Week 16 Report

STUART & SONS OXFORD & DISTRICT AUNT SALLY 2022
.REPORT WEEK 16
The Black Prince were crowned Premier Section champions for the first time without throwing a stick when their closest rivals The Swan ‘A’ crashed 3-0 away at The New Club. Needing at least a 3-0 win to keep in touch The Swan lost the opening leg on three sticks after it was tied 20-20. It only got worse from then on for the Swan, playing with a player short they lost the next two legs 22-15, 20-14 handing the Black Prince the title in their free week.
The race for second spot is on and North Leigh FC lead the way however they dropped an important point away at The Ampleforth Arms ‘A’. Winning the first two legs 25-23, 21-20 they couldn’t quite complete the whitewash losing the final leg 22-17. Dave Simms for The Amp and Charlie Buckingham for North Leigh both bagged themselves a six apiece.
The Section One title is still undecided, however leaders The Blackbird ‘B’ boosted their chances with a 2-1 win at Garsington Sports Club. They won the first two legs 24-13, 20-16 with Garsington hitting back in the final leg 20-18 to grab a unexpected point.
The George ‘A’ came away from The Gladiators ‘A’ with a 2-1 win in their best dolls talley this season. They set and won the first leg 27-22 but lost the next 28-25. George then set the final and deciding leg with an imposing 31. In reply Gladiators gave it a good go but fell four dolls short with 27. Scott Thompson for The Glad’s was top dog with a baker’s dozen (4-5-4).

Three teams are still within a chance of the Section Two title with the top two Red Lion ‘B’ leading the way by one point from Six Bells ‘A’ who clashed this week. Bells took an early lead winning the opening leg by the odd doll 16-15. They then excelled in the second leg setting and winning it 28-15. They couldn’t keep up that pace as the Red Lion snatched a vital point in the final leg 15-12. Bells captain Seamus O’Malley hit his first six of the season in a mixed score of 2-6-1.
Third spot Red Lion ‘A’ Yarnton dropped a crucial point at home to Queens Head when they lost the opening leg 25-20. They recovered well to take the next two legs 21-20, 20-14. Mark Poulter was in top form for the Lion with 14 dolls (6-4-4).
Gladiators ‘B’ winning run of five games came to an abrupt halt when they lost at Vikings Sports ‘A’ 3-0 in the leg scores of 18-18, 25-21, 17-15.
Seacourt Bridge had to come from behind to defeat Chequers ‘A’ on their own patch after losing the first leg 15-19. A set of only 9 by the Chequers was easily passed with 20. Chequers set 18 in the final leg which was not quite enough as Seacourt passed that with 20.
Section 3 leaders The Blackbird ‘A’ crashed away at bottom team The George ‘B’ 2-1 in the leg scores of 15-13, 19-14, 12-13.
Second places Masons Arms ‘A’ couldn’t take full advantage of the Blackbirds slip up when they dropped a leg at Vikings Sports ‘B’, however it could have been a lot worse as two of the legs went to three sticks. The first leg was tied 14-14 with the Masons winning it in three sticks. Vikings won the next leg by the smallest of margins 13-12. The final and deciding leg was tied 12-12 and once again Masons winning it on three sticks.
Cowley Workers Joe Dunne had a mixed night in their home clash against Red Lion ‘A’ Kidlington. He blobbed out in the first leg, clanged of a six in the next and a three in his final throw as they won all three legs 10-9, 13-11, 15-8.
Ampleforth Arms ‘B’ remain rooted at the foot of the table after they lost 2-1 at The Cricketers Littleworth 2-1. They won the opener 16-14 however that was to be their only success as Cricketers hit back in the next two legs 22-13, 15-11.
Donnington club ‘B losing streak continues when they lost for the fifth consecutive time at The Catherine Wheel 2-1 in the leg scores of 22-15, 16-15, 19-20.
Bletchington Sports need just two more points from their final two games to be crowned champions of Section 4 after they beat Rose Hill club 2-1. Winning the first leg 17-10, they lost the next 16-10 but secured victory in the final leg 15-9.
On their tail are Red Lion ‘B’ Yarnton but they had a disastrous night at The Masons Arms ‘B’ losing all three legs 19-12, 17-10, 19-16 to put a severe dent in their title ambitions.
Six Bells ‘B’ Kidlington stopped their run of four losses when they beat The Tandem 2-1 in the scores of 13-8, 12-9, 9-11.
The race for the Section 5 title intensifies after the top two both lost. Leaders Littlemore Rugby club had a devastating defeat at Northway Club ‘C’ losing all three legs 17-12, 11-10,12-11.
Now joint leaders The Swan ‘C’ lost at The Cricketers Arms Cowley 2-1 who won the opening leg 22-16. Swan levelled in the second leg 18-8 and was set 17 in the final leg. A slow reply from their front players left the tail too much to do and they fell short by one doll hitting 16 to give Cricketers victory. Paul Burden hit a rare six for The Cricketers.

TOP DOLL SCORERS
The race for the top doll scorer has been a two-horse race for most of the season between Rob Bradford from the Black Prince & Martin Cook from The Gladiators ‘A’. With two games to go only two dolls separate them. It looks like it could be all down to the last throw or stick of the season.

In Section One, Kevin Stuart (George ‘A’) has a five doll advantage over team mate Billy Trinder and apart from a disastrous two games Stuart should hold that lead.

In Section 2 Mark Poulter (Red Lion ‘A’ Yarnton) holds a one doll advantage over James Bennett (Vikings Sports ‘A’) however Chris Webb (Chequers ‘B’ ) is lurking in the shadows for any slip ups four dolls behind.

In Section 3 Steve Tooke (Catherine Wheel) is 11 dolls ahead and should hold onto the lead.

In Section 4 it is too tight to call with Mark Faulkner (Rose Hill Club) leading Joe Bandrowski (Masons Arms ‘B’) by one doll.

In Section 5 David Lammin (Littlemore rugby club) holds a five doll lead over Jack Lane (Northway Club ‘C’) however Lane has an extra game to play, so this could also go down to the last game.

Charlie Buckingham (North Leigh FC) has the most sixes with 4.

SIXERS: L.Thompson (Swan ‘A’) D.Simms (Ampleforth ‘A’) C.Buckingham (North Leigh FC) G.Coyle (Blackbird ‘B’) J.Dunne (Cowley Workers) P.Burden (Cricketers Cowley) S.O’Malley (Six Bells ‘A’)

BLOBBERS: R.Shadbolt (The Tandem) J.Castle (Masons Arms ‘B’) B.James (Six Bells ‘C’)

TOP DOLL SCORERS:
14: M.Poulter (Red Lion ‘A’ Yarnton)
13: S.Thompson (Gladiators ‘A’)

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