Week 11

Games played on Wednesday 12th July

Barry Townsend was in magnificent form as he clanged of a double sixer (3-6-6) in his fifteen doll haul for The Gladiators ‘A’ at The Three Pigeons, but it was to be all in vain. In a bizarre game where legs that should have been won were lost and ones that should have been lost were won, The Three Pigeons came out on top 2-1. Gladiators set the opening leg with twenty eight. The Pigeons started off well in reply but left anchor man Neil Lyon five to tie and six to win and he almost pulled it off, hitting four and missing with his last stick to give The Gladiators the leg. The second leg Pigeons set with thirty. The Gladiators replied in force with their first three players hitting sixteen dolls, but a middle order collapse and weak finish left them three short with twenty seven. The all important toss in the final and deciding leg went to The Pigeons and they decided to set with a respectable twenty eight. In reply despite sixes from Barry Townsend and Andy Beal they still left anchor man Keith Weller needing three to tie or four to win. Weller hit two and with one stick left in his hand his final stick went just millimetres over the top to give the Pigeons a moral boosting 2-1 win and knocked the Glad’s off the top of the Premier Section.
Paul Townsend (5-5-3) and Neil Lyon (4-4-5) both hit thirteen dolls for The Pig’s while Andy Beal (5-2-6) did the same for The Glad’s.
The New Club ‘A’ are the new Premier Section leaders after a high scoring game, where four sixes were recorded, at home to Garsington Sports Club ‘A’. They set and won the opening leg 28-25 and then were set 26 by Garsington in the next leg. This proved to be no trouble as they hit 29 in reply to go two up. The last leg New Club set a whopping thirty two and Garsington gave a good effort in reply but fell short with twenty seven. Pip Goulding (5-4-6), Roger Goodall (5-6-4) and Pete Shepherd (5-4-6) all were in top form hitting fifteen dolls for The New Club while Martin Ruffels was top dog for Garsington with fourteen Dolls (4-4-6).
The George ‘A’ stunned Section One leaders The Woodman by beating them 2-1. This was only the second victory of the season for The George as they won the opening leg by the smallest of margins 24-23. The Woodman drew level in the second leg 29-23. The George set an imposing thirty in the final leg and it proved to be too much for the leaders as they fell three short with twenty seven. Luke Purcell for The George hit a bakers dozen (4-4-5).
The Swan ‘B’ kept their title ambitions alive and at the same time dented The Black Prince’s as they recorded a 2-1 win away. The damage was done in the first two legs with The Swan winning them both 26-21, 26-24. Swan set twenty eight in the final leg and The Prince redeemed themselves by hitting twenty nine, with anchor man Ian Grant whipping off the four dolls neede in reply to grab a point. Martin Seacole (6-3-5) and John Greenaway (4-5-5) both threw well for The Swan while Graham Wilsden bagged himself a six in his fourteen dolls haul (3-6-5) for The Black Prince.
The Swan ‘A’ raced to a two nil lead at home to The Red Lion ‘A’ winning the first two legs 26-21, 25-19 but were halted in their tracks for a whitewash win when the Red Lion won the last leg 28-27.

In Section Two, The Chequers ‘C’ who were running away with the league crashed to their third defeat on the bounce losing away at The Six Bells ‘E’ Kidlington 2-1. The opening leg was tied 16-16 with The Bells winning it on three sticks. Bells set and won the next leg 20-18. Chequers hit top form in the final leg setting and winning it 27-18. Former singles winner Geoff Townsend was in remarkable form with fifteen dolls (5-5-5) for The Chequers.
Only two points separate the top four teams and The Bullnose Morris ‘A’ move level top after they came away from The Gladiators ‘B’ with a 2-1 win in the leg scores of 25-23, 26-16, 18-22.
Six Bells ‘D’ Kidlington are still in the hunt after a good win at Donnington Club ‘A’ despite the club men scoring more dolls than their visitors. Pete Rampton (6-5-3) & Steve Ward (5-4-5) led the way for The Bells as they set and won the first two legs 22-18, 20-18. A second six of the season from Brian Simpson led the fightback for Donnington who won the final leg 25-17.

