Week 9 June 18th
We are at the half way stage of the season already, how time flies by when your having fun! In the Premier Section New Club ‘A’ hold a two-point lead following their 3-0 win at Yarnton British Legion where Luke Purcell excelled with 15 dolls (6-5-4). It was a straight forward win for the New Club winning all three legs 24-19, 22-14, 21-17. Dave Benham top scored for the Legion with a dozen dolls (4-5-3).
White House lost their second game on the bounce since the back end of the 2023 season, when they fell to a 2-1 home defeat against Littlemore British Legion ‘A’, who were carrying a 3-doll handicap. After White House won the opening leg at a canter 25-21 the next two legs were much tighter. White House set 27 in the second leg and looked to have the leg in the bag when the Legion only had 15 on the board with three to throw. However, the tail wagged to leave anchor-man Kevin Stuart needing 4 to win, which he accomplished to level the game with 28. Final and deciding leg Legion set with an imposing 29 and in reply the White House were on course to pass that when they only needed six from their last two players, however disaster struck when they could only manage four between them to leave them one doll short with 28 and with it the leg. Steve McAteer (5-3-4) for The White House and Mark Bayliss (3-4-5) for the Legion both hit a dozen dolls.
Littlemore British Legion ‘C’ recovery continues; after losing three games on the trot, they have now won four consecutive games and move into second spot. Their latest victory a 3-0 win at home to Garsington Sports Club. With captain Martin Cook (5-5-3) and Kevin Baker (4-5-4) both hitting 13 dolls the Legion it was a straight forward win in the leg scores of 28-19, 25-15, 21-13.
Black Horse ‘A’ rule the roost in Section 1 after they beat Masons Arms ‘A’ at home 3-0. Horse set the first leg with 22 and in reply Masons left anchorman Chris Webb needing a maximum six to tie the leg and he gave it a good shot but just fell one short clanging off five dolls to give the Horse an early lead. Two sets of 24 & 13 by The Masons were not enough to trouble the Horse as they galloped past that with scores of 27 & 23 to give them the maximum win. Pete Rampton hit a baker’s dozen (4-5-4) for The Black Horse.
The Ampleforth Arms ‘A’ kept their Section One title ambitions alive with a 2-1 home win over The Swan. They set and won the first leg 22-20 and lost the second 18-24. The final and deciding leg Swan set with 24 which was not enough as the Ampleforth surpassed that with 27 to give them the leg and game. Lee Thompson for The Swan bagged himself a maximum six in his 12-doll haul (3-3-6).
SECTION 2
In Section 2 Cowley Workers finally stopped their eight-game running loss when they defeated Queens Head ‘A’ 2-1 on their own patch. Hitting their best score all season Workers won the first two legs 19-15, 19-18, however, they couldn’t quite complete the whitewash when the final leg was tied 15-15, Queens Head winning the three sticker.
WADs bar came away from Duke Of Monmouth with a fine 2-1 win. Chasing a set of just 13 in the first leg WADs bar raced past that with 23. Chasing a set of 15 in the second leg WADs bar left their anchorman Mark Gunther needing just one to win, and after hitting a 5 in his first throw it seemed a formality, however he struggled but still managed to whip off the one doll needed to win the leg. Duke finally won a point in the final leg setting and winning it 19-14. Mark Randall threw well for The Duke with 11 dolls (3-4-4).
The Tandem scored more dolls than their visitors Black Horse ‘B’ but still lost the game 2-1. A low scoring opening leg saw the Tandem take it 16-12. The Black Horse loosened their reigns in the second leg and banged in an impressive 27. The Tandem in reply had no answer and could only muster up a score of 8. Black Horse set the final leg with 17 and a mixed reply from The Tandem left anchorman Paul Cox needing four to tie and five to win, however he came up just one doll short whipping the doll off three times to give a total of 16 and with it the leg and game to The Black Horse.
Donnington Club ‘B’ rise up the table continues with their fifth win on the bounce this time at home to Rose Hill Club 2-1. It started of dreadfully for Donnington when in the first leg they could only set with a gloomy 9 dolls. Rose Hill had no trouble surpassing that with 14 dolls to take an early lead. Donnington turned the game around in the next two legs winning them both 16-11, 16-12.
