Singles Report

REPORT FROM SINGLES COMPETITION PLAYED ON WEDNESDAY 29th JULY

There could be a new name on the Oxford singles trophy as Pete Shepherd & Andy Lewis (Ampleforth Arms) Geoff Townsend & Kevin Baker (Gladiators) Terry Stuart & Lee Thompson (Red Lion Eynsham) Pete Rampton (Six Bells Kidlington) who have never won the singles, battled their way through to the quarter finals to be played on Monday 7th September with 1982 winner Den Sellar (The Crown)making up the final eight.
Played at four different venues down to the final two, Lee Thompson at The Red Lion Marston had a difficult opener against Andy Beal (Six Bells Kidlington). Chasing a set of four Lee Clanged off five to take the leg. In the second leg chasing a set of five, Thompson matched it and then went on to take the leg and match on three sticks.
In the next round he came up against the holder Dick Walsh (Six Bells Kidlington) and had an even tougher game. The opening leg was tied 5-5 (Thompson setting) and then he set two in the three sticks, however Walsh passed that with three to win the leg. Thompson set and won the next leg with another five and then won the decider with yet another five after being set four by Walsh.
The next game Thompson was drawn against Tony Gillett from Rose Hill Club and with the first two legs shared 4-3, 2-3 Gillett set three in the deciding leg, Thomson matched it and then went on to claim the leg and match 2-1 in the three stick shoot out.
Pete Rampton (Six Bells Kidlington) joined him. After putting out team mate Jon Townsend 2-1 he then defeated Steve Bayliss (Rose Hill Club ) 2-0. He set and won the first leg 4-3 and then chasing a set of three he hit another four to see him through.
At Florence Park Club five times runner up Kevin Baker (Gladiators) had a ding dong opener against Keith Powell (Red Lion Eynsham). The first leg was tied 4-4 with Powell taking it on three sticks. Baker set four in the next leg which Powell matched and this time Baker won in on three sticks. The final and deciding leg Baker won with four dolls after being set three by Powell.
In the next round Baker lost the opener to Dave Leopold (Black Prince) 3-2 but then recovered in the next two legs 4-1 and 3-2.
The final game Baker was taken all the way by Ade Shepherd (New Club). The first leg Shepherd set and won 4-3 with Baker levelling in the next leg on three sticks after it was tied 3-3. Shepherd could only set two in the final leg which Baker passed with ease.
Surprise package Andy Lewis (Ampleforth Arms) was the other winner, after defeating James Bennett (Six Bells Quarry) in an earlier round 2-0 he then beat team mate Stuart Bishop 2-1 to see him through to the quarter finals.
At The Chequers Den Sellar (The Crown) clanged off a six in his opener against John Allnutt (Gladiators) in his two nil win. He then saw off Pete Coates (Red Lion) 2-0 and then came up against Rob Bradford (Ampleforth Arms) who won the opener with four after being set three by Sellar. Bradford then set three but it was not enough as Sellar hit four to tie the leg. The final leg was tied 3-3 and then Bradford set two in the three sticks, however Sellar hit a full house with three to win the leg and tie.
Two legs of 5 & 4 saw Geoff Townsend through against Adie Copper (Black Prince) in the first round. In the final game saw him pitted up against Paul Bennett (Woodman Inn) who won the opener 4-3. Townsend then clanged off a maximum six in the next leg to tie the game and then won the decider 5-4.
At Garsington Sports Club Terry Stuart (Red Lion Eynsham) didn’t drop a leg in the first two rounds beating Kevin McMahon and Andy Gorge both from the Bullnose Morris 2-0. The final game he was drawn against his brother Kevin Stuart (Rose Hill Club). Kevin drew blood in the first leg 4-3 but Terry fought back well to win the next two 5-3 & 5-4.
Pete Shepherd make up the final quarter finalist, however he was given a massive scare in the opening game against Chris Jenkins (Gladiators). Shepherd went one up in the first leg 4-3. The next leg was tied 5-5 and three and one stick could not separate them. Jenkins levelling back on six sticks 4-3. The final and deciding leg was tied 3-3 and again three and one stick was tied, back on six sticks went 4-4, eventually Shepherd winning it three sticks for the second time 2-1.
Next round he came up against triple singles winner Neil Lyon (Black Prince) and after losing the first leg 2-1 Shepherd drew level in the next leg on three sticks after it was tied 2-2. He then won the decider 4-3.
The final game he beat Darren Cox (Florence Park Club) 2-1 in a tight game. He won the first 3-2 but lost the next on three sticks after tying 5-5. Shepherd booked his place in the quarters in the final leg 4-3.
In the Oxford Singles play offs Geoff Townsend (The Gladiators) will play Terry Stuart (Red Lion ‘A’ Eynsham).
Townsend beat Andy Lewis (Ampleforth Arms) 2-1 in the Quarter Finals and then Den Sellar (The Crown) in the semi-final 2-1.
Stuart beat Pete Rampton (Six Bells Kidlington ) 2-0 in the Quarter Finals and then team mate Lee Thompson 2-1 in the semi-final. Both the finalists have never won the singles before.



There will also be a new name on the Ted Houghton Singles trophy,(for players in Section 4 and below) as John Cleaton (King & Queen) and Yorkie Finney (The Blackbird) battled their way to the final for the first time. Cleaton did not drop a leg all night as he defeated Dean Plumsted (Florence Park Club) 2-0 and then Mick Richardson (North Oxford Con Club) 2-1. In the semi-final he won the first leg 3-2 against Richard Berry (LIttlemore British Legion) but had to rely on a three stick shootout in the next leg after it was tied 2-2.
Yorkie Finney will meet him in the final after beating David Lammin (Florence Park Club) 2-1 in an early round and then defeating team mate Garry Rees in the next 2-1. Richard Berry (Littlemore B.L.) stood in his way in the semi final but Cleaton won the opener 3-2 and then secured victory in the next leg on three sticks after it was tied 3-3.

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