Week 12

Games played on Wednesday 19th July

Premier Champions The Swan ‘A’ gave themselves an outside chance of holding onto the title after they beat their ‘B’ side 2-1 in a high scoring game. Dick Walsh led the way with fifteen dolls (6-4-5) and was well supported by Jon Townsend (4-6-3) and Keith Powell (4-4-5) as they won the opening leg 29-24. Swan ‘B’ levelled in the next leg 31-29 and then set 28 in the final leg. The Swan ‘A’ flew past that with 32 to give them a crucial win. Simon King with fourteen dolls (5-5-4) was top dog for the ‘B’ team.
New Club ‘A’ lead by one point after a 3-0 win at home to The George ‘A’. A steady team performance saw them through 26-24, 27-24, 23-21 with top doll scorer Roger Goodall adding another six to his total with fifteen dolls (6-5-4).
Gladiators ‘A’ are keeping up the pressure as they too recorded a 3-0 home win against Red Lion ‘A’ Yarnton. Andy Beal led the way with fourteen dolls (4-5-5) as they comfortably won all three legs 30-24, 28-22, 28-22. Seventy Six year old Ray Barson showed the youngsters the way by clanging off a six in his fourteen doll haul (6-4-4) for The Red Lion.
Section One leaders The Woodman got their title ambitions back on track after two previous defeats by coming from behind to beat Garsington Sports ‘A’ 2-1. The sports men took the opening leg 29-22 but that was to be their only success as The Woodman came back well to claim the next two legs 26-23, 27-19.
The Three Pigeons are only two points behind after coming away from the Black Prince with all three points in the leg scores of 24-19, 27-20, 26-26, last leg on three sticks.

It’s very close at the top in Section Two with only three points separating the top five. The Bullnose Morris ‘A’ lead the pack after beating previous leaders The Chequers ‘C’ 2-1. It was looking good for The Chequers when they won the opening leg 18-12 but then fell to pieces in the next two legs losing them easily 27-14, 20-14.
Six Bells ‘E’ Kidlington are one of a trio of teams in second spot and they boosted their chances with a 2-1 home win over Gladiators ‘B’. The Bells won the first leg 25-20, but lost the next on three sticks after it was tied 17-17. Glad’s could only set 16 in the deciding leg and it was no where near enough as The Bells hit 22 in reply. Gladiator’s veteran Tommy Recht just kept himself out of the blobbers section by hitting a doll with his last stick in his last throw, (X-X-1).
Six Bells ‘D’ Kidlington came away from Vikings Sports ‘A’ with all three points and kept themselves in the hunt. The opening leg was tied 19-19, Bells winning it on three sticks, who then went on to complete the whitewash in the next two legs 28-17, 22-12. Bells Oakan Guney had a mixed night, he blobbed out in his first throw, then clanged off his first ever six in his next before hitting a solitary one in his final throw.
The Crown are hanging in there after they came from behind to beat Donnington Club ‘A’ 2-1 and in turn diminish Donnington’s chances. It started off well for Donnington when they set and won the first leg 20-16, but Crown turned on the style to set and win the next two legs 20-13, 25-15.

Stuart Bishop bagged himself a six for Section 3 leaders Chequers ‘A’ in their 3-0 win at The Queens Head in the leg scores of 17-15, 23-17, 22-18.
Second place Garsington Sports Club ‘B’ dropped a point at home to Tiddington Cricket club, but it could have been more.. Garsington’s Phil Jackson hit his third six of the season in his dozen dolls as they won the first leg 22-19, but lost the second 19-21. In the final leg Garsington could only muster up a score of 12 but it turned out to be enough as the Cricket Club fell one short with 11 in reply.

Section 4 joint leaders Donnington Club ‘C’ had a good win away as The Swan’C’ grabbing all three points in a good team performance. Josh Breakspear with fourteen dolls (4-5-5) led the way as they won all three legs 15-11, 24-18, 24-18.
The George ‘B’ almost extinguished any chances Six Bells ‘B’ Kidlington had of the league after a comfortable 3-0 win at home. They won all three legs 24-22, 18-13, 18-16.
Only one doll separated Littlemore British Legion ‘A’ and The Black Swan overall consisting of a very long middle leg. Black Swan set and won the first leg 19-17. The next leg was tied 19-19. A three stick and one stick shoot out was tied as was going back to six sticks. The leg was finally won on three sticks for the second time by The Legion to level the game. Black Swan set 17 in the final leg and in reply The Legion could only hit six with their first five players, but a six from Ian Bowler gave them the boost they needed and went on to win the leg by the tightest of margins with 18.

