WEEK 7

PREMIER/SECTION ONE
The White House & Yarnton British Legion fought out an entertaining close game for whom Roger Goodall for the White House starred with 15 dolls (5-4-6). White House set and won the opening leg 25-22. Legion set the second leg with a low 18 which should have been a formality for the White House, however they made hard work of it and sneaked over the line with 21. The third and deciding leg had more twists and turns than a tornado. Legion set with 26 and in return White House could only muster up a total of 5 with their first three players and the leg looked lost as their last five players needed 22 between them. The fightback started with Goodall clanging off all six and the next three players hitting 4 a piece to leave anchor man Mick Phipps needing 4 to win. A shaky start with Phipps missing with his first two sticks seemed to hand the leg back to the Legion, however he steadied himself to whip of the doll with his last four sticks to snatch a certain win for the Legion to a win for the White House by one doll.
Kevin Giles was another 15-doll hitter ( 4-5-6) as he guided the Gladiators to a tricky 2-1 win at The Catherine Wheel ‘A’. The Glad’s set and won the first leg 25-20 and then chasing a set themselves of 25 looked on course to beat that, however a collapse in the middle order left them three dolls short with 22. Final and deciding leg Gladiators set and won 25-18.
It was a very long night at The Black Horse ‘A’ against North Leigh FC as one leg went to three sticks and the other to one stick to decide the winner. North Leigh set all three legs and the first one they hit 21, in reply Black Horse had to rely on anchorman Steve Walton to whip off the 4 dolls needed to tie the leg. Three sticks could not separate them (12-12) and on the one stick shoot out Black Horse sneaked it 3-2. They then went two up in the second leg 26-16. Final leg a set of 20 by North Leigh was matched by The Black Horse thanks to anchorman Steve Walton who clanged off the five dolls needed. Black Horse once again winning the three sticker 8-7 to give them maximum points.
Mark Bayliss was in fine form hitting 14 dolls (4-6-4) as Littlemore British Legion had to come form behind to beat The New Club ‘A’ 2-1. An opening set of 21 was never going to be good enough for the Legion as New club passed that with ease hitting 28. Legion levelled in the next leg 27-22. New Clubs night got worse in the final leg when they could only set 17, Legion flying past that with 25.
The Swan won their second game of the season when they beat Garsington Sports 3-0 on their own patch. After a tight first leg which The Swan won 22-20, they then went on to complete the whitewash in the next two legs 30-24, 25-20.

SECTION 2
Section 2 leaders Masons Arms ‘A’ had a comfortable night at home to a depleted Blackbird team who could only rally up six players. They won all three legs 16-11, 18-8, 17-14. Chris Webb for The Masons was top dog with a baker’s dozen 5-2-6.
Vikings Sports grabbed their second win of the season at home to The Black Horse ‘B’ who have lost their way, after winning the first four games of the season this was their third loss on the bounce. It started of well for the Horse winning the first leg 14-10. However, Vikings produced their best leg of the season to win the second leg 23-17. A set of 16 in the final leg by Vikings did not seem to be enough however four blobs in return by The Black Horse cost them dear as they fell two dolls short with 16 to give The Vikings an unexpected victory.
Catherine Wheel ‘C’ remain unbeaten after they beat Duke Of Monmouth 2-1, but it could have easily been a 2-1 loss. The first leg was tied 15-15 with The Wheel sneaking it on three sticks. A set of 21 in the next leg with the help of a six by Lee Worrall was enough to win the second leg for The Duke 21-20. A set of 14 in the final leg by The Duke was insufficient as The Wheel rolled past that with 23 to keep their unbeaten record intact. Harry Clent for The Wheel threw well for his dozen dolls (4-4-4).Newcomer to the game Blaine M Smith hit double figures (2-4-4).
The Ampleforth Arms ‘A’ inflicted The Queens Head first defeat of the season with a 3-0 home win. The Amp went into an early 1-0 lead in the first leg 17-14. They were then set 19 in the second leg and in reply The Amp were on course to go two up when only four dolls were needed by their last three players, however a one and a blob left anchorman Dave Green needing three to win and he duly obliged with a stick to spare. The Amp then completed the whitewash in the final leg 19-11.
Bletchingdon Sports are finding in tough in Section 2 after their latest loss at Seacourt Bridge who won the first leg 13-12. The Bletch hit straight back in the second leg to level 16-13 however a set of 10 in the deciding leg was not enough as Seacourt hit 15 in return to win the leg and game.

