WEEK 9

Halfway through the season already and Kevin Baker was in magnificent form as he clanged off 15 dolls (4-5-6) for the Gladiators in their 2-1 home win against Garsington Sports club. Gladiators set and won the opening leg 25-19 and was then set 25 in the second leg. A strong start in reply by The Glad’s put them on course to win the leg, however a collapse towards the end left Baker needing all six to tie the leg, and he almost pulled it off but fell one short with 5. A set of 19 by Garsington in the final and deciding leg was not enough as Gladiators stormed passed that with 32.
Despite three players hitting a six and Rob Bradford smashing off 14 dolls (4-4-6) White House still succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at The Catherine Wheel A who set and won the first leg 27-25. White House levelled in the next leg 32-23 thanks to sixes from Dick Walsh & Ian McAteer. Final leg White House set with 24 which was not enough as Catherine Wheel hit 27 in reply to give them the leg and game.
Black Horse kept their Section 1 title ambitions alive when they defeated New Club ‘A’ at home 2-1. They raced into a 2-0 lead winning both legs 25-22, 25-22 but couldn’t complete the whitewash in the final leg losing it 21-20. John Brown for The Black Horse was in top form with 14 dolls (5-5-4).
Littlemore British Legion had to come from behind to beat North Leigh FC on their own patch after they lost the first leg 24-22. Legion set and won the next leg 25-19 and then set 22 in the final leg. A good reply from North Leigh put them on course to pass that, however a collapse at the end left them two short with 20 to hand the leg and game to the Legion.
Yarnton British Legion had a fine 2-1 win at home to The Swan. They won the first two legs 24-22, 26-20 and then set 26 in the final leg. Good steady throwing by the Swan saw them pass that by the odd doll with 27 to give them a well-deserved point.

SECTION 2
Masons Arms A co lead Section 2 after a 3-0 win at The Queens Head but the game was much closer than the scoreline suggests. Queens set 16 in the opening leg and in reply Masons hit ten with their top three players but only three from their next four players leaving anchorman Chris Webb needing four to win and he was up to the task whipping off five dolls to win the leg with 18. Masons went two up in the second leg 19-13 and won the final leg by the smallest of margins 18-17. Webb ending up with a respectable 13 dolls (5-5-3).
Ampleforth Arms A had a comfortable 3-0 win against a depleted Blackbird team 17-6, 14-8, 18-10.
Black Horse ‘B’ downward spiral continues as they lost their fifth game on the bounce, this time away at Bletchingdon Sports club 2-1. It started of well for the Horse winning the first leg 16-11, but Bletchingdon hit straight back in the next leg to level 15-14 and then completed the turnaround in the final leg 18-15.
Duke Of Monmouth had to rely on a three stick shoot out to beat Vikings sports in the opening leg after it was tied 17-17 and then went on to win the next two legs 19-15, 19-15.

SECTION 3
Only four points separate the top 8 in section 3 and it’s the Tandem that leads the way by one point after they defeated Northway Club ‘B’ 2-1 at home. Tandem set the first leg with 16 and in reply a four from Northway’s Jack Wells levelled the leg for Northway who then went on to win the leg on three sticks. Tandem levelled in the next leg 17-11 and then completed the turnaround in the final leg 18-10.
Six Bells ‘B’ dented Cowley Workers title challenge by hitting their best score of the season in their 2-1 home win. It started of well for the Workers winning the opening leg 13-11 but an impressive set of 23 by the Bells was too much for the Workers who hit 15 in reply. Workers then set 15 in the deciding leg, and in reply Bells passed that with only half the team throwing and ended up with 19 to secure the win.
Six Bells ‘C’ move into second spot after a close hard fought 2-1 win at The New Club ‘B’. They won the first two legs by only two dolls 12-10, 14-12 and then set 16 in the last leg. In reply, New Clubs anchorman Steve Horwood clanged off the three dolls needed to secure a point with 17.
Masons Arms ‘B’ beat Rose Hill Club 2-1 in the leg scores of 16-13, 12-13, 12-8.
Cricketers Arms at last stopped their losing five game streak when batted away Headington Con club 2-1. It was not looking good for The Cricketers when chasing a set of 14 in the opening leg they could only muster up a reply of 9. However, they rallied well in the next two legs winning them both 17-13, 18-10. Doug Mingham for The Cricketers bagged himself a six in his 11 dolls haul (2-3-6).

SECTION 4
The top two clashed in Section 4 and it was leaders Donnington club who came out on top against Littlemore Rugby club 2-1 in a tight contest. The Rugby club started off at a blistering pace winning the first leg 18-11, however that was to be their only success as Donnington won the next leg by the smallest of margins 14-13 and the final leg on three sticks after it was tied 13-13. Dave Lammin top scored for the rugby club with 10 dolls (4-2-4).
The George are only two points behind the leaders after their 2-1 win at The Golden Ball, They won the first leg 15-10, lost the next 11-15 and won the final leg 21-15.
Catherine Wheel ‘B’ came away form The Red Lion Cassington with all three points 13-11, 10-7, 15-10.

SIXERS
K.Baker (Gladiators) D.Mingham (Cricketers) R.Bradford, D.Walsh, I.McAteer (White House)

BLOBBERS
G.Howell (Catherine Wheel ‘B’) P.Shipperley, S.Ings (Amplforth ‘B’)

HIGHEST DOLLS
15: K.Baker (Gladiators)
14: J.Brown (Black Horse ‘A’)
13: C.Webb (Masons Arms ‘A’)

HIGHEST LEG SCORE
The Gladiators, White House 32

TOP DOLLS SCORERS
Premier: Andy Beal 111 (Gladiators)
Section 1: Kevin Stuart 104 (Littlemore B.L.)
Section 2: Chris Webb 100 (Masons Arms)
Section 3: Eamon Hanlon 88 (Cowley Workers)
Section 4: Jack Lane 77 (Northway Club ‘C’)

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