Week 1 Report

REPORT WEEK 1
Darren Cox was in sensational form as he clanged off sixteen dolls (6-5-5) to lead Garsington Sports ‘A’ to a 2-1 win at The George ‘A’. Garsington won the opening leg 28-24 but The George hit back well in the next leg 28-23 to level the game. Final leg Garsington smashed in a 29 to The George reply of 25 to clinch the game 2-1.
Premier holders Gladiator’s A got off to a shaky start in their defence when they beat newly promoted to Section 1 Chequers ‘C’. They started off well setting and winning the opening leg 28-17 but when set 25 in the second leg The Glad’s fell well short and could only reply with 21. Setting in the final and deciding leg Gladiators set a formidable 29 which was too strong for The Chequers who hit 21 in reply. Kevin Giles top scored for The Glad’s with thirteen dolls (4-3-6), while Geoff Townsend was in top form for The Chequers with fifteen dolls (5-5-5).
The Woodman chopped down The Swan ’A’ on their own patch but had to come from behind after losing the first leg to secure victory. Woodman set 22 in the first leg and in reply The Swan just scrapped through by the odd doll with 23. Swan then set 23 in the next leg, but The Woodman swept pass that with 27. The deciding leg Swan set again but could only must up a score of 18 which did not trouble the Woodman who hit 22 in reply.
Newcomers to The Premier Section The Black Prince got their campaign off to the best possible start with a maximum 3-0 win at The Six Bells ‘E’ Kidlington. They won the first two legs with ease 23-19, 22-17 but had to reply on a three stick shoot out in the final leg after it was tied 24-24. Phil Austin for The Black Prince bagged himself a six in his thirteen doll haul (4-6-3).
Only one doll separated The Three Pigeons and The Swan’B’ but it was enough to clinch victory for visitors The Swan who won 2-1. Swan set the first leg with 25 and in reply Pigeons left anchor man Neil Lyon four to win and he did not disappoint, whipping of the four dolls with a stick to spare. Second leg Pigeons set 27 which The Swan matched and then went on to win the leg on three sticks. Pigeons set the deciding leg with 24 which was not enough as Swan hit 26 in reply to claim victory. Neil Lyon top scored with thirteen dolls (4-4-5).

In Section 2 Garsington Sports ‘B’ got off to the perfect start with a 3-0 home whitewash over Black Horse ‘B’. Roger Goodall led the way with fourteen dolls (5-4-5) as they won all three legs 19-18, 20-14, 18-15.
Red Lion ‘A’ Yarnton won the opening leg against Six Bells ‘D’ Kidlington 20-17 but it went all downhill after that. Chasing a set of 20 in the next leg they fell four dolls short with 16 and then in the final and deciding leg could only muster up a reply of 9 when chasing a set of 18 to condemn them to a 2-1 defeat. Pete Rampton hit a baker’s dozen (2-5-6) for The Six Bells.
There was very little to separate Donnington Club ‘A’ and Queens Head ‘B’ as the last two legs went to three sticks. Donnington took an early lead winning the first leg 21-15 and then set 14 in the next leg. In reply Queens left anchor man Nigel Bower one to win but he blobbed out to send the leg to three sticks, which Donnington won to go 2 up. The last leg was tied 16-16 and this time Queens were successful in the three sticks to grab a point.
Tiddington Cricket Club got their season off to a flawless start with a 3-0 win at home to Florence Park Club ‘A’. After winning the first two legs 17-15, 21-16 they were set 17 in the final leg. Tiddington struggled in reply and left anchor man Pete Shepherd five to win, and he was up to the challenge and clanged off the five dolls needed to complete the whitewash.

In Section 3 newly reformed The Ampleforth Arms ‘A’ got off to the best possible start with a 3-0 win at local rivals The Masons Arms ‘A’. They won all three legs 21-14, 23-12, 18-14.
Chequers ‘A’ set all three legs in their clash at Littlemore British Legion ‘A’ but lost all of them. The first leg went 18-15 and then they lost the next leg on three sticks after it was tied 17-17. The final leg Chequers set 18 but a two from Legions anchor man Steve Jessop saw them through by the odd doll with 19.
Queens Head A & Donnington Club C scored the same total of dolls 48 apiece but it was The Queens Head that came out on top 2-1. Chasing a set of twelve in the first leg Queens sneaked past it by the odd doll with thirteen. Queens set 21 in the next leg, however Donnington replied well with 23 to level the game. The final leg Queens set with 14 and it proved to be just enough as Donnington fell one short in reply with 13.

After a three year break Cowley Workers returned to the league in Section 6 and got off to the worse possible start losing the first leg at home to Littlemore British Legion ‘B’ 16-13. However they recovered well to win the next two legs 17-15, 22-10. Eamon Hanlon was their star man with thirteen dolls 4-4-5.

SIXERS: K.Giles (Gladiators Club ‘A’) D.Cox (Garsington Sports ‘A’) P.Rampton (Six Bells D) P.Austin (Black Prince)

BLOBBERS
K.Webb (Donnington Club B) A.Dawson (White Hart A Wolvercote) T.Bull (Florence Park B) E.Hopkins (Littlemore B.L. ‘B’)
D.Hutchinson (Donnington Club D) A.Pitter (The Tandem) A.Gregory (Red Lion Casington)

TOP DOLL SCORERS:
16: D.Cox (Garsington Sports A)
15: G.Townsend (Chequers C)
14: R.Goodall (Garsington Sports B)
13: K.Giles (Gladiators A) N.Lyon (Three Pigeons) P.Austin (Black Prince) E.Hanlon (Cowley Workers) P.Rampton (Six Bells D Kidlington)

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