Week 17 Report

REPORT WEEK 17
In one of the closest finishes for many years The Premier title has now gone for a three horse race in to two after The Swan ‘A’ defeated their rivals Garsington Sports Club ‘A’ 3-0. Garsington set the opening leg with 25 and in reply a four from The Swan’s anchor man Keith Powell saw them over the line by the smallest of margins with 26. Garsington set the second leg with 26 but The Swan sailed past that with 29 to put them in prime position. Final leg was tied 25-25 but The Swan made sure of maximum points by winning the three leg shoot out. Jon Townsend (4-4-6) top scored for The Swan and was well supported by Alex Chamberlain with thirteen dolls (3-5-5). Barry Ruffels threw exceptionally well for Garsington for his fourteen doll haul (4-6-3)It’s a remarkable turnaround by The Swan who were well off the pace at the half way stage but are now in leading position and in turn dashing Garsington hopes of their first ever Premier title.
One point behind are previous leaders The Black Prince who dropped a vital point away at The George ‘A’. It was looking desperate for The Prince when they lost the opening leg 24-22, however they set and won the next two legs 25-20, 26-20 to make sure the title won’t be decided until the final week. Mike Foreman was top dog for The Prince with thirteen dolls (3-4-6).
Gladiators’ A’ demolished Section One winners The Swan ‘B’ 3-0 with an outstanding display. They won all three legs 29-23, 31-24, 29-24. Chris Jenkins was in great form with fifteen dolls (5-5-5) for The Glad’s while Garry Baily bagged himself a six in his fourteen doll haul (3-5-6) for The Swan.
The race for top Premier Section doll scorer is between The Three Pigeons pair of Paul Townsend & Neil Lyon and they both improved their chances in the 2-1 win at home to The Woodman. Townsend hit thirteen (5-5-3) while Lyon clanged of a dozen dolls (6-4-2). Pigeons won the first leg 27-25 with The Woodman hitting straight back in the next leg 26-24. The final leg was tied 20-20 with The Pigeons winning it on three sticks. Charlie Buckingham and Ray Grant both hit a baker’s dozen (4-5-4) for The Woodman.

In Section 2 Pete Shepherd was in top form for Tiddington Cricket Club as he clanged off fifteen dolls (6-4-5) in their 3-0 hammering against Queens Head ‘B’ in the leg scores of 27-16, 22-14, 21-17.

It’s very tight at the top of Section 3 and The Ampleforth Arms ‘A’ lead the way by two points after they came away from Rose Hill Club with maximum points. It was fairly comfortable in the end as the won all three legs 23-20, 24-21, 21-17.Mark Washington was in brilliant form hitting fourteen dolls (5-5-4) for The Amp.
Donnington Club ‘C’ are keeping up the pressure and are ready to pounce should The Amp slip up. Led by Steve Greenough with thirteen dolls (5-4-4) Donnington won the first two legs 21-15, 18-15 and completed the whitewash in the final leg 24-19.
The Six Bells ‘B’ Kidlington second half of the season continues to go downhill as they fell to their seventh defeat out of eight when they lost 2-1 at The Masons Arms ‘A’. It started off well for the Bells when they won the opening leg at a canter 20-16, however that was to be their only success as Masons hit back and won the next two legs 16-14, 13-10.
Dave Matthews with thirteen dolls (4-4-5) was the star for Queens Head ‘A’ but it was all in vain as they lost at home to Red Lion ‘A’ 3-0 in the leg scores of 22-20, 21-17, 22-18.

Vikings Sports ‘B’ were crowned Section 4 champions without throwing a stick after Ampleforth Arms ‘B’ failed to raise a team and conceded the game.
That news was devastating for The Six Bells ‘A’ Kidlington as they ran out 3-0 winners at home to The Bullnose Morris ‘B’ but now trail by six points.
It was a long night between Red Lion ‘B’ Marston and Green Road club as two of the three legs went to three sticks. The club men won the first leg 20-16 and then won the next two legs on three sticks after they were tied 14-14, & 16-16.
Steve Horwood hit his best score of the season (3-5-4) and guided The Cricketers Arms Littleworth to a 2-1 win at home to Donnington Club ‘B, 14-19, 21-13, 17-14.

