SINGLES REPORT

League games took a rest this week as the singles competitions took place.
In the Oxford singles played at two different venues down to the last two, three former finalists fought their way through to the semi-final play offs, Andy Beal two times runner up, 2010 & 2022 from Littlemore British Legion, Pete Rampton 2016 winner from The Black Horse, Steve Ward 2011 runner up also from The Black Horse and Marcus Reading from The Swan competing in his first semi-final
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Played at The Cricketers Beal was drawn against Mark Lacey from Yarnton British Legion in the first round and set and won the opening leg 4-1. Beal set in the second leg with 3, Lacey going one better by whipping four dolls, the winning doll with his final stick to level the game. Lacey set the final and deciding leg with 2 and it looked a formality for Beal when he clanged off two dolls with his first two sticks, however he had to wait until his final stick to claim the leg and game. Marcus Reading had a bye in the 1st round while Ian McAteer (The White House) was the only player to hit a six but lost out to Dave Benham (Yarnton British Legion)

In the second round Reading was drawn against Henry Johnson from Yarnton British Legion and won both legs with sets of 3 & 4 to put him through to the next round. Beal was drawn against Stuart Bishop from The Ampleforth Arms. In a low scoring game Beal won the opening leg, chasing a set of 2 he hit the three needed with a stick to spare. Second leg Beal could only hit one doll and in reply Bishop hit the doll with his first two sticks to tie the game. Final leg Bishop set 2 which Beal matched and in the three sticker Bishop set with 1 which was not enough as Beal whipped off the doll twice to put him through to the next round.

Singles holder Kevin Baker from Littlemore British Legion went out in the second round to Phil Austin (The White House) in a high scoring game. Baker set the opening leg with 3, Austin hitting 4 in reply to go one up. The roles were reversed in the second leg with Austin hitting 3 and Baker whipping the four needed to level the game. Baker then set the final leg with four which would normally at least get you a three sticker, however Austin had other ideas and whipped off the five dolls to win the leg and game and prevent Baker with the prospect of winning the title three times in succession.

In the next round Beal was drawn against Mark Bayliss (Littlemore B.L. ‘A’) and a set of 4 was enough to give Beal an early lead, Bayliss replying with 3. Second leg Bayliss set 4 and in reply Beal hit the five dolls needed with a stick to spare to win the leg and game.
Reading was pitted up against his brother Dan and went through 2-0 in a low scoring contest with Marcus winning both legs 2-1, 3-1.

The final round of the night Beal beat Alan Goodgame (Black Horse) two nil in the leg scores of 3-2, 3-2, while Reading was up against 2014 runner up Roger Goodall from The White House. Reading won the opening leg, chasing a set of only 2 he hit the 3 needed with a stick to spare. Reading then set an impressive 5 in the next leg which was more than enough when Goodall only hit 1 with his opening three sticks. So, Beal & Reading go through to the semi-final playoffs.

Played at Garsington Sports Club on a perfect evening where even the bugs came out as usual, however a bit earlier than usual due to Ady Shepherd opening his wallet! (So I’ve been told).

In the first round, Pete Rampton got off to a flying start winning his first-round game against Adam Williams (Blackbird) 2-0. Setting both legs Rampton hit 6 & 3 to Williams 1 & 1 in reply.

In the second round Steve Ward had a ding dong battle against one of the favourites Luke Purcell from the New Club. In a high scoring, entertaining and close game of the night Purcell set 4 in the first leg which Ward matched. Three sticks were tied 2-2 as was the one sticker 1-1. Back to six sticks and a set of 3 was not enough for Purcell as Ward hit 4 in reply to win the leg. Second leg Purcell set with 4 hoping to get a three sticker at least, however Ward had other intentions and whipped off the five dolls needed to win the leg and game.

Rampton was up against 2019 winner Dave Simms from The Ampleforth and a set of 2 in the opening leg was not enough as Simms hit 3 to take an early lead. That was to be Simms only success as two sets of 2 in the next two legs were never going to trouble Rampton who hit 4 & 3 in reply to take him through to the next round.

In the next round Ward had a straight forward 2-0 win over Tom Finney (The Blackbird) chasing two sets of 2 Ward hit 3 & 3.
Rampton however had a gruelling encounter against Pete Shepherd from The New Club. Rampton set the first leg with 4 which Shepherd matched. A set of 2 in the three sticker saw Rampton win the leg. Shepherd set 3 in the second leg which did not seem to be enough, however Rampton struggled and could only whip off the doll twice to give Shepherd the leg and tie the game. Final and deciding leg was a humdinger. With Shepherd setting every throw, six sticks was tied 4-4, three sticker 2-2 and one sticks 1-1. Back to six sticks and Rampton sneaked it chasing a set of 3 he clanged off the four dolls needed to finish an epic game.

The final round of the night Rampton had a straightforward win over Darren Grant (White House) winning both legs 3-1, 3-2.
Ward however had a difficult game against Chris Webb (Masons Arms) where only one separated the players each leg. Webb set 4 in the first leg with Ward clanging off five dolls to win the first leg. A set of 4 again by Webb in the second leg was enough this time as Ward fell one doll short with 3. Final and deciding leg Webb set with 3 which was not sufficient as Ward hit four dolls to win the leg and game.

SIXERS
I.McAteer (White House)
P.Shepherd (New Club)
P.Rampton (Black Horse)

In The Ted Houghton singles, for teams in Section 3 and 4 2022 winner Walter Harwood from Bletchingdon Sports and 2018 runner up Joe Bandrowski from the Masons battled their way through to the final.

In the 1st round Bandrowski won the first leg 3-2 against Doug Mingham from The Cricketers. Mingham levelling in the next leg by the same score 3-2. Final leg was tied 4-4 with Joe winning the three sticker 1-0.

Walter Harwood started off like a steam train in his opening leg against Dave Rudman from Littlemore Rugby club when he clanged off 5 dolls to win the leg. Harwood then won the second leg 3-2.
In the second round, Bandrowski had a challenging game against Juliette Kemish from The Cricketers, and could have easily gone out at this stage. He blobbed out in the first leg with Kemish whipping off the doll with sticks to spare to take an early lead. The second leg was tied 2-2 with Bandrowski winning the three sticker 1-0. Final and deciding leg Bandrowski set with 3 which was enough to see him win the leg and game.

Harwood scrapped through against John Cleaton (New Club ‘B’) in a low scoring game. Harwood won the opener 2-1, Cleaton hitting back in the second leg 3-1. Final and deciding leg Harwood won 2-1.

The first semi-final saw Bandrowski win the first leg against Graham Irvine (Littlemore Rugby Club) on three sticks 1-0 after it was tied 1-1. He then made sure of his place in the final winning the second leg 2-1.
Harwood had a tough first leg against Kaylem Patterson (New Club ‘B’) when it was tied 2-2. In the three sticker they both hit a maximum 3 before Harwood won the leg on the one sticker 1-0. Harwood finished the tie off in the second leg winning it 3-2.

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