Week 4 14th May

Dan Reading was in tremendous form as he clanged off 14 dolls (5-5-4) to lead The Swan to an impressive 2-1 win at home over Littlemore British Legion ‘C’. The Swan set 26 in the opening leg which was not enough as the Legion passed that with 28 thanks to a six from skipper Martin Cook. However, that was to be the only success for the Legion as The Swan upped their game and won the next two legs 28-20, 27-16. Mark Rollins chipped in with a dozen dolls (4-4-4) for The Swan.
Roger Goodall was another 14-doll scorer (3-6-5) for The White House as they had to come from behind to beat Yarnton British Legion 2-1 at home. White House set the first leg with 24 and in reply Yarnton left anchorman Mark Poulter just two dolls needed to win which he duly obliged. A set of 20 in the second leg by the Legion was never going to be enough as the White House surpassed that with only six players thrown and ended up with an impressive score of 31. White House then completed the turnaround in the final leg setting and winning it 29-24. Adie Cross hit a steady 4-4-4 for the White House, while Legions Mark Poulter bagged himself a six in his 11-doll haul, 2-3-6.
Ian Bowler for Littlemore British Legion ‘A’ made up the trio of players to hit 14 dolls (4-5-5) as they won all three legs at home to Garsington Sports Club. The opening leg was a low scoring but close encounter as they both hit 14 dolls, with the Legion winning it on three sticks 6-5. Legion then went on to take maximum points in the next two legs 23-19, 20-15.
New Club top the premier table after taking maximum points at The Masons Arms ‘A’. Chasing 23 in the first leg, New Club matched it and then went on to win the leg on three sticks. They then set and won the second leg 27-24 and completed the rout in the final leg 25-20. Luke Purcell was top dog for the Club men with thirteen dolls, 4-5-4.
Only two dolls separated Black Horse ‘A’ and visitors Ampleforth Arms ‘A’ overall. Setting all three legs Ampleforth lost the opener 16-23, won the next 22-16 and the decider 20-17. Pete Rampton top scored for the Horse with a dozen doll 5-4-3.

Six Bells ‘C’ have already opened a four-point gap at the top of Section 2 after they whitewashed Donnington Club ‘B’ at home 3-0. They won the opener 19-15 and then set 18 in the second leg. In reply a slow start by Donnington cost them dear as they just fell one doll short in the chase and ended up with 17. Donnington set 16 in the final leg which proved to be no problem for the Bells as they passed that with ease hitting 20 in reply. Jack Lane for the Bells was in top form hitting a bakers dozen 5-4-4 and leads the top dolls chase.
After winning their first game of the season Cowley Workers have now lost three games on the bounce, their latest away at Duke Of Monmouth 2-1. Workers lost the first two legs 16-13, 22-12, but rallied in the final leg, setting and winning it 16-11. Jordan Heeley threw well for his 11 dolls, 2-5-4, for The Duke.
Queens Head ‘A’ tasted the sweet smell of victory for the first time this season when they came away from Rose Hill Club with a 2-1 win despite scoring less dolls than their hosts. Setting all three legs Queens won the opener 18-16 and then set 18 again in the second leg. A slow start in reply by Rose Hill did not deter them as raced past the target with 23 dolls. Chasing a final set of 15 too many scores of 1 cost Rose Hill dear as they just fell short by one doll with 14 to hand the Queens the leg and game. Dean Fitzgerald top scored for Queens with 11 dolls 4-3-4.
Black Horse ‘B’ claimed maximum points away at The Blackbird winning all three legs 18-16, 21-16, 21-19.
The Tandem started off well at WADS bar when they won the first leg 14-13, however that was to be their only success as WADS bar raised their game and won the next two legs 16-12, 20-8.

In Section 3 Littlemore Rugby club lead the way when they beat visitors Vikings sports B and condemn them to their fourth straight loss. It was looking good for Vikings when they set and won the opening leg 14-12. However, they crashed in the next leg when they could only muster up a set of 8, which the rugby club found to be no trouble hitting 13 in reply. Vikings set 13 in the final and deciding leg and was hoping it would be enough, however the Rugby club rallied and hit an impressive 20 in reply with anchorman Malcolm Bough bagging himself a 6 in his 11-doll haul.
New Club ‘B’ made it four wins out of four when they beat The Masons Arms ‘B’ at home 2-1 and inflict the Masons first defeat. All three legs were close with New Club winning the first leg 16-13. Masons set the second leg with 13 and in reply New Clubs anchorman Chris Holton whipped off the three dolls needed to win the leg by the smallest of margins with 14. Masons grabbed a well-deserved point in the final leg, setting and winning it 15-14.
Queens head ‘B’ got off to a flier at home to Bletchingdon Sports when they set and won the first leg 13-11. However, that was to be their only success as they struggled in the next two legs losing them both 11-9, 12-9.
Losing their opening game of the season, The Cricketers have batted away opposition in the next three games, their latest a 2-1 win at Donnington club ‘A’. Losing the first leg 12-10, Cricketers regrouped and won the next two at ease 16-12, 18-12. Steve Ledwell top scored for The Cricketers with 11 dolls, 4-3-4.
Red Lion Yarnton and Littlemore British Legion ‘B’ both went into this game without a win and it’s the Legion that are still seeking a win after they lost 3-0 and their cause wasn’t helped when two players blobbed out all night. Lion won all three legs 11-5, 9-7, 12-9.

In Section 4 Ampleforth Arms ‘B’ remain unbeaten after they beat Six Bells B 2-1 but the scoreline could easily have been reversed. Bells set the first leg with 14 which the Amp matched and then won the leg on three sticks. Amp set 13 in the second leg and some mixed scoring in return by the Bells left anchorman Terry Lester needing 2 to win and he did not disappoint hitting 4 to win the leg with 16. Final leg Amp set 12 and the Bells were on course to win the leg when they had hit 7 by the halfway stage, however the next three players all blobbed out leaving Lester needing all six to win, which turned out to be an impossible task as he troubled the doll only once to give them a total of 8 and the leg and game to the Ampleforth.
Kidlington Football Club scored more dolls than their visitors Catherine Wheel but still lost out 2-1. Damage was all done in the first two very close legs with the Wheel winning them both by the odd doll 10-9, 13-12. Kidlington reconvened well in the final leg wining at ease 15-10.
Red Lion Cassington lost the first leg at home to Vikings Sports ‘C’ 9-7. The second leg they roared and more than doubled their score hitting 17 which was enough to give them the leg when Vikings could only hit 7 in reply. Lion then sunk Vikings in the final and deciding leg 13-5.
Despite two players blobbing out all night Golden Ball still managed to shine and beat White Hart on their own patch 3-0. It was quite remarkable as they hit reasonable scores winning all three legs 11-7, 14-5, 16-6.


SIXERS: M.Cook (Littlemore B.L. ‘C’) R.Goodall (White House) M.Poulter (Yarnton B.L.)
M.Bough (Littlemore Rugby club)

BLOBBERS: B.White (Vikings ‘C’) K.Dighton (The Tandem) B.Clark, S.Barker (Golden Ball)
D.Sealey, P.Surman (Littlemore B.L. ‘B’)


TOP DOLL SCORERS
14: Roger Goodall (White House) Dan Reading (The Swan) Ian Bowler (Littlemore B.L. ‘A’)
13: L.Purcell (New Club) J.Lane (Six Bells C )


TOP LEG SCORE
White House 31 dolls

TOP SCORE OVER 3 LEGS
White House 84 dolls

TOP LADY SCORER
Nikki Rudman (Littlemore Rugby Club) 21 dolls.

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