SECTION 3
Section 3 leaders The Tandem had be on top form to overcome a determined Headington Con club who hit their best scores of the season and sit at the bottom of the table. Tandem went into an early lead winning the first leg 18-15 and then set 19 in the second leg. In reply Con club were on target but a blob near the end left anchor man Dave Spriggs needing five to tie the leg, he gave a good effort but just fell short by one doll with 4. Final leg Tandem set with 16 and this time the 4 dolls Spriggs hit was enough to win the leg with 17 to give the clubmen a well-deserved point. Spriggs ended up with a dozen dolls (4-4-4).
After winning their opening three games of the season Cowley Workers have now lost three on the bounce, the latest defeat away at Rose Hill Club. It started of well for the Workers winning the first leg 19-14, however that was to be their only success as Rose Hill hit straight back in the next two legs 15-12, 19-16.
New Club ‘B’ rapid rise up the table continues as they won their fourth game on the trot, this time home to Masons Arms ‘B’. They had to do it the hard way after they went one nil down in the first leg 12-15. A good recovery saw them improve each of the two legs remaining winning them both 16-12, 18-14.
The Cricketers Arms title ambitions have come off the rails in spectacular fashion. After winning their first four games they have now lost their last three games on the bounce and only picked up two points. Northway Club B were the latest team to defeat them, but it was a very close tight game that could have gone either way. Northway set and won the first leg by the tiniest of margins 13-12. Cricketers levelled in the second leg on three sticks after it was tied 17-17. Final and deciding leg went to Northway again by the odd doll 14-13.
The two Six Bells teams clashed at it was the C team that came out on top against the B team in the leg scores of 11-15, 17-16, 19-12.

SECTION 4
Section 4 leaders The George crashed at home to The Catherine Wheel ‘B’ 2-1 despite both teams hitting the same number of dolls. The Wheel won the first two legs by the smallest of margins 17-16, 19-18 before The leaders grabbed a point in the last leg 17-15. Andy Painter threw well for The Wheel with 11 dolls (5-4-2).
Red Lion Yarnton move into second spot after they beat visitors Ampleforth Arms ‘B’ 3-0, however the game was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests. The Lion roared in all three legs 14-12, 16-11, 14-13.
Donnington Club had a fine 3-0 at home to Northway Club ‘C’. They set and won the first leg by the odd doll 15-14 then won the next two legs at a canter to complete the whitewash 19-10, 19-12. Jack Lane was the shining light for Northway with a dozen dolls including a six (3-3-6).
Littlemore Rugby club made it three wins on the bounce after they beat White Hart 3-0 in the leg scores of 12-10, 11-6, 10-5.
Red Lion Cassington stopped a three consecutive losing streak when they came from behind to beat The Golden Ball who won the opening leg 9-7. Red Lion then more than doubled their first leg score twice in the next two legs to win them both 15-10, 15-10.


SIXERS
K.Giles (Gladiators) R.Goodall (White House) L.Worrall (Duke Of Monmouth) C.Webb (Masons Arms A)
J.Lane (Northway ‘C’) M.Bayliss (Littlemore B.L.)

BLOBBERS
B.Woodward (White Hart)

HIGHEST DOLLS
15: K.Giles (Gladiators) R.Goodall (White House)
14: M.Bayliss (Littlemore B.L.)`
13: S.Walton (Black Horse A) C.Webb (Masons Arms A)

HIGHEST LEG SCORE
The Swan 30

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