a dozen dolls 4-4-4 lead The Chequers ‘C’ to a 3-0 away win at Red Lion ‘C’ Eynsham. In Section 8 .They won all three legs 16-11, 18-15, 15-10.

The Jolly Postboys move up to second spot in Section 9 with a comprehensive win at home to The Blackbird. Dave Soanes was in top form as he hit twelve dolls 5-4-3 in the leg scores of 19-11, 19-13, 17-12.

The Fairview ‘B ‘top the section with a 2-1 win at home to Ashton Club. They lost the first leg 11-10 won the next 10-9 and came back strong to win the final and deciding leg 18-11.
Joe Bandrowski was in cracking form for The Masons Arms ‘B’ in Section 10 has he hit thirteen dolls (3-5-5) but they still lost at home to The Chequers 2-1. Masons lost the first two legs 15-14, 18-12 and grabbed a consolation point in the final leg 13-12.

In Section 11 Headington British Legions anchor man almost pulled of the anchor mans dream when needing six to win the opening leg against The Black Horse, he missed with his first stick but then whipped of the next five to tie the leg. It was all in vain though as Black Horse won the leg on three sticks. The legion came back well to take the next two legs 14-10, 12-9. Cox ended up with 11 dolls (5-4-2).
Prince Of Wales ‘B’ knocked The George Botley of the top in Section 12 by beating them 2-1. The game was all over after the first two legs were won by POW 8-7, 13-8. The George grabbed a point in the final leg 10-4.

It was not happy 21st birthday for Kings Arms ‘B’ Lucy McNally as she failed to trouble the doll in the first leg hit a 1&2 in the next two legs and lose 2-1 to White Hart Wytham in Section 12.

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