Week 15
Games played Wednesday 16th August
The Gladiators ‘A’ are close to claiming their first Premier Section Crown after defeating holders The Swan ‘A’ 3-0 and in turn finishing of any chances they had of retaining the title. Swan needing all three points to give them a chance started off badly in the opening leg setting only a total of 22. Gladiators sailed past that with 26. Gladiators then set 29 in the next leg and in return The Swan fell one shy with 28. Gladiators then wrapped up the whitewash in the final leg 26-20.
The Black Prince put a huge dent in The New Club’s ‘A’ title ambitions as they comprensively beat them 3-0 and in turn give themselves an outside chance of the Section One title. New Club were never really had a chance as The Prince put in one of their best performances of the season winning all three legs 31-26, 34-26, 27-25. Rob Bradford led the way with fifteen dolls (6-4-5) while Adrian Shepherd was top dog for The New Club with thirteen dolls (5-3-5).
It is still very tight in Section One with four teams in contention. After losing their last two games The Woodman got back on the winning trail by defeating The Swan ‘B 3-0 on their own patch. Anchor man Mark Rollins set the tone with thirteen dolls (4-4-5) as they won all three legs 24-20, 27-24, 25-23 and move to level top while The Swan drop down to second. John Greenway was in top form for The Swan with fourteen dolls (4-5-5).
Joint leaders The Three Pigeons dropped a point at home to basement boys The George ‘A’. Opening leg George set and won 27-25, but Pigeons responded well to take the next two legs 29-22, 25-23.
Six Bells ‘E’ Kidlington lead Section Two by one point after beating The Black Horse ‘C’ 2-1 in the leg scores of 18-12, 21-13, 19-23.
The Bullnose Morris ‘A’ came away from The Crown with a hard fought victory thanks to Willy Waite who bagged himself a six in his fourteen doll haul, and Derrick Slater with thirteen dolls (5-4-4). Crown won the opener 26-22, Bullnose levelled in the next leg with a set of 20 to The Crowns reply of 18. Bullnose set in the final leg with 23 and it proved to be just enough as The Crown came up one short with 22. This win puts the Bullnose into joint second place while The Crown’s hope took a hit.
The Chequers ‘C’ extinguished The Six Bells’ D’ title hopes after trouncing them 3-0. Geoff Townsend led the way with fourteen dolls (4-4-6) as they won all three legs 20-18, 23-22, 20-13. Steve Ward also hit fourteen (5-6-3) for The Bell’s but it could not stop them from tasting defeat.
The Gladiators ‘B’ move off the foot of the table with a tight win at The Six Bells ‘A’ Quarry. The Glad’s set and won the opening leg by the tightest of margins 17-16 and then were set thirteen in the second leg. A poor reply from The Glad’s left anchor man Chris Webb needing all six to win and he did not disappoint, clanging off all six to snatch the leg by one doll with fourteen. Glad’s then secured all three points in the final leg 18-16.
Steve Walton was in top form as he clanged off fourteen dolls (5-5-4) to guide Donnington Club ‘A’ to a 3-0 win at Vikings Sports Club ‘A’ in the leg scores of 19-16, 22-18, 21-15.
Section 3 leaders Garsington Sports ‘B’ beat bottom team Six Bells ‘A’ Kidlington 3-0 bit it was slightly closer than the score reflects. Garsington won the first leg setting with 19 to The Bells 17. The Bells’ set the next leg with 18 but Garsington went two up after hitting 22 in reply. The final leg was even tighter with the club men winning it by the odd doll 22-21.
The New Club ‘B’ put themselves back in contention after beating second place The Chequers ‘A’ 2-1. New Club raced to a 2-0 lead winning the first two legs 20-16, 15-15 (on three sticks). Chequers grabbed a point in the final leg 18-12.
After losing their previous last five games Vikings Sports ‘B’ finally got a positive result after beating host Tiddington Cricket Club 2-1. After a dismal score of 8 which saw them lose the first leg chasing a set of 12, Vikings hit back well to win the next two legs 19-13, 22-17.
