WEEK 18

A dramatic finish to the season saw The White House retain the Premier title on the very last stick of the season. Going into the last game two points in front of The Gladiators (who will be playing their last ever game at The Gladiators Club due to it closing at the end of the month) knew that two points would seal the title in their game at North Leigh FC. White House started off in superb form, setting and winning the opening leg 31-21. North Leigh hit straight back in the second leg winning it 28-24. North Leigh set the final leg with 29 which proved too much for The White House who responded with 26. This dropped leg meant that The Gladiators needed all three points in their home game against Littlemore British Legion, who themselves needed one point to secure the Section One title.
Legion set 24 in the opening leg which proved to be no problem for The Glad’s who hit 28 in reply. Gladiators then set the next leg with 30 and in reply to the Legion, with a 3-doll handicap, started off badly hitting only 13 with the front half of the team leaving the back four needing 17 to tie and 18 to win and they very nearly pulled it off, falling agonisingly one short with 29. So, the last leg meant a win for The Gladiators would force a playoff in the Premier and a win for The Legion meant they would be Section One champs. Gladiators set the final leg with a beatable 25, a steady reply by The Legion left anchorman Kevin Stuart needing four to win. After whipping off the doll with his first three sticks it looked an assured conclusion, however Stuart missed with his next two sticks, before clanging off the doll with his final stick, to the frustration of the Gladiators players and the roars of victory from The Legion and The White House. Chris Jenkins hit his second successive 15 for The Glad’s (5-5-5) while Brian Lester who hit double figures and his best score of the season with 13 (3-5-5) for The Legion.
Catherine Wheel ‘A’ ends the season runners up of Section One after they beat New Club 2-1 at home. They won the first two legs 24-16, 21-19, with New Club securing a point in the last leg 23-22.
Garsington Sports Club finished the season with a seventh straight defeat at Yarnton British Legion 2-1. Dave Behan top scored for The Legion with 13 dolls (3-6-4) in the leg scores of 20-10, 22-24, 20-10.
The Swan completed a decent season when they beat Black Horse ‘A’ 3-0 at home. They won all three legs 25-21, 19-19 (on three sticks) 21-20, Steve Ward top scored for The Horse with a bakers dozen (5-4-4).

The race for the Section 2 title was just as dramatic with The Catherine Wheel ‘C’ and Masons Arms ‘A’ both going into their last games level. Catherine Wheel was at home to The Blackbird and won the opening leg 22-18, however chasing a set of only 15 in the next leg, they collapsed dramatically to hit only 10 in reply and drop a vital point. A set of 19 was enough to secure them the last leg when The Blackbird hit 15 in reply.
So, the Masons away at the most in form team of the league, Duke Of Monmouth who were on a 10-game unbeaten run had their work cut out. Chasing a set of 18 in the first leg Masons hit 20 in reply to go one up. The Duke banged in a set of 26 in the second leg which The Masons replied with 17. Masons knew they needed the last leg to give themselves a chance of a play off, and set 22. A good reply from The Duke left anchorman Lee Worrall needing five to tie and six to win, and he nearly pulled it off but fell one short with 4 to leave them one short with 21 and give The Masons the vital last leg.
Seacourt Bridge finished the season with a 2-1 win at Queens Head in the scores of 23-15, 14-17, 21-19.
Bletchingdon Sports ended up bottom of the table after their latest defeat at home to Vikings Sports. They lost all three legs 12-15, 8-14, 13-14.
Black Horse ‘B’ won all three legs at home to Ampleforth Arms ‘A’ in a close game. Alan Surman led the way with 11 dolls (3-4-4) in the leg scores of 19-18, 18-15, 17-15. Geoff Townsend ended his comeback season with a dozen dolls (3-4-5).

The final game in Section 3 saw leaders Six Bells ‘C’ visit second place The Tandem knowing they needed just one point to win the league while The Tandem needed all three to force a play off. A set of 17 was enough to give The Tandem the first leg when The Bells just fell short by one doll with 16. Second leg Bells set with 18 thanks to a six from their anchorman Nick Edmonds. A slow start from The Tandem put them in trouble, but they rallied and three dolls from anchorman Stuart Dunham levelled the leg with 18 to send it to three sticks. A set of 6 by the Bells was enough to give them the leg and league title. Tandem won the final leg 18-11. Edmonds ended up with a dozen dolls (3-6-3).
New Club ‘B’ ended a nine-game running loss when they defeated visitors The Cricketers 3-0, in the scores of 16-15, 16-6, 17-12.
Headington Con Clubs promotion to Section 3 proved too much after they lost away at Cowley Workers and ended up propping up the table. Dave Ross for The Workers bagged himself a six in his 12 dolls haul (2-6-4) as they won all three legs 13-7, 15-13, 17-13.
Terry Lester was in tremendous form hitting his best score of the season, 14 dolls (5-4-5) for The Six Bells ‘B’ however it was all in vain as they lost to Rose Hill Club 2-1, 12-15, 12-14, 18-13.
Masons Arms ‘B’ finished the season off with a maximum win at home to Northway Club ‘B’. They won the first leg on three sticks after it was tied 14-14, then won the next 11-9 and final leg in style 19-13.

Section 4 winners Littlemore Rugby Club came away from The Golden Ball with a 2-1 win. After losing the opening leg 8-12 they recovered and won the next two legs 13-13 (on three sticks) and final leg 15-13.
The battle between the two Red Lions, Yarnton and Cassington saw Yarnton roar the loudest winning the first two legs 13-11, 15-10, before Cassington grabbed a point in the final leg 12-10.
Donnington Club finishes runners up when they beat Catherine Wheel ‘B’ 2-1 in the scores of 15-15 (on three sticks) 15-21, 16-5.
Northway Club ‘C’ beat visitors The George 2-1, 16-13, 11-12, 15-11.



SIXES: D.Behan (Yarnton B.L.) P.Turner (Duke Of Monmouth) N.Edmonds (Six Bells ‘C’) D.Ross (Cowley Workers) I.McAteer (White House)


BLOBBERS: G.Roynon (New Club ‘B’) S.Warman (The George)

TOP SCORERS
15: C.Jenkins (Gladiators)
14: T.Lester (Six Bells B)
13: K.Baker (Gladiators) B.Lester (Littlemore B.L.) D.Behan (Yarnton B.L.) S.Ward (Black Horse A)



THE GLADIATORS

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