Week 13 Report

REPORT 13
The top two clashed in the Premier Section and it was leaders The Swan ‘A’ who came out on top and extend their lead to five points. Jon Townsend was on exceptional form as he clanged off fifteen dolls (5-5-5). The game never really lived up to its expectations with the Swan winning all three legs 27-24, 29-24, 29-23.
Still propping up the table The George ‘A’ had a morale boosting win at home to The Black Prince and in turn dashed any outside hopes The Prince had of the title. The George easily won the first two legs 26-21, 28-21, before The Prince redeemed some pride in the final leg winning it 31-27.
The top two also clashed in Section One and leaders New Club ‘A’ have opened up a eight point gap over rivals Garsington Sports Club when they beat them 2-1, however the result could have been completely different if Garsington’s erratic throwing didn’t come back to haunt them. It started off well for the sports men when they won the opening leg 21-20. The second leg New Club could only set with fourteen and what should have been a formality for Garsignton, needing only six from their last three players, they imploded with two blobs and a four to end up one short with thirteen. A six from Barry Ruffels in the final leg helped Garsignton set 22, but New club responded well to sneak past that by the odd doll with 23 to give them an unlikely win and one hand on the title.

It’s tight at the top of Section 2 with Donnington Club ‘C’ leading the chasing pack by two points after they came from behind to beat close rivals Six Bells ‘E’ 2-1 on their own patch. With the game nicely poised at 1-1, (17-20, 17-15) Six Bells set nineteen in the final and deciding leg. A steady reply by Donnington meant they left their anchor man Marc Joines needing only one to win which proved to be no problem, hitting two just to make sure.
Gladiators ‘C’ keep up the pressure with a fine 2-1 win at home to The Bullnose Morris ‘A’. Gladiators raced into a two nil lead winning both legs 24-19, 25-23 but they could not complete the maximum win when The Bullnose won the final leg 23-16.
Phil Smith hit a baker’s dozen (5-4-4) for Tiddington Cricket Club in their 2-1 win at Donnington Club ‘A’. Tiddington set and won the first leg 25-18 but Donnington struck straight back in the next leg when they set and won 26-22. Into the deciding leg and it was tied 23-23 with the cricket club winning the leg on three sticks.
There was some mixed throwing between the bottom two teams, Red Lion ‘A’ Marston and Red Lion ‘A’ Kidlington, and showed why these two teams are struggling. In the first leg Marston set with 26, Kidlington hitting only a paltry 10 in reply. Second leg Kidlington upped their game and hit 26 to win the leg and level the game, when Marston could only reply with 17. Final leg it was Kidlington Lion that roared the loudest winning the leg by the tightest of margins 17-16.

Gladiators ‘B’ rule the roost in Section 3 after their 3-0 maximum win at home to Seacourt Bridge. Three sets of twenty to Seacourt’s 19-14-17 saw them through. John Allnutt for The Glad’s threw well hitting his third six of the season.
There was a very rare occurrence in the game between Littlemore British Legion ‘A’ and Rose Hill Club, where all three legs were tied and had to be decided on three sticks. A set of 18 by the Legion in the opening two legs were matched by Rose Hill, with Rose Hill winning the first leg on three sticks and Legion levelling in the second leg on three sticks. Final leg was tied 14-14 with the legion snatching it on three sticks 10-9.
Six Bells ‘A’ Kidlington are still in the hunt for the title after a tight 2-1 win over close rivals Queens Head. Bell’s won the first two legs 19-17, 23-21 before an impressive set of 28 by Queens Head saw them win the final leg when The Bell’s replied with 22. Rory Mangan (4-5-4) for Queens Head and Ady Cross (5-4-4) Six Bells both threw well for their thirteen dolls.

Cowley Workers title ambitions in Section 4 are falling rapidly after they lost to their second 3-0 defeat this time away at Vikings Sports ‘A’. A tight first leg saw Vikings set 17 and in reply Workers left anchor man Eamon Hanlon needing all six to win. He gave it a good go but fell just one short with five which sent the leg into three sticks with Vikings winning the three stick shootout. Vikings then completed the whitewash in the next two legs 19-14, 20-18.
Red Lion ‘B’ Yarnton move into second spot after a hard fought 2-1 win at The Bullnose Morris ‘B’. With the game nicely balanced at 1-1 Bullnose set 14 in the final leg. In reply Lion could only muster up nine from their first six players, however six from their last two players saw them through by the odd doll with fifteen.

Cricketers Arms Cowley have opened up a five point gap at the top of Section 5 when they defeated Vikings Sports ‘D’ 3-0. Cricketers won the opening leg by the smallest of margins 18-17 but had no trouble in the next two legs winning them both 15-9, 14-7. Doug Mingham top scored with a dozen dolls (5-3-4) for The Cricketers.
Cricketers Arms Littleworth dropped a valuable point at home to basement boys Tandem in their chase for the title. Winning the first two legs 18-17, 19-14 they fell apart in the final leg losing it 12-10.
Nick Baukham hit a rare six for Vikings Sports ‘C’ but it was to no avail as they lost at home to Donnington Club ‘B’ 2-1 in the leg scores of 16-18, 12-11, 14-16.

It is so close in Section 6 it’s impossible to find a favourite as only five points separate the top seven. The top two clashed and The Chequers ‘B’ gave themselves a massive boost when they beat leaders Prince Of Wales 3-0 in a very close game. Prince set 20 in the opening leg which Chequers matched thanks to anchor man Benjamin Green whipping of the four dolls needed to tie the leg. Chequers winning the three stick shoot out. Chequers then went two up in the next leg 16-15 and then completed the maximum win in the final leg 20-15.
Duke Of Monmouth have their anchor man Lee Worrall to thank for their 3-0 win over Green Road Club ‘B’ as without him the score line could easily have been reversed. Duke set and won the first leg 14-11 and then were set seventeen in the second leg. A four from Worrall saw the Duke snatch the leg by the odd doll with eighteen. A five from Worrall in the final leg helped the Duke set fourteen which looked unlikely as they only had nine on the board with their previous seven players, which was just enough as Green Road club fell just one short in reply with thirteen. Worrall ended up with a dozen dolls (3-4-5).

Section 7 leaders Headington Con Club go four points clear when they defeated East Oxford Con Club at home 3-0 in the leg scores of 13-11, 20-13, 12-11.
Marston British Legion are hanging in there after they came away from Democrats Club with a 2-1 win. After easily winning the first two legs 13-8, 13-4 Democrats shocked the Legion when they set and won the final leg 12-10.

SIXERS : B.Ruffels (Garsington Sports Club) L.Hazell (Six Bells ‘E) R.Poore (Queens Head) M.Revill (Swan ‘B’) N.Baukham (Vikings Sports ‘C’)
J.Allnutt (Gladiators ‘B’)

BLOBBERS: E.Hopkins (Littlemore B.L. ‘B’) A.Varney (Northway Club ‘B’)


TOP DOLL SCORERS:
15: J.Townsend (Swan ‘A’)
13: T.Stuart (Swan ‘A’) B.Ruffels (Garsington Sports Club) R.Mangan (Queens Head) A.Cross (Six Bells ‘A’) A.Baker (Donnington Club ‘A’)
P.Smith (Tiddington Cricket Club)

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