Week 16 Report

REPORT 16
With just two games of the season to go, five sections are still up for grabs after Gladiators ‘B’ and Headington Con Club were crowned champions of Section 3 & 7 respectively.
The Swan ‘A’ just need one point to successfully retain the Premier title after they beat The George ‘A’ 3-0. The first leg was important and it was a cracker. The George set with 26 and in reply the Swan could only hit eleven with their top four players, however the tail end wagged and hit fifteen dolls to tie the leg. George set in the three stick shoot out with an imposing fifteen which would win many legs. The Swan showed why they are champions elect by banging in sixteen in reply with a player spare. The Swan then romped home in the next leg 30-22, but in the final leg when chasing a set of 23 they only had nine on the board with half the team thrown. Once again the bottom half of the team came to their rescue when they hit eighteen dolls between them to finish with a total of 27. Lee Thompson (5-5-4) Dave Lee (5-3-6) and Jon Townsend (5-5-4) all hit fourteen dolls for the Swan.
The Gladiators ‘A’ is still hoping for a miracle and are clinging on in there after they brushed aside Section One pace setters New Club ‘A’ 3-0 and in turn stopped New Club from claiming the Section One title. The Glad’s have done well to still be in with a shout after losing their first three opening games and hit 90 dolls or more for the third time this season. It was an easy win for the Glad’s winning all three legs 27-20, 31-21, 32-21. Chris Jenkins was top dog for The Gladiators with fifteen dolls (4-6-5) and was supported well by team mate Andy Beal (4-5-5) with fourteen dolls.
New Clubs result has given Garsington Sports some hope in Section One when they had no problems in their 3-0 whitewash at home to The Swan ‘B’. They won all three legs 25-19, 25-18, 23-20 but are five points behind the leaders. New Club needing just two points from their last two games for the title.

Section 2 pacesetters Donnington Club ‘C’ who have led the way all season dropped a valuable point at Red Lion ‘A’ Marston and now need three points to be crowned champions. Red Lion set and won the opening leg 23-16. It was much tighter in the second leg with Donnington levelling by the shortest of margins 18-17. A set of 16 by the Lion in the final leg was never going to be enough as Donnington hit 22 in reply to win the leg and game. Steve Greenough with fourteen dolls (5-4-5) was in top form for the club men, while Darren Trinder hit a baker’s dozen (4-4-5)for The Lion.
Gladiators ‘C’ title hopes were dealt a severe dent when they crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Donnington Club ‘A’. The opening leg Donnington set an impressive 28 which Glad’s fell well short with 22 in reply. Gladiators set 20 in the second leg and in reply Donnington left their anchor man Steve Walton five to win, and he did not disappoint whipping off the five dolls needed to snatch the leg by the odd doll. Gladiators avoided the whitewash in the final leg winning it 26-17. Steve Walton threw well for his fourteen dolls (5-5-4).
The Ampleforth Arms ‘A’ have put themselves back in contention with a 3-0 win at Red Lion ‘A’ Kidlington. The score line does not do The Red Lion any justice as they narrowly lost the first two legs 17-16, 20-19 and then the third 18-13.
The Six Bells ‘D’ Kidlington scored five more dolls then their hosts Tiddington Cricket Club but still managed to lose the game 2-1. Tiddington won the first leg 19-16 with Six Bells levelling in the next leg 28-19. Tiddington set and won the deciding leg 18-17.

Gladiators ‘B’ are champions of Section 3 after their sixth straight win this time at The New Club ‘B’ 3-0. They won all three legs 24-19, 21-20, 19-16.

Catherine Wheel ‘A’ and Red Lion ‘B’ Yarnton are fighting it out for the Section 4 title and leaders Catherine Wheel dropped a costly point at The Bullnose Morris ‘B’ and it could have been worse. Catherine Wheel went one up in the first leg 16-13. Bullnose hit straight back to win the next leg 19-14. A set of thirteen by The Wheel in the last leg was beatable but in reply Bullnose fell one short with twelve after their anchor man blobbed out giving the Wheel the leg and vital point.
Red Lion whitewashed visitors Cowley Workers 3-0, They won the first two legs 16-12, 17-14 but had to rely on a three stick shoot out in the final leg after it was tied 13-13.
Green Road Club ‘A’ , Alan Middleton bagged himself a six in his twelve doll haul (6-3-3) as they beat Northway Club ‘C’ 2-1. Dean Lane also hit a dozen dolls for Northway in the leg scores of 20-17, 19-17, 12-16.

It’s very tight at the top of Section 5 with three teams still battling it out. Leaders Cricketers Arms Cowley had a much needed win, as they had lost their previous two games, and saw off The Cricketers Arms Littleworth 3-0 to move two points clear.
Vikings Sports ‘C’ dropped a costly point at home to Littlemore British Legion ‘B’. It came in the opening leg which they lost 15-13. Vikings recovered well to win the next two legs 13-9, 17-10. Jack Wells hit a six in his nine doll total for Vikings.
Masons Arms ‘B’ are ready to step in if the top two slip up after they had a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Red Lion ‘B’ Marston, 16-12, 19-12, 23-12.

Chequers ‘B’ have manoeuvred themselves to the top of Section 6 after coming away from The White Horse with all three points. It was good consistent throwing that saw them through winning all three legs 19-11, 19-12, 19-8.
Duke Of Monmouth scrapped a 3-0 win at home to Red Lion ‘B’ Kidlington to keep them in the title race. After winning the first leg with dolls to spare 14-10 they pinched the next two legs by the smallest of margins 15-14, 14-13.

Headington Con Club secured the Section 7 title when they beat Yarnton British Legion 2-1. It was a remarkable turnaround by the Con Club after they lost two of their three opening games they have gone on a thirteen game unbeaten run. Con Club won the opening leg on one stick after it was tied 10-10 and three sticks could not separate them. They then won the second leg 18-9 which secured the section win for them. Yarnton won the final leg 11-10.

SIXERS : C.Jenkins (Gladiators ‘A’) D.Lee (Swan ‘A’) A.Middleton (Green Road Club ‘A’) J.Wells (Vikings Sports ‘C’) S.Majkut (New Club 'B')

BLOBBERS: J.Milligan (Vikings Sports ‘C’) T.Dagliesh (Golden Ball) D.Newman (Democrats Club) C.Laver, L.Cadoret (Yarnton B.L.) T.Deacon (Cowley Workers)


TOP DOLL SCORERS:
15: C.Jenkins (Gladiators ‘A’)
14: A.Beal (Gladiators ‘A’) L.Thompson, D.Lee, J.Townsend (Swan ‘A’) S.Walton (Donnington Club ‘A’)
13: M.Rollins (The Woodman)

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