Section 5 leaders The Bullnose Morris won their 11th game out of 12 but still only lead by one point. Their latest victory came at The Chequers ‘B’, who won the first leg 13-11. Bullnose responded well to win the next two legs 19-11, 20-12.
Red Lion Marston scored more dolls than their visitors Masons Arms ‘B’ (48-42) but still lost 2-1. The Masons could only set 12 in the opening leg but in reply Red Lions anchor man Stuart Fitchett blobbed out to leave Red Lion one short with 11. Red Lion levelled in the next leg 21-12. Masons won the decider 18-16.
Cricketers Arms Brendan Walsh blobbed out in the first leg against Fox & Goat but then redeemed himself in the next leg by clanging off all six. Cricketers winning all three legs 16-14, 22-15, 15-8.
Vikings Sports ‘D’ shocked pacesetters Seacourt Bridge ‘A’ by beating them on their own patch 2-1. The damage was all done in the first two legs that Vikings won 17-14,16-15. Seacourt set in the final leg with 18 and in reply Vikings left anchor man Glyn Millard needing all six to tie. Millard gave it a good go and fell just one doll shy with five to give The Seacourt a precious point.

In Section 6, Steve Bennett was in great form for Northway Club ‘A’ whipping off fourteen dolls (4-5-5) but it was all in vain as they lost out to Marston British Legion who won the first two legs easily 18-10, 22-17. Northway threw well to win the final leg 21-12.
There was a minutes silence held at the game between leaders Six Bells ‘B’ Quarry and Black Horse ‘B for former player Billy Munnelly who passed away suddenly last week. Billy played for many teams in the Oxford league over many years and will be sadly missed. The Bell’s got a shock as they lost 2-1 and enhancing their victors title hopes. Black Horse winning 21-12, 12-23, 17-11.

The only unbeaten team in the league, Section 7 leaders Red Lion ‘B’ Yarnton almost came unstuck at home to Northway Club ‘C’. Lion set and lost the first leg 11-12 and were then set 13 by Northway in the next leg. With only seven on the board with two players left it was looking ominous for the leaders. However a five from anchor man Ron Squires saw them take the leg with 15 and then they wrapped up victory in the final leg 18-15.
The two Catherine Wheel teams clashed and it was the ‘B’ team that came out on top 3-0. Steve Tooke was in tremendous for the B team with fourteen dolls (4-4-6) as they won all three legs 15-7, 13-12, 19-13.

SIXERS: R.Barson (Red Lion ‘A’ Yarnton) D.Walsh, J.Townsend (Swan ‘A’) J.Coates (Swan ‘B’) P.Jackson (Garsington Sports ‘B’)
M.Morgan (Rose Hill Club) B.Walsh (Cricketers Arms) E.Edwards (Three Pigeons) R.Goodall (New Club ‘A’)
O.Gurney (Six Bells ‘D’) S.Bishop (Chequers ‘A’) R.Busby (Six Bells ‘B’) C.Webb (Gladiators ‘B’) I.Bowler (Littlemore B.L. ‘A’)
S.Tooke (Catherine Wheel ‘B’)

BLOBBERS: M.Davies (Florence Park Club) H.Morgan (White Hart ‘B’) G.Howell (Catherine Wheel ‘A’) R.Elger (Red Lion Cassington)
B.Stone (White Hart Wytham) F.Delaney (Democrats Club ‘B’) K.Hayle, M.Joye, S.Eagle (Seacourt Bridge ‘B’)

TOP DOLL SCORERS:
15: D.Walsh (Swan ‘A’) R.Goodall (New Club ‘A’)
14: A.Beal (Gladiators ‘A’) S.King (Swan ‘B’) J.Breakspear (Donnington Club ‘C’) S.Bennett (Northway Club ‘A’) S.Tooke (Catherine Wheel ‘B’)
13: J.Townsend, K.Powell (Swan ‘A’) M.Morgan (Rose Hill Club) P.Townsend (Three Pigeons) Lu. Purcell (The George ‘A’) C.Webb (Gladiators ‘B’)

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