Only one point separate the top two in Section 5 with The Swan ‘C’ leading the way after their 3-0 win away at Democrats Club ‘A’ . They won all three legs 16-15, 14-8, 21-11.
Previous leaders Red Lion ‘B’ Yarnton crashed away at Northway Club ‘C’ 2-1. Losing the first two legs 16-15, 14-12 it could have got even worse in the final leg when it was tied 24-24. However the Lion won the leg on three sticks to give them a priceless point. Barry White for Northway had a mixed night hitting 1-2-6.
Well done to The White Hart ‘A’ Wolvercote who could only muster up five players against The Cricketers Arms Cowley but came away with a 2-1 win in the scores of 11-12, 15-11, 9-11.

Section 6 leaders Vikings Sports ‘D’ lost to Prince Of Wales 2-1 in a very close contest. Vikings won the first leg 13-11 but POW drew level in the next leg on three sticks after it was tied 14-14. Final and deciding leg Prince of Wales won by the odd doll 15-14 which has now opened up the race for the title.
Seacourt Bridge are only a point behind but they did drop a point at Kidlington Football club. Seacourt won the first leg easily 17-10 but lost the next 18-14. They secured victory in the final leg 14-12.Paul Harwood was top dog for Kidlington with a dozen dolls (3-5-4).

Three teams are battling it out for the Section 7 crown and it’s the Tandem that lead the chasing pack although they had a scare at home to Gladiators ‘D’. Tandem set 15 in the opening leg which turned out to be not enough as The Glad’s hit 18 in return to take an early lead. Tandem hit back in the next leg 14-7 and then wrapped up victory in the final leg 19-14.
Bletchingdon Sports club could have drew level but dropped a point in their 2-1 win at Marston British Legion ‘A’. The sportsmen took an early lead winning the first leg 13-9 but an 18 set by the legion in the next leg was too much for Bletchingdon who hit 10 in reply. Legion then set 13 in the final leg and after a slow reply a three from anchor man Wally Harwood secured the leg and win for Bletchingdon.
Gavin Wiggins hit ten dolls (4-4-2) for Black Horse 'A' but they lost out to Golden Ball 2-1 in the leg scores of 10-11, 11-7 11-17.

SIXERS : A.Beal (Gladiators ‘A’) M.Foreman (Black Prince) G.Bailey (The Swan ‘B’) N.Lyon (Three Pigeons) J.Townsend (Swan 'A')B.Ruffels (Garsington Sports 'A') P.Shepherd (Tiddington Cricket Club)
D.Simms (Ampleforth Arms ‘A’) B.White (Northway Club ‘C’)

BLOBBERS: D.Simms (Bullnose Morris ‘B’)E.Hopkins (Littlemore B.L. ‘B’) T.Weller (North Oxford Con Club) P.Soanes(Bletchingdon Sports) M.Smith (Marston B.L. ‘A’)
G.Clarke (Original Swan)


TOP DOLL SCORERS:
15: C.Jenkins (Gladiators ‘A’) P.Shepherd (Tiddington Cricket Club)
14: G.Bailey (The Swan ‘B’) M.Washington (Ampleforth Arms ‘A’) J.Townsend (Swan 'A')B.Ruffels (Garsington Sports 'A')
13: M.Foreman (Black Prince) B.Townsend (Gladiators ‘A’) P.Townsend (Three Pigeons) C.Buckingham, R.Grant (The Woodman) S.Greenough (Donnington Club ‘C’) D.Matthews (Queens Head ‘A’) A.Chamberlain (Swan 'A')

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