Week 14 Report

The Gladiators ‘A’ title ambitions are slowly slipping away when they dropped a valuable point at home to Garsington Sports ‘A’. Deciding to set in the opening leg Gladiators could only set with 22 which was never going to be enough as Garsinggton hit 24 in reply to go one up. Garsington set a decent 27 in the second leg, which Gladiators matched. Garsington decided to set in the three sticks and banged in a formidable set of 14. In reply Gladiators threw well to hit 15 with a player to spare to draw level. A set of 20 in the final leg by Garsington was not going to be enough as Gladiators hit a colossal return of 34. Kevin Giles (Gladiators) 5-4-5 and Barry Ruffels (Garsington) 4-6-4 were both top dogs with fourteen dolls.
Chequers ‘A’ secured their second win of the season when they shocked Section One leaders New Club ‘A’ 2-1. All the damage was done in the first two legs which Chequers won 20-16, 17-15. New Club grabbed a valuable point in the final leg 23-19.
The Swan ‘A’ relentless march to retaining the Premier title continues when they beat Red Lion ‘A’ Yarnton 3-0. Their home form has been superb and they have only dropped one point all season. The opening leg was close, Swan winning it 29-27,however The Swan made sure of no slip ups in the next two legs winning them both 30-20, 25-21.
A bad opening leg cost The Black Prince a precious point at home to The Swan ‘B’. They could only muster up a set of 18 in the opening leg which proved no problem for the Swan as they hit 23 in reply. Black Prince rallied well in the next two legs winning them at a canter 32-23, 30-21. Rob Bradford top scored for the Prince with a baker’s dozen (4-5-4).

Only four points separate the top seven in Section 2 and leaders Gladiators ‘C’ dropped a crucial point away at bottom team Red Lion ‘A’ Kidlington for whom Lee Anderson threw well for his thirteen dolls (3-5-5). Glad’s easily won the first leg 21-11 and when set 23 in the next leg by the Lion, Glad’s responded well to hit 24 in reply to go two up. They could not complete the whitewash in the final leg, when chasing a set of 19 they fell one short with 18.
Six Bells’ E’ Kidlington title ambitions were severely dented when they crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Red Lion ‘A’ Marston. With the game poised at 1-1 the final leg was tied 18-18 with the Lion winning the leg on three sticks. Robin Busby for the Bells had a very mixed night, when he started off with a blob, then followed that up with a maximum six, and then finished off with a one.
Ampleforth Arms ‘A’ hang in there after coming from behind to beat Donnington Club ‘A’. After losing the opener 18-16 The Amp fought back week to win the next two legs 22-16, 20-17.
Six Bells ‘D’ Kidlington crashed at home to The Bullnose ‘A’ 2-1 in the leg scores of 15-23, 20-18, 15-19.

In Section 3 Seacourt Bridge scored more dolls than their hosts Six Bells ‘A’ (47-45) but still managed to lose the game 2-1. It started off well for Seacourt winning the first leg 20-10, but that was to be their only success of the night as Bells hit back to win the next two legs 18-15, 17-12.
The George ‘B’ came away from Masons Arms ‘A’ with a closely fought 2-1 win. Masons won the first leg 15-11. George chasing in the next two legs done well to win them both by the odd doll 12-11, 13-12.
Steve Majkut hit a baker’s dozen (4-4-5) for The New Club ‘B’ but it was to no avail as they lost all three legs to Queens Head 23-9, 19-10, 20-20 (on three sticks).
Six Bells ‘B’ remain at the foot of the table despite a fine 3-0 win away at Rose Hill Club. Alan Surman (4-4-4) and Seamus O’Malley (3-5-4) starred for the Bells as they won all three legs 16-14, 20-17, 19-13.
Gladiators ‘B’ still rule the roost after their 2-1 win at Littlemore British Legion A. Glad’s raced into a 2-0 lead winning both legs 20-17, 25-22. The final leg Glad’s set 18, Legion struggled in reply and left Steve Jessup an anchor man’s dream, six to win. Jessup lived up to that dream and whipped off all six to snatch the leg.

One time title hopefuls Cowley Workers decline in Section 4 continues as they lost for the third time in a row, this time at home to The Blackbird. One point from a possible nine is not title challengers form but things were looking good for the Workers when they won the first leg 15-9. Their hopes were dashed in the next two legs when Blackbird won them both 17-13, 19-15.
Leaders Catherine Wheel ‘B’ had a setback when they lost at home to Green Road Club ‘A’ 2-1. It started of well for the leaders winning the opening leg 16-10, but Green Road responded perfectly and won the next two legs 19-15, 16-11.
Red Lion ‘B’ title ambitions were dealt a massive blow when they crashed at home to Vikings Sports ‘A’. The first leg went to plan Lion winning it 16-9 but they fell apart in the next leg when they could only set 8. Vikings hitting 18 in reply to level. Final and deciding leg Vikings set with 15 which proved to be enough as Lion fell two short with 13 to give the Vikings an unlikely win.

Section 5 leaders Cricketers Arms Cowley lost for the second time on the bounce but still hold a five point lead after losing to near rivals Masons Arms ‘B’ 2-1. Opening leg Masons set and won 16-12 with the second leg going to the Masons on a three stick shoot out when it was tied 15-15. Cricketers grabbed a vital point in the final leg 19-17.
Vikings Sports ‘C’ took full advantage of The Cricketers slip up and claimed maximum points away at The Tandem. After a close first leg 15-14 Vikings made sure of the next two 23-13, 16-14.

In Section 6 Catherine Wheel ‘A’ are still in the title chase despite being whitewashed at Green Road Club ‘B’. It was a poor night all round for The Wheel and they were beating comfortably 20-10, 22-12,13-10. Nick (Snr) Edmonds (4-4-3) and Barry Mudd (5-4-2) for Green Road threw well for their eleven dolls.
Leaders Chequers ‘B’ lost at home to Bletchington Sports Club 2-1 and find their lead cut to two points. Chequers won the opener 15-11 but two high scoring legs saw the Sportsmen win them both 17-15, 19-17. Wally Harwood top scored with eleven dolls 3-4-4.

In Section 7 after eleven straight wins, Marston British Legion have now lost two on the bounce and see their title hopes fading away. White Hart Whytham threw two good legs to win them both 13-12, 16-6, before Legion grabbed a point in the final leg 10-8.

SIXERS : D.Walsh (Swan ‘A’) ) B.Ruffels (Garsington Sports Club) R.Busby (Six Bells ‘E’) J.Ormrod (Swan ‘C’) S.Jessup (Littlemore B.L. ‘A’)
P.Doolan (Gladiators ‘B’)

BLOBBERS: J.Roberts (Vikings Sports ‘D’) D.Pymm (Littlemore B.L. ‘B’) F.Delaney (Democrats Club) C.Bracey (Headington Con Club)

TOP DOLL SCORERS:
14: K.Giles (Gladiators ‘A’) B.Ruffels (Garsington Sports Club)
13: R.Bradford (Black Prince) L.Anderson (Red Lion ‘A’ Kidlington) S.Majkut (New Club ‘B’)

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