Week 16
Games played Wednesday 23rd August
Ken Maunder from Garsington Sports ‘A’ was in sensational form clanging off seventeen dolls (5-6-6) as they beat The Swan ‘B’ 2-1 in a game that produced five maximum sixes. Maunder missed with his fourth stick as the club men set and won the opening leg by the odd doll 28-27. Garsington then went two up in the next leg, chasing a set of only 16 they hit an incredible 31. Swan grabbed a point in the final leg 29-28. Barry Ruffels (Garsington ) Simon King & Mark Hewitson (The Swan) were the other six hitters. This defeat has severely dented The Swans hopes of the Section One Title.
The Woodman opened a one point gap in Section One after a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Red Lion ‘A’ Yarnton. Mark Rollins led the way with thirteen dolls (5-4-4) as they won all three legs 28-21, 27-20, 30-18.
Three Pigeons came away from The New Club ‘A’ with a 2-1 win thanks to Neil Lyon with fourteen dolls (4-4-6). They had to come from behind after losing the opening leg 24-23, Pigeons won the next two 28-20, 24-22.
Gladiators ‘A’, for the first time in their history are the new Premier Section winners after beating The Black Prince 3-0 at home. Needing all three points to secure the title they did it in style by winning all three legs 29-24, 28-24, 27-19. The Glad’s Andy Beal with fourteen dolls (5-5-4) top scored and was well supported by Kevin Baker who hit a baker’s dozen (4-4-5).
The Section Two race is down to three teams and only two points separate them all. The Six Bells ‘E’ Kidlington lead the race after a leisurely 3-0 home win over Six Bells ‘A’ Quarry. The result was never in doubt as they ran out winners 24-14, 22-19, 21-16.
The Bullnose Morris ‘A’ move level second after coming from behind to beat The Six Bells ‘D’ Kidlington. A good start from the Bells saw them win the first leg 21-18 but they fell apart in the next two legs as The Bullnose ran out winners with ease 19-12, 20-13.
The Chequers ‘C’ share second spot and they too had to come from behind as they beat The Crown 2-1 who set and won the opening leg 21-20. Chequers showed their title credentials as they won the next two legs 20-15, 21-18.
Section 3 leaders Garsington Sports ‘B’ had a tough fixture away at The White House and came away with two precious points. White House gained an early advantage winning the first leg on three sticks after it was tied 18-18 however Garsington showed why they are top winning the next two legs 19-13, 20-18 to take a one point lead.
Chequers ‘A’ stay hot on their tail but they dropped a point at home to The Blackbird. Chasing a set of 18 in the opening leg Chequers left anchor man Dave Simms five to win the leg and he did not disappoint as he clanged off the five needed to snatch the leg by the odd doll with 19. Chequers then set and won the next leg 22-15 but in the final leg chasing a set of 20 they fell two short with 18. Brian Reidy with thirteen dolls (4-4-5) threw well for The Blackbird
Simon Jones was in top form as he whipped off fourteen dolls (5-5-4) to lead The King & Queen to a 2-1 home win over Vikings ‘B’. In a close game King & Queen won the first two legs 20-18, 21-19 before Vikings won a deserved point in the final leg 20-19.
New Club ‘B’ title dreams are fading away after they dropped a point away at Queens Head for whom Kevin Henwood was in brilliant form hitting fourteen dolls (4-5-5). It started off well for the club men winning the opening leg 24-16 but they lost the next leg on three sticks after it was tied 17-17. New Club then secured victory in the last leg by the closest of margins 20-19.
Donnington Club ‘C’ need just one more point to claim the Section 4 title after they beat Democrats Club ‘A’ who are holding up the table. They won the first two legs at a canter 22-14, 20-15 but just scrapped the final leg 15-14.
Littlemore British Legion ‘A’ are ready to pounce should Donnington falter but they dropped a valuable point at The George ‘B’. Chasing each leg The Legion hit 20 to a target of 15 in the first leg but failed to beat 19 in the next leg, falling two short with 17. Legion won the deciding leg 20-16. Steve Jessup hit a baker’s dozen for The Legion (5-3-5).
The top two clashed in Section 5 and second placed Bullnose Morris ‘B’ beat leaders Seacourt Bridge ‘A’ away in a moral boosting 3-0 win. Bullnose set and won the opening leg 15-12 and then beat a set of 14 in the next leg with 16. Bullnose made sure of the whitewash in the final leg setting and winning it 16-14.
The Masons Arms ‘B’ challenge is almost over after they lost at The Cricketers ‘A’ 2-1. It was looking good after the first leg which they won 15-13 but Cricketers came back well to win the next two legs 12-10, 15-14.
In Section 6 Black Horse ‘B’ scored more dolls then their visitors Donnington Club ‘B’ (53-51) but still lost the game 2-1. The first two legs were shared 14-18, 21-15 with the third leg being decided on three sticks after it was tied 18-18.
It could not have been much closer between White Hart ‘A’ Wolvercote and Northway Club ‘A’. Chasing a set of 14 in the first leg White Hart left anchor man Alan Wilkins four to win. After missing with his first stick he clanged off the next four to give them the lead. White Hart set and won the next leg by the odd doll 15-14 and then set 14 in the final leg. Northway replied well and won the leg with 16. Rod Wilkins top scored for White Hart with ten dolls (4-3-3).
Jack Wells bagged himself a six in his eleven dolls (2-3-6) as Vikings Sports C’ beat Green Road Club ‘A’ 2-1.
The first leg was tied 13-13 with Vikings winning the three stick shoot out. They then went two up in the second leg 15-11. In the final leg Green Road set 16 and after a slow reply Vikings left anchor man Wells all six to tie, and what a time to get your second six of the season, as Wells did just that but it was to no avail as Green Road Club won the leg on three sticks.
After leading the section since week 1 Red Lion ‘B’ Yarnton can finally be crowned Section 7 champions after they beat Cricketers ‘B’ 3-0 at home. They won the first two legs 13-10, 13-8 but had to rely on three sticks in the final leg after it was tied 11-11.
There was very little between Catherine Wheel ‘B’ and Northway Club ‘C’ with only one doll separating the two teams in all three legs. Northway won the opener 15-14 with The Wheel winning the next two legs 14-13 15-14. Michael Ashburner top scored for The Catherine Wheel with 11 dolls (3-4-4).
SIXERS: K.Maunder (2) B.Ruffels (Garsington Sports ‘A’) S.King, M.Hewitson (The Swan ‘B’) N.Lyon (Three Pigeons) J.Wells (Vikings Sports ‘C’)
A.Wells (Six Bells ‘E’ Kidlington) K.Giles (Gladiators ‘A’) L.Johnson (Garsington Sports ‘B’)
BLOBBERS: K.Sharp (Fox & Goat) M.Smith (Original Swan ‘A’) J.Ridell, D.Glancy (Kings Arms) D.Brown (Catherine Wheel ‘B’)
TOP DOLL SCORERS:
17: K.Maunder (Garsington Sports ‘A’)
14: A.Beal (Gladiators ‘A’) N.Lyon (Three Pigeons) S.Jones (King & Queen) K.Henwood (Queens Head)
13: T.Greenaway (Garsington Sports ‘A’) S.King (Swan ‘B’) K.Baker (Gladiators ‘A’) M.Rollins (The Woodman)S.Jessop (Littlemore B.L. ‘A’)
S.Tooke (Catherine Wheel ‘B’) B.Reidy (The Blackbird)
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