WEEK 6

PREMIER/SECTION 1
Andy Beal was in astounding form as he smashed off 16 dolls (5-5-6) for The Gladiators in their 3-0 home win over The New Club, however the game was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests. The Gladiators set the opening leg with an imposing 28, in reply a good start from New club and a wobble in the middle left anchorman Mark Washington needing all six to win. He gave it a good go but fell one short with 5 to send it to a three stick shoot out. Glad’s set with a beatable 11, however New Club struggled and didn’t even give Washington a chance to throw and ended up with 7.Second leg New Club set but could only muster up 22. It should have been a formality for The Glad’s however they struggled and could only tie with 22, to send it once again to three sticks. New Club set but could only hit a score of 10, however Gladiators had to rely on anchor man Kevin Baker to whip of the 2 dolls needed to win the leg. Third and final leg chasing a set of 24, Gladiators sailed past that with 28. James Morrison was top dog for The New Club with a baker’s dozen (4-4-5).
The White House got their Premier title ambitions back on track when they came away from The Black Horse ‘A’ with all three points. They banged in a set of 29 in the opening leg and in reply Black Horse produced a good effort but fell just two short with 27. The second leg was tied 23-23 with White House winning it on three sticks, then they completed the whitewash in the final leg 25-20. Jon Townsend for the White House threw well for is 13 dolls (3-5-5).
The battle between the two British Legions was won by Littlemore when they defeated Yarnton on their own patch. They won all three legs 24-21, 26-23, 19-17. Steve Rogers for Yarnton was their only bright spark when he bagged himself a maximum six in his haul of 10 dolls.
North Leigh FC stopped their three-match running loss when they overpowered The Swan at home 2-1 in a very close contest. The opening leg was tied 21-21 with North Leigh winning the three sticker with a set of 16. Swan levelled in the next leg by the smallest of margins 21-20. Final and deciding leg North Leigh set and won 22-20.
Garsington Sports Club had a fine 2-1 win at The Catherine Wheel ‘A’ in the leg scores of 23-18, 22-16, 20-25.

SECTION 2
Queens Head remain top of Section 2 and unbeaten after they beat Black Horse ‘B’ 2-1 at home. They won the first leg 24-18 and the second on three sticks (13-11) after it was tied 21-21. Black Horse struck back in the final leg for a merited point 21-17.
The Blackbird have now lost three games on the bounce, their latest loss away at Duke Of Monmouth. The first two legs were very tight, Duke winning the first 16-15, while The Blackbird levelled in the next 16-15. The Duke made sure of victory in the final leg setting and winning it 19-11.
Only one doll separated The Ampleforth Arms ‘A’ and Seacourt Bridge (52-51) however it was The Amp that sneaked the game 2-1. The damage was done in the first two legs 17-15, 16-14, before The Seacourt threw well in the last leg chasing a set of 19, they hit 22 in reply for a point. Harry Tilling for Seacourt was in top form with a baker’s dozen (4-5-4).
Bletchingdon Sports pulled of a surprise win at home to high flying Masons Arms ‘A’, to give them their first taste of victory this season. Hitting their highest score of the season they set the first leg with 19. A slow response from Masons left anchorman Chris Webb needing five to tie and six to win, a good effort by Webb though left him one short with 4. Bletch won the next leg 20-14 but couldn’t make it maximum points when Masons set and won the final leg 18-16. Webb ended up with a dozen dolls (4-4-4).

SECTION 3
In Section 3 despite Dave Ross clanging of 13 dolls (5-3-5) and Eamon Hanlon hitting a dozen (3-5-4) for Cowley Workers they succumbed to a close 2-1 defeat at The Tandem who had to thank anchorman Stuart Dunham for performing as an anchorman should. Workers started off well winning the first leg 17-15 and then set 20 in the second leg. Steady throwing from The Tandem in reply left Dunham needing 3 to win which he duly dispatched with a stick to spare. Final and deciding leg Workers set again with 20 and this time Dunham whipped off the 4 dolls needed to sneak the leg by the odd doll with 21.
Leaders Six Bells ‘C’ fell to a unexpected defeat at lowly Headington Con club 2-1. It started off well for the Bells winning the first leg 17-12. Consistent throwing form the Con club saw them turn the game around in the next two legs winning them both 16-12, 17-13. Nick Edmonds top scored for the Bells with 10 dolls (3-4-3).
New Club ‘B’ and Rose Hill club both hit the same number of dolls (45-45) but it was the hosts New Club that claimed a close fought win after losing the first leg 16-13. New Club levelled in the next leg on three sticks after it was tied 16-16 and then completed the turnaround in the final leg 16-13.
After winning their first four games on the bounce the bails have come off for The Cricketers Arms when they lost their second game on the trot at The Masons Arms ‘B’ who won the opening leg 17-14. Masons went two up in the next leg on three sticks after it was tied 12-12. Last leg Masons set 15 and it looked to be easily enough when in reply
the Cricketers first three players all blobbed out. A good recovery from the rest of the team left anchorman Doug Mingham needing 4 to win and he did not disappoint whipping off 5 dolls to give the Cricketers an unexpected point.

SECTION 4
The George rules the roost in Section 4 after they beat hosts The White Hart 2-1. The first leg had to be decided on three sticks, in White Harts favour after it was tied 11-11. That was to be White Harts only success as The George upped their game and won the next two legs 18-9, 13-6.
There were some high scores for section 4 between Northway Club ‘C’ and Catherine Wheel ‘B’. In the first leg Northway set an impressive 17 which was more than enough to give them an early start as Catherine Wheel hit 7 in reply. A good set of 16 by Northway in the second leg was not quite enough as Catherine Wheel more than doubled their first score with 17 to level the game. Final leg had to be decided on three sticks after it was tied 10-10, Catherine Wheel winning the three sticker and game.
Donnington Club and Ampleforth Arms ‘B’ fought out a good scoring game, with Donnington winning the first two legs 17-12, 13-11, with The Amp winning the final leg 17-15.
Red Lion Cassington set and won the opening leg against visitors Littlemore Rugby club by the smallest of margins 16-15. A set of 11 in the second leg was not enough as the Rugby men got over the line with an impressive 19 and then won the final leg 15-12.
Golden Ball had to come from behind to beat Red Lion Yarnton after losing the first leg 13-9, they won the next two 11-7, 11-7.

SIXERS
A.Beal (Gladiators) S.Rogers (Yarnton B.L.)

BLOBBERS
R.Jackson (The Blackbird) S.Jones (White Hart) M.Colley, D.Eggleton (Cricketers)

HIGHEST DOLLS
16: A.Beal (Gladiators)
13: J.Mossison (New Club ‘A’) J.Townsend (White House) H.Tilling (Seacourt Bridge) D.Ross (Cowley Workers)

HIGHEST LEG
White house 29 (Away at The Black Horse)

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