Chequers ‘A’ are one point clear at the top of a tight Section 3 after beating basement boys The Six Bells ‘A’ Kidlington 3-0 in the leg scores of 18-12, 23-14, 18-12.
Garsington Sports Club ‘B’ move clear into second spot after a good home win over The Blackbird who have lost their way a bit. Garsington won all three legs quite comfortably 25-19, 23-13, 20-18.
The White House title ambitions took a hit as they lost 2-1 at Tiddington Cricket Club. They started off well winning the opening leg 24-22 but then collapsed in the next two legs losing them 23-17, 23-14.
Masons Arms ‘A’ move level top in Section 4 after beating Green Road Club ‘B’ in a close game. Masons took the first leg 19-12 but just scrapped the next two legs by the odd doll 17-16, 16-15. David Naylor threw well for The Masons with a dozen dolls (5-4-3).
Littlemore British Legion hit their best total score of the season when they hit sixty dolls in their 3-0 win at home to The Swan ‘C’. Ian Bowler led the way with a dozen dolls as they won all three legs 23-18, 19-15,18-14.

In Section 5 The Fox & Goat came so close to winning only their second game of the season at home to The Masons Arms ‘B’ but fell short in the three stick shoot outs, despite scoring more dolls than their visitors. The opening leg was tied 13-13 with The Masons winning it on three sticks. Fox & Goat levelled in the next leg 17-14 and the final leg was tied 13-13. Once again Masons taking the leg and with it the match on three sticks.
Bullnose Morris ‘B’ stay level top after a 2-1 win over Red Lion Marston. They won the first leg at a canter 20-7 but lost the next leg on three sticks after it was tied 15-15. Bullnose wrapped up the win in the final leg 20-13.

Six Bells ‘B’ Quarry opened up a three point gap at the top of Section 6 but it could have been more but for a total collapse in the third leg against Northway Club ‘A’. They won the first two legs 13-8,20-12 but then chasing a set of only nine in the final leg they fell apart and could only muster up a reply of seven.
Graham Williams was in great form for Green Road Club ‘A’ clanging off thirteen dolls (4-5-4) but it was all in vain as they lost 2-1 to Donnington Club ‘B’ 16-19, 16-14, 14-16.
Nick Snr Edmonds hit a very rare six in his eleven dolls (2-6-3) but it could not prevent The Black Horse ‘B’ falling to a 2-1 defeat at Marston British Legion. The first leg went to the legion 16-10 and then they set thirteen in the next leg. In reply Black Horse left Edmonds needing five to win and he went one better by clanging off all six to level the game. Marston stormed the final leg 20-11.


Prince Of Wales title hope are fading away after they lost at Northway Club ‘C’ 2-1 in Section 7. With the game nicely poised at a leg each the final and deciding leg was tied 16-16. Northway winning the leg on three sticks to claim victory.

Section 8 leaders Golden Ball unbeaten run came to an abrupt halt when they lost at home to White Hart ‘B’ Wolvercote. Damage was all done in the first two legs that The White Hart won 10-9, 13-9. Golden Ball grabbed a point in the final leg 14-10.

SIXERS: B.Townsend (2) A.Beal (Gladiators ‘A’) K.Powell (Swan ‘A’) G.Willsden (Black Prince) M.Seacole (Swan ‘B’)
A.Keenan (The Woodman)P.Rampton (Six Bells ‘D’) B.Simpson (Donnington ‘A’) N.Edmonds (Black Horse 'B')


BLOBBERS: A.Flett (Cricketers ‘B’) B.Harwood (Red Lion Cassington), N.McNally (Kings Arms) K.Hayle (Seacourt Bridge ‘B’)
V.Kemish (Headington Con Club) F.Delaney, P.Mazey (Democrats Club ‘B’) B.Stone (White Hart Wytham)
R.McKemy (Original Swan ‘A’)D.Smith (Black Horse 'B)D.Nelms (Cricketers Littleworth)

TOP DOLL SCORERS:
15: B.Townsend (Gladiators ‘A’)
14: G.Willsden (Black Prince) M.Seacole, J.Greenaway (Swan ‘B’) P.Rampton, S.Ward (Six Bells ‘D’)
13: A.Beal (Gladiators ‘A’) P.Townsend, N.Lyon (Three Pigeons) K.Powell (Swan ‘A’) S.King (Swan ‘B’) Lu.Purcell (George ‘A’)
K.Coleman (The Crown) R.Chalton (Vikings Sports ‘B’) G.Willimams (Green Road Club ‘A’)

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