WEEK 15
The top of the table clash between leaders The Gladiators and White House ended up with The White House coming away with all three points in a high scoring game. The White House set the opening leg with 28 and a mixed reply from The Glad’s left anchor man Kevin Baker needing 5 to tie and six to win and he nearly pulled it off. After clanging off the doll with his first four sticks, the fifth just came underneath and the sixth to the left leaving the Glad’s short by one doll with 27 to give The White House an early lead. Glad’s set the next leg but could only muster up a set of 21 which was never going to be enough to trouble the White House who hit 30 in reply to go two up. Final leg Gladiators set again with a much improved 28. A slow reply from the White House front four hitting 13 including a six from Phil Austin left their last four players needing 16 to win and they were all up for the task flying past that with 18 dolls to give them a total of 31 and go two points clear at the top of the table. Phil Austin was top scorer with 15 dolls (5-4-6) and was well supported by teammates Ian McAteer (3-5-5) and Dick Walsh (4-6-3).
The Swan move level with The Gladiators after they whitewashed The New Club at home. James Morrison was in superb form clanging off 16 dolls (5-5-6) but it was to no avail as they lost all three legs 28-22, 21-19, 27-22.
Littlemore British Legion need just two more points from the final three games to be crowned Section One champions after they came away from Garsington Sports (who prop up the table) with a 3-0 win. They set and won the opening leg by the smallest of margins 17-16 and then won the next two legs more comfortably 21-17, 21-14.
Catherine Wheel ‘A’ are clinging on in case the Legion slip up after they beat The Black Horse ‘A’ 3-0 at home. Each leg was close 23-20, 21-18, 22-21 with Jonny McMahon top scoring with a baker’s dozen, 5-4-4, for The Wheel.
Yarnton British Legion had to come from behind to beat North Leigh FC at home 2-1. The Legion set all three legs, losing the first 16-21 then winning the next two 23-18, 22-20.
SECTION 2
Section 2 leaders Catherine Wheel ‘C’ crashed at home to The Ampleforth Arms ‘A’ 3-0. The Amp set all three legs and won the opener with ease 17-12. Second leg was much tighter Amp winning it by the smallest of margins 18-17. Final leg Amp won at a canter 26-12 thanks to a six from ‘old timer’ and 2015 singles winner Geoff Townsend.
Second place The Masons Arms ‘A’ couldn’t quite take full advantage of the leaders slip up when they dropped a leg at lowly Vikings Sports, who won the opener 20-12. Vikings could only set the second leg with 12, however Masons struggled and left anchor man Chris Webb needing three to win and he went one better clanging off four dolls to level the game. A set of 11 by Vikings in the final leg should not have been enough to trouble the Masons , however they struggled once more and left Webb needing just one to win, however he whipped off five dolls for a total of 16 to complete the turnaround. Webb top scored with 11 dolls, 2-4-5.
Bletchingdon Sports who languish at the bottom of the table won the opening leg at home to Queens Head 19-15, however that was to be their only success as Queens won the next two legs 14-12, 17-16.
The Blackbird had a fine 2-1 win at Black Horse ‘B’ who won the first leg 18-14. Black Horse set 17 in the second leg and in reply Blackbird left their anchor-man Steve Buckle needing four to win, this proved to be no problem for Buckle as he clanged off five dolls to win the leg with 19. Blackbird then set and won the final leg by the smallest of margins 17-16. Alan Surman for The Black Horse threw well for his 13 dolls (4-5-4).
Duke Of Monmouth’s rise up the table continues after their eighth win on the bounce, this time at home to Seacourt Bridge in a very close contest. Setting all three legs they won the first 17-16, lost the second 18-19 and won the decider 21-17.
SECTION 3
Six Bells ‘C’ open a three-point gap at the top of Section 3 after they came away form the Masons Arms ‘B’ with all three points, however it was a lot closer than the scoreline shows. Masons set with 13 in the opening leg with The Bells just sneaking the leg with 14. A set of 19 by The Bells in the second leg gave them a 2-0 lead when Masons replied with 13. Final leg was tied 13-13 with Bells winning the leg on three sticks. Richard Taylor for The Bells top scored with 11 dolls (4-4-3).
Second place The Tandem dropped a point at Six Bells ‘B’ when they could only set 9 in the first leg, Bells went passed that with 11. Tandem regrouped and easily won the next two legs 22-8, 16-12.
Basement boys Headington Con club tasted victory for only the third time this season and the first time for 8 games, when they came away from New Club ‘B’ with a 2-1 win. They comfortably won the first two legs 12-8, 17-9 but couldn’t quite complete the whitewash when New Club won the third leg 15-12.
Rose Hill’s title dreams are still alive when they had a trouble-free 3-0 win at home to Northway Club ‘B’. Mark Faulkner led the way with a dozen dolls (5-4-3) as they won all three legs 23-13, 20-11, 13-10.
The local derby between Cowley Workers and Cricketers Arms was not quite as close as expected with Cricketers coming away with all three points. Dough Mingham led the way with a baker’s dozen (4-5-4) as they won all three legs 17-14, 19-16, 15-7. Billy Geddes bagged himself a six for Cowley Workers.
SECTION 4
Section 4 leaders Littlemore Rugby Club had a straightforward 3-0 win at a depleted Northway Club ‘C’ who could only field 4 players. Hats off to Northway for turning up and competing despite losing all three legs 5-19, 6-18, 8-13. David Lammin, Graham Irvine & Malcolm Bough all hit 10 dolls for the Rugby Club.
Donnington club remain 3 points behind after their whitewash win over Red Lion Cassington at home. The first leg was tied 11-11, Donnington winning it on three sticks, and they then went on to win the next two legs 18-13, 12-10. Chris Probets for the club men hit his first six of the season in his 10 dolls (2-6-2).
Good steady throwing by Red Lion Yarnton saw them see off The Catherine Wheel ‘B’ 3-0, however they had to rely on three sticks in the opening leg after it was tied 14-14. Lion set and won the next leg 18-12 and completed the maximum win in the final leg 16-8.
The Ampleforth Arms ‘B’ hit their best score of the season in their 3-0 home win against The George. They comfortably won the first two legs 16-11, 19-9, with the final leg a lot closer 18-16. Richard Kershaw was top dog with a dozen dolls for The Amp (4-3-5).
Golden Ball came away from hosts White Hart with all three points however the game was a lot closer than the score suggests. Golden Ball set all three legs and won each one 15-14, 17-8, 11-10.
SIXERS:
P.Austin, D.Walsh (White House) G.Townsend (Ampleforth A) C.Probets (Donnington Club)
B.Geddes (Cowley Workers) J.Morrison (New Club)
BLOBBERS:
P.Wells (Northway Club B) C.Preedy (Donnington Club)
HIGHEST DOLLS
16: J.Morrison (New Club)
15: P.Austin (White House)
13: J.McMahon (Catherine Wheel A) D.Walsh, I.McAteer (White House) A.Surman (Black Horse B)
D.Mingham (Cricketers)
HIGHEST LEG SCORE
White House 31
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