In Section 4 Littlemore British Legion ‘A’ good run continues as they recorded their seventh win on the bounce this time beating title contenders The Masons Arms ‘A’ 2-1. Chasing a set of 17 The Legion had only eight on the board with three players left, but they were up for the challenge and whipped off eleven dolls between them to snatch the leg with 18. Legion then set and won the next leg 19-12. Masons redeemed themselves in the final leg 23-15.
Section 5 leaders Seacourt Bridge ‘A’ were given a fright at The Chequers ‘B’ and were lucky to come away with a 2-1 win. Set only 8 in the opening leg Seacourt had only hit four in reply with two player left. However a four from Jim Hamilton and two from anchor man Mick Beane saw them over the line with ten. Seacourt hit sixteen in the next leg when chasing a set of 10 to go two up but lost the last leg 14-11 to be denied maximum points.
In Section 6 Black Horse ‘B’ scored more dolls than their hosts The Original Swan ‘A’ (43-40) but still managed to lose 2-1. It started of positively for The Black Horse when they easily won the first leg 20-11 but collapsed in the next two legs to lose them 15-12, 14-11.
Section leaders Six Bells ‘B’ Quarry crashed away at Donnington Club ‘B’ 2-1 in the leg scores of 15-13, 13-15, 20-14.
Marston British Legions title aspirations took a nose dive when they lost at Green Road Club ‘A’ 2-1. It started of well for The Legion winning the opening leg 15-10, but Green Road levelled in the next leg 14-13. Legions night got even worse in the final leg when they lost it and with it the game 16-10.
Vikings Sports ‘C’ move to level top after a close win at home to strugglers The White Hart ‘A’. White Hart set the first leg with ten, but a three from Vikings anchor man Jack Wells saw them sneak past with eleven. A big hit form The Vikings in the next leg saw them through 22-12 but then had to rely on Wells again to whip of the three dolls needed to win the final leg by the odd doll 15-14.
There was very little to choose between Northway Club ‘B’ and The Catherine Wheel ‘A’ in their Section 7 clash. The opening leg was tied 15-15 with the wheel winning it on three sticks. They then set 13 in the next leg and in reply Northway fell one short with 12. The final leg was also tied 11-11 and once again Catherine Wheel won it on three sticks.
After losing their first game of the season last week leaders Red Lion ‘B’ Yarnton were lucky not to lose their second as they scrapped through 2-1 at The Black Horse ‘A’. The first leg went to the Lion 14-13 but Black Horse levelled in the next leg 17-16. The Black Horse set the deciding leg with 14 and in reply The Lion had to rely on anchor man Ron Squires to whip of the winning dolls to give them victory with 16. Squires top scored with eleven dolls (3-4-4)
SIXERS: S.Ward (Six Bells ‘E’ Kidlington) G.Townsend (Chequers ‘C’) K.Baker (Gladiators ‘A’) W. Waite (Bullnose Morris ‘A’)
C.Webb (Gladiators ‘B’)
BLOBBERS: A.Gibbs, E.Mazey, C.Gibbs (Democrats Club ‘B’) J.Stevens (Rose Hill Club) P.Bradley (Queens Head) E.Hopkins (Littlemore B.L. ‘B’)
M.Pestana (Cricketers ‘B’) A,Gresswell (White Hart Wytham)
TOP DOLL SCORERS:
15: R.Bradford (Black Prince)
14: S.Ward (Six Bells ‘E’ Kidlington) G.Townsend (Chequers ‘C’) J.Greenaway (Swan ‘B’) W. Waite (Bullnose Morris ‘A’)
13: K.Giles (Gladiators ‘A’) A.Shepherd (New Club ‘A’) M.Rollins (The Woodman) D.Edwards (Three Pigeons) D.Slater (Bullnose Morris ‘A’)
C.Webb (Gladiators ‘B’)
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