WEEK 17

With just one week to go the Premier Section is still up for grabs however leaders The White House hold the upper hand and lead by two points from The Gladiators despite dropping a leg at home to The Swan. White House set and won the opening leg 25-21. With a three-doll handicap Swan banged in a set of 31 in the second leg which was more than enough as the leaders replied with 26. Final and deciding leg Swan set an imposing 29 which would normally win you the leg, however White House upped their game and matched the 29 to send it to three sticks. Swan could only set 5 in the three sticks which White House passed with just four players throwing. Graham Reading for The Swan was in top form with 14 dolls (4-5-5), while son Marcus bagged himself a six in his 12 dolls haul (1-5-6).
Gladiators could not take advantage as they also dropped a point away at The Black Horse ‘A’. Glad’s set 23 in the first leg, some inconsistent throwing by the Horse in reply left anchor-man Steve Ward needing four to win, which proved to be no issue as he clanged off the first five dolls just missing out on a six with his final stick. Glad’s set and won the second leg 25-23 and then completed the turnaround in the final leg 27-22. Chris Jenkins was in superb form clanging off 15 dolls (4-5-6).
New Club ‘A’ languish at the bottom of the able after losing 2-1 at home to Yarnton British Legion, leg scores 18-23, 27-18, 18-24.
The top two in Section 1 clashed and it was second placed The Catherine Wheel ‘A’ who came away victorious from Littlemore British Legion with all three points, however the Legion still need just one more point from their final game to be declared champions. The Wheel set and won all three legs 22-19, 20-20 (on three sticks) 24-21. Mark Bayliss was top dog for the Legion with 14 dolls (6-5-3) while Kevin Bloomfield top scored for the Wheel with a baker’s dozen, 5-4-4.
Garsington Sports Club prop up the Premier table after their fifth straight defeat this time at home to North Leigh FC in a close contest. North Leigh won the first leg by the smallest of margins 19-18. Second leg was tied 19-19, as was the three sticker, North Leigh finally winning the leg on one stick. They then completed the whitewash in the final leg 15-13. Ashley Keenan was in steady form with a dozen dolls 4-4-4.

SECTION 2
In Section 2 Masons Arms ‘A’ and Catherine Wheel ‘C’ share top spot after the Masons beat Catherine Wheel 2-1 at home. Masons Chris Webb led the way with 14 dolls (3-6-5) as they won the first leg 18-15, and then set 16 in the second leg. In response The Wheel left anchorman Todd Morris three to win which he managed to do and level the game. Wheel set the final and deciding leg with 18 and this time Masons anchorman Chris Webb was left three to win and this proved to be no problem as he whipped off five dolls to give The Masons a significant win.
Duke Of Monmouth are waiting to pounce from any slip of from the leaders and move only two points behind after they came away from Ampleforth Arms ‘A’ with all three points. They won all three legs 19-14, 20-19, 17-12, with Adam Baker hitting a consistent 4-4-4 for his dozen dolls.
Seacourt Bridge struggles continue as they lost for the fourth time on the bounce, this time at home to Black Horse ‘B’ who set the first leg with 18. In reply Seacourt left their anchor man needing one to win but he blobbed out to send it to three sticks, which the Horse won. Black Horse went two up when setting and winning the next leg 16-13. Horse could not make it maximum points when setting 17 in the final leg Seacourt improved and hit 22 in reply to give them a deserved point.
Queens Head came away from Vikings Sports with a maximum win, taking all three legs 20-16, 14-11, 13-7.
The Blackbird are finishing the season strong with their fourth win on the bounce after they beat Bletchingdon Sports 2-1 at home. They easily won the first leg 15-9, however Bletchingdon hit straight back in the second leg 14-13. A set of 20 by The Blackbird was enough to give them the deciding leg when Bletch replied with 11.

SECTION 3
Six Bells ‘C’ need just one more point from their final game to be crowned Section 3 champions after their seventh win on the trot, this time at home to Cowley Workers. It was an untroubled victory as they won all three legs 22-15, 19-11, 23-9.
Second placed The Tandem are hoping for a slip up, but they dented their own chances by dropping a point at Rose Hill Club. Tandem started off well winning the opening leg 17-16. They were then set 18 in the second leg and were on course to win it when they left their anchorman two to win, however he blobbed out to leave them one short with 17. Tandem recovered well to set and win the final leg 20-17.
Headington Con club will take the wooden spoon after they lost 3-0 at home to The Masons Arms ‘B’ 3-0. Joe Bandrowski top scored with 10 dolls as Masons won all three legs 20-13, 12-10, 13-9.
New Club ‘B’ woes continue, after winning five of their first eight games they have now gone and lost their last nine games the latest away at Northway Club ‘B’ 2-1. Chasing a set of 13 in the opening leg New club left their anchorman Steve Horwood needing all six to tie and he nearly pulled it off, just falling short by one doll when he whipped off five dolls. Northway won the second leg 16-14. New Club grabbed a well-deserved point in the final leg on three sticks after it was tied 16-16.
Cricketers Arms started of well at home to Six Bells ‘B’ when they won the first leg with an impressive 21-14, however that was to be their only success as The Six Bells won the next two legs 16-14, 12-11. Juliette Kemish top scored for the Cricketers with 10 dolls (3-4-3).

SECTION 4
Littlemore Rugby club are the first team to be pronounced champions when they won Section 4 despite losing at home to Red Lion Yarnton 2-1. They won the first leg 16-11 and that proved to be the winning point that put them five points clear. Lion roared back to win the next two legs 13-12, 17-15.
Second placed Donnington Club knowing that they needed a 3-0 win away at The George, lost the opening leg by just one doll 15-14 and the chase was over. Donnington won the second leg 13-8 but lost the last 17-12. Dean Sims top scored with 10 dolls (4-4-2)
Graham Mills bagged himself a six in his best score of the season (6-4-2) and guide Red Lion Cassington to a maximum win at home to Northway Club ‘C’. They sneaked the opening leg 14-13 and then won the next two 11-8, 10-6.
It was not unlucky 13 for The Ampleforth Arms ‘B’ in their game away at The Golden Ball. After losing the first leg 7-14 they rallied and won the next two legs 13-6, 13-10. Mat McCamley threw well for his 9 dolls (3-2-4) for The Amp.
White Hart at last tasted victory after 14 consecutive defeats, they beat Catherine Wheel ‘B’ 2-1 and completed the double over them to record only their second win of the season. It was not looking too good at first when they lost the opening leg 9-8, however they set and won the next leg 12-9 and then completed the turnaround in the final leg 13-7.

TOP DOLLS
The race for the top dolls has never been so close involving five players. Kevin Baker & Andy Beal (Gladiators) lead the way with 189 dolls, Chris Webb (Masons Arms ‘A’) is only one behind with 188. Roger Goodall (White House) is on 187 with James Morrison (New Club) on 179 with an extra game to play.


SIXES
C.Jenkins (Gladiators) M.Bayliss (Littlemore BL) M.Reading (The Swan) C.Webb (Masons ‘A’)
G.Mills (Red Lion Cassington)


BLOBBERS
D.Sealey, S.Warman (The George) S.Ings (Ampleforth ‘B’)

TOP SCORERS
15: C.Jenkins (Gladiators)
14: M.Bayliss (Littlemore BL) G.Reading (The Swan) C.Webb (Masons ‘A’)
13: K.Bloomfield (Catherine Wheel ‘A’)

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