WEEK 14
It’s still very tight at the top of the Premier Section and second placed The White House had to come from behind to beat visitors Catherine Wheel ‘A’ 2-1 for whom Derrick Slater was in sensational from by hitting a double sixer in his 14-doll haul (6-2-6). With a four-doll handicap Catherine Wheel easily won the opening leg 30-22. A set of 21 in the next leg was never going to trouble The White House as they eased past that with 27 to level. Final and deciding leg Wheel set again this time with 25 , however this posed no problem for The White House as they hit 29 in reply to complete the turnaround. Roger Goodall was top dog for The White House with 14 dolls (5-5-4).
Leaders The Gladiators dropped a vital point at Garsington Sports hitting their lowest score of the season in the opening leg. The leaders could only set 13 and in reply Garsington with a four-doll handicap struggled to hit 15 however it was enough to give them an early lead. With the weather improving the scores recovered and The Gladiators set and won the next two legs 23-15, 26-18 to maintain their one-point lead.
Kevin Baker for The Gladiators was the only player to hit double figures with 13 (3-5-5).
The Swan in third place also dropped a point at home to Yarnton British Legion. They comfortably won the first two legs 29-17, 22-19 but could not complete the whitewash when Legion set and won the final leg 21-19. Mark Hewitson for the Swan hit a baker’s dozen (4-4-5) while Daniel Reading hit his first six of the season in his 12-doll haul (4-6-2).
Littlemore British Legion have opened up a eight point lead in Section 1 after a close fought home win against North Leigh FC , who sneaked the opening leg by the odd doll 18-17. North Leigh then set 21 in the next leg and in reply it was looking very bleak for The Legion when their first two players blobbed out, however the rest of the team rallied to leave anchorman Kevin Stuart to whip of the three dolls needed to win the leg with 22. A set of 16 in the final leg by the football club was never going to be enough to trouble the Legion and they passed that without a struggle with 20.
New Club ‘A’ stopped a three-game running loss when they came from behind to beat visitors Black Horse ‘A’ 2-1 who won the first leg 19-16. New Club hit straight back in the next leg 23-17 and won the deciding leg 21-13.
SECTION 2
Section 2 leaders Catherine Wheel ‘C’ are three points clear after they beat The Seacourt 2-1. They set and won the opening leg 16-11. Seacourt responded well and levelled in the next leg 16-13. The third leg The Wheel set and after half the team had thrown things were looking gloomy as they could only muster up 3 between them, however the tail wagged to clang off 15 dolls between them to give a total of 18. In reply a good 5 from leadoff man Ian Sharp gave The Seacourt hope, however the rest of the team struggled, and they fell two short with 16 to give the Wheel the leg and game.
The Masons ‘A’ crashed at home to The Queens Head 2-1 to put a dent in their title ambitions. They set 16 in the opening leg however a three from Queens anchor man Dean Fitzgerald saw them take the leg by the odd doll with 17. Masons levelled in the next leg 19-14 but a set of 21 by The Queens was enough to give them the leg and game when Masons could only hit 17 in reply. Chris Webb top scored with a baker’s dozen (2-5-6).
The Duke Of Monmouth’s rapid rise up the table continues as they recorded their 7th win on the bounce, this time away at The Vikings 3-0. They set and won all three legs 17-15, 15-11, 16-11.
The Blackbird stopped a three-game running loss when they beat visitors The Ampleforth ‘A’ 3-0 in the leg scores of 16-14, 15-10, 16-13.
SECTION 3
The Six Bells ‘C’ still lead Section 3 after a comfortable 3-0 win at home to The New Club ‘B’ . Deam Plumstead top scored with 10 dolls (3-2-5) as they won all three legs 18-13, 19-11, 16-12.
Second placed The Tandem dropped a point away at Northway Club ‘B’, however it could easily have been worse. Northway set 16 in the first leg, a slow reply from The Tandem cost them dear as they could only muster up a total of 9 dolls. Second leg Tandem set with 12 and it looked all over when Northway’s anchor-man needed just one to win, however he blobbed out to send it to three sticks, which Tandem won. Final and deciding leg Tandem set and won 17-15.
Headington Con club’s struggles continue after they lost their 8th game on the trot, this time away at The Cricketers, who won the first two legs 13-9, 14-11. The Con club won a deserved point in the final leg 12-10.
Rose Hill Clubs title dreams were dealt a massive blow after they lost at home to The Masons Arms B 2-1. They lost the first leg by the smallest of margins 13-12 but levelled in the next leg 15-11. Scores were much improved in the final leg however Masons upped it more and won the decisive leg 23-19.
Cowley Workers have given their outside chances a boost by beating Six Bells ‘B’ 3-0. They were never in trouble winning all three legs 22-9, 20-8, 15-11.
SECTION 4
The much-anticipated clash between the top two teams in Section 4 Littlemore Rugby club and Donnington Club ended up with the Rugby men taking all three points. They set and won the opening leg 14-11 and chasing a set of 13 in the second leg the Rugby men started of poorly hitting only 5 with half the team thrown, however they recovered well to finish with 15 to win the leg. A set of 9 in the final leg by Donnington was never going to be enough however the Rugby men struggled and just sneaked past it with 10.
Northway ‘C’ had to come from behind to beat Ampleforth Arms ‘B. They lost the first leg 13-9. Northway levelled the next leg 16-12 and was then set 13 in the final leg. A slow reply form Northway left their anchor-man Jack Lane needing 4 to win and he did not disappoint clanging off the 4 needed to sneak the leg with 14. Lane ended up top dog with 10 dolls (4-2-4).
The George beat The Golden Ball 2-1 at home. They lost the opening leg on three sticks after it was tied 13-13. They upped their game a lot in the next two legs winning them both 19-10, 17-12. Dean Jacobs threw well for The George with 11 dolls (4-5-2).
Red Lion Yarnton beat White Hart 3-0, in the leg scores of 13-10, 12-10, 13-12.
SIXERS: D.Slater (2) (Catherine Wheel) C.Webb (Masons ‘A’) D.Reading (The Swan).
BLOBBERS:
G.Moss (Duke Of Monmouth) A.Breivik (Headington Con Club) D.Finney (The Blackbird)
HIGHEST DOLLS
14: D.Slater (Catherine Wheel) R.Goodall (White House)
13: C.Webb (Masons ‘A’) K.Baker (Gladiators’A’) M.Hewitson (The Swan)
HIGHEST LEG SCORE
White House 29
DERRICK SLATER DOUBLE SIXER 6-2-6
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