Leaders Six Bells ‘C’ hit their best score of the season so far with 72 dolls when they beat The Blackbird 3-0 at home. They won the first two legs with impressive scores of 26-19, 25-20 and the final leg 21-16. Top doll scorer Jack Lane was in fine form again hitting a max six in his 11-doll haul (2-6-3).
SECTION 3
Section 3 leaders New Club ‘B’ have made it to the halfway mark unbeaten when they beat Donnington Club ‘A’ 2-1 despite both teams scoring the same number of dolls. New Club set all three legs, winning the opener 13-12, lost the next 13-17 and then the deciding leg 18-15.
Henry O’Connor defied all the odds when making his comeback for Littlemore British Legion ‘B’ at home to Bletchingdon Sports by top scoring with a dozen dolls including a maximum six. What makes his feat more remarkable is that he has not played for four weeks and is recovering from a knee operation, so had to find a new stance at the oche resulting him doubling his best score of the season so far. Bletchingdon won the first two legs by the smallest of margins 13-12, 11-10 with the Legion upping their game in the final leg to win it 20-17.
Masons Arms ‘B’ dropped a valuable point in their quest for the title at home to Red Lion Yarnton during their 2-1 victory. Setting all three legs they started off well winning the first leg 19-10. Standards dropped in the second leg when they could only hit 11 dolls which the Red Lion passed with 13. Final leg Masons lifted their game and hit 18 which proved too much for the Lion as they could only hit 12 in reply to give the Masons the leg and game.
Littlemore Rugby clubs four game losing streak came to an end when they beat visitors Queens Head ‘B’ 2-1 with both teams hitting 39 dolls. They raced into a two nil lead winning both legs 12-10, 17-15 but couldn’t complete the whitewash when the Lion grabbed a point in the final leg 14-10.
After losing seven games on the bounce Vikings ‘B’ are now on a roll and have won their second game on the trot, this time at home against The Cricketers 2-1. They secured victory in the first two legs winning them both by the smallest of margins 10-9, 12-11. Cricketers prevented the whitewash in the final leg 13-9.
SECTION 4
In Section 4, The Ampleforth Arms ‘B’ unbeaten record remains intact just following their tight 2-1 win at Kidlington Football club. They set and won the first leg 18-15 and in the second leg they set with 13, in reply Kidlington left anchor man Daryl Connelly needing three to win which proved to be no problem as he went one better whipping off four dolls to win the leg and level the game. The scores were reversed in the final leg with the Ampleforth setting and winning it 15-13. Daryl Connelly was the only player to hit double figures for Kidlington with 10 dolls (4-4-2).
Headington Con Clubs pursuit of the title continues following their 3-0 win at The Catherine Wheel. It was a trouble-free night for the club men winning all three legs 16-13, 12-10, 13-11.
White Hart at last have tasted victory this season when they silenced the Red Lion roar winning 2-1 at Cassington. They won the first leg 9-7, lost the next 7-12 and then decided to set in the final leg, and it was not looking good as they only had five on the board with only anchorman Matt Todd to throw, and he had blobbed out with his previous two throws. Maybe the beer had kicked in by now, because Todd whipped off five dolls to double their score to 10. This proved vital as the Lion could only reply with 8 to give the White Hart the leg and game.
Six Bells ‘B’ quest for the title is still intact following their 3-0 win at Vikings Sports ‘C’ in the leg scores of 12-9, 15-12, 13-10.
SIXERS: L.Purcell (New Club ‘A’ ) L.Thompson (The Swan) J.Lane (Six Bells ‘C’)
H.O’Connor (Littlemore B.l. ‘B’
BLOBBERS: P.Burden (Cricketers)
TOP DOLL SCORERS
15: L.Purcell (New Club ‘A’)
14: D.Reading (The Swan)
13: K.Baker, M.Cook (Littlemore B.L. ‘C’) P.Rampton (Black Horse ‘A’)
TOP LEG SCORE: Littlemore B.L. ‘C’ , White House 28
TOP SCORE OVER 3 LEGS: White House 80
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