Report Week 15 18th August

There was some top notch throwing this week with three players bagging themselves a brace of sixes and
the handicap system coming into play big time with the top two teams in the Premier Section crashing to 3-0 defeats. Leaders The Six Bells visited The New Club and had to give a four doll start in a high scoring game where five sixes were hit. New Club set the opening leg with a massive 34 dolls including a six from Austin Atkinson. Six Bells responded well but fell one doll short with 33 despite Paul Sawyer and Steve Ward both hitting a six. The next leg Six Bells set with 29 but New Club claimed the leg with a reply of 30, anchor man Dave Crocker knocking off the winning doll with his last stick. New Club then gained maximum points in the final leg 28-24. Atkinson top scored with thirteen dolls 6-5-2 for The Club men, while Dick Walsh (4-4-6) Paul Sawyer (6-4-3) and Steve Ward (6-4-3) were top dogs for The Six Bells.
Holders The Cricketers failed to capitalise by also losing 3-0 to The Three Pigeons at home, where five sixes were also hit with two players clanging off a brace of sixes. Giving away a three doll start Cricketers lost the opening leg 27-29. Pigeons then set 32 in the second leg and despite a six from Philip Adams and Den Seller they fell three dolls short with 29. The final leg Pigeons took easily 33-23. Philip Adams for The Cricketers hit two sixes (6-6-4) as did Eddie Edwards for The Three Pigeons (4-6-6). Den Seller (Cricketers) also clanged off 16 dolls (5-6-5).
Jason Weller banged off two sixes in his first two throws for The George against The Gladiators and was on course for a maximum as he hit the first doll off with his final throw but then missed with his next two and last sticks to end up with a three for a total of fifteen dolls. George won the opening leg with an impressive 35-27 and then followed up in the next leg 33-27, Glad’s won the last leg 31-26.
Section One leaders Red Lion Eynsham also came crashing down to earth as they lost 3-0 at The Rowing Machine. Graham Wildson led the way with fourteen dolls (5-4-5) as they won all three legs 24-23, 25-21, 30-25. Keith Powell also whipped off fourteen dolls for The Red Lion (5-4-5).
Red Lion Marston are the first team to win a section as they beat The Punch Bowl 3-0 in Section 2 to go twelve points clear. Kevin Stuart led the way with fourteen dolls 6-4-4 as they won all three legs 23-17, 28-25, 23-18.
The top two clashed in Section 5 and it was The Fairview Inn ‘A’ that came away victorious from The Ampleforth Arms 2-1 and move to the top of the table. Ampleforth set an early pace winning the first leg 22-20 but Fairview levelled in the next leg 21-19. The final and deciding leg Ampleforth set with 20 and after a steady reply Fairview’s anchor man Glyn Millard was left five to win. A good effort from Millard saw him hit four dolls to send the leg into a three sticker which The Fairview won.
Section 7 leaders Northway Club ‘A’ lost at home to White Hart 2-1 but still need only two points to be crowned champions. They lost the first two legs 14-17, 13-15 but grabbed a point in the final leg 15-13. Jamie Hodges top scored for The White Hart with eleven dolls (4-3-4).
Only one point separates the top four teams in Section 8 and it’s the Nut Tree who leads the pack thanks to a 2-1 win at The Chandos Arms. Game was won in the first two legs 18-14, 20-13 but they failed to take maximum points losing the final leg 12-11. Richard Cooper was top dog for The Nut Tree with eleven dolls (5-4-2).
Queens Head fall to second spot after losing at home to The Masons. Queens started of well easily winning the opening leg 16-9. Masons stormed back in the next leg to level 18-14. Looking to win the leg and match Queens then set 15 in the final leg but Masons anchor man Joe Bandrowski squashed that hope by clanging off the three dolls needed to win the leg by the odd doll and move The Masons to equal second spot.
Folly Bridge also ties second spot after coming away from The Six Bells with maximum points. Top doll scorer Martyn Boulton led the way with ten dolls in the scores of 18-16, 19-14, 21-20.
The Blackbird & Black Horse tie top spot in Section 9. The Blackbird won the first two legs 21-14, 17-10 against The Chequers ‘B’ and then was set 18 in the final leg. Anchor man Dave Simms came to their rescue knocking off the four dolls to level the leg. Blackbird winning it on three sticks.
Black Horse fell to a 2-1 defeat at The Golden Ball ‘A’. They won the opening leg on three sticks after it was tied 12-12 but lost the next two 16-15, 15-13.
Section 11 leaders North Oxford Con Club ‘B’ are making hard work of getting the points to win the title. After going through the first ten games unbeaten they have now lost the last two, the latest at Kings Arms Kidlington 2-1, scores being 13-11, 12-17, 14-12.

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