Week 11 July 9th

The race for the Premier Section has never been so close with three teams sharing top spot and fourth only three points behind.
Lee Thompson from The Swan was in sensational form as he clanged off a maximum six in his 15 doll haul (5-4-6) however it was all in vain as visitors Black Horse ‘A’ came from behind to win the game 2-1. It started off well for The Swan when they won the opening leg 23-17. Black Horse set the second leg and won it by the smallest of margins 26-25 to level the game. Final and deciding leg Swan set with 19 which was not enough as the Horse galloped past that with 26 to take the leg and game.

The top two clashed in the Premier Section and in a very tight close game hosts New Club ‘A’ just overcame The White House 2-1. New Club set and won the first leg by the odd doll 24-23. White House set the second leg with 24 and in reply New Club left their anchorman Pete Shepherd needing all six to tie and he nearly pulled it off but fell agonizingly one doll short with five to give them a total of 23. Final leg New Club upped their game and smashed off 28 dolls which was more than enough as White House could only hit 22 in reply to give the New Club the leg and game. Pete Shepherd was in excellent form hitting 14 dolls (4-5-5) for The New Club.

The Masons Arms ‘A’ had a surprise home win against Littlemore British Legion ‘C’. They had a great start when they set and won the opening leg 27-18. Legion set the second leg with a beatable 20, however in reply Masons struggled and left anchorman Chris Webb needing five to win, and he was up to the task whipping the winning doll off with his final stick. Legion set the final and deciding leg with 25 and once again Webb had to come to the Masons rescue. Needing all six to win, he clanged off five dolls, again with his final stick to tie the leg and send it to a three sticker. An impressive set of 16 by the Legion was more than enough to see them win the leg and gain an important point. Webb was top dog with 14 dolls (4-5-5).

Littlemore British Legion ‘A’ top Section 1 by one point following their 2-1 win at home to Yarnton British Legion. They won the opener 21-16. Yarnton hit straight back in the second leg setting and winning it by the odd doll 20-19. A set of 15 by Yarnton in the final leg was too short as Littlemore passed that with ease hitting 21 to claim the leg and game. Kevin Stuart for Littlemore hit a baker’s dozen 5-4-4.

Garsington Sports are still seeking their first win of the season after they lost at home to The Ampleforth Arms ‘A’ 3-0 in the leg scores of 20-12, 20-14, 16-15.

SECTION 2
Section 2 leaders Six Bells ‘C’ had a bit of a wobble at Rose Hill Club losing 2-1 due to some inconsistent throwing. Setting all three legs they could only muster up a score of 14 in the first leg, in reply Rose Hill sneaked over the line with 16. Returning to form in the second leg Bells won it 23-15. Final leg standards fell for the Bells when they could only hit 14 again. Rose Hill took full advantage and hit 17 in reply to win the leg and game.

Tandem are still searching for their first away win of the season when they crashed 3-0 at The Duke of Monmouth who won the first leg 15-13. Second leg was tied 13-13 with The Duke winning it on three sticks. Tandem improved in the final leg with a set of 16, however even that was not enough as The Duke surpassed that with 20.

Cowley Workers mini revival ended abruptly when visitors Donnington Club ‘B’ won 2-1 and boosted their own title chances. Workers who scored more dolls than Donnington overall started off well setting and winning the first leg 18-12. Donnington set 15 in the second leg and in response Workers only needed four from their last two players to win the leg, however they could only mange two between them to leave them short by one doll with 14. Final leg was tied 17-17, Donnington winning the leg on three sticks.

WADs Bar could not have picked a worse time to hit their lowest score of the season when they visited high flying Black Horse ‘B’, losing all three legs 18-12, 16-10, 16-10.

The opening leg between The Blackbird & Queens Head ‘A’ was tied 16-16 with The Blackbird winning it on three sticks. Blackbird then went on to win the next two legs 19-13, 19-16 to complete the whitewash.

SECTION 3
New Club ‘B’ lost their unbeaten record when they fell to a shock 3-0 defeat at The Red Lion Yarnton where the first two legs were decided by one doll. In the first leg Red Lion set 15 and a slow start by New Club cost them dear when they fell short by one doll with a total of 14. New Club set 13 in the next leg and in reply Lion left anchorman Nelson Smith three to win, and he was up to the task by whipping off the three dolls to give them a total of 13 and go two up. New Club fell to pieces in the final leg when they could only post up a set of 9 which proved to be no problem for the Lion as they hit 14 to claim an unexpected 3-0 win.

Cricketers hit their best score of the season and boosted their title chances when they batted away Littlemore Rugby club 3-0 at home. They raced into a 2-0 lead winning both legs 20-9, 19-14 then creeped over the line in the final leg 16-15.

Littlemore British Legion B struggles continue when they lost away 2-1 at Donnington Club ‘A’ which leaves them still propping up the table. Donnington won the opening leg 15-12, however Legion struck back in the next leg 14-9. A set of 13 by Donnington in the final leg was beatable however Legion capitulated and could only muster up a reply of 6.

Masons Arms ‘B’ kept their title ambitions alive with a 3-0 win at Bletchingdon Sports Club winning all three legs 12-10, 16-12, 15-13.

Queens Head ‘B’ stopped a four-game running loss when they beat Vikings Sports ‘B’ at home 3-0. Anchorman Jack Wells came to Queens rescue in the first two legs. Chasing a set of 13 in the first leg Wells clanged off the two dolls required to win the leg with 14. Second leg chasing a set of 11 Wells whipped off three dolls this time to win the leg again by the odd doll with 12. Final leg Queens set and won at a canter 15-6.

SECTION 4
In Section 4, Headington Con club got back on the winning trail and boosted their title prospects at home to Kidlington Football club in a close contest. Con club set and won the first leg 14-12 and were then set 15 in the next leg. A steady reply by the Con men left anchorman Steve Bennett needing just two to win, which proved to be no problem to give the Con club a total of 16. Final leg Con club set and won 14-11.

Playing with one player short cost The White Hart the first leg in their home game against Vikings Sports C when they lost it by one doll 11-10. Vikings then went on to win the next two legs 14-11, 12-6 to give them their first 3-0 win of the season.

Golden Ball won their first two legs at home to Catherine Wheel 15-11, 15-13 and were set 10 in the final leg. What should have been a formality for The Ball they toiled and left anchorman Jimmy Thompson needing 3 to win and he was up to the task whipping off the three dolls to give them the leg with 11 and maximum points.

Fielding only seven players and a player blobbing out cost The Red Lion Cassington dear away at The Six Bells ‘B’. They lost the first two legs 16-11, 17-9 but bounced back in the final leg winning it 15-12. Mark Finch was in top form The Lion with 11 dolls (3-3-5).


SIXERS: L.Thompson (The Swan)

BLOBBERS: J.Brown (Littlemore B.L. ‘B’) G.Howell (Catherine Wheel) M.Peedel (Kidlington FC)
R.Elger (Red Lion Cassington)


TOP DOLL SCORERS
15: L.Thompson (The Swan)
14: P.Shepherd (New Club ‘A’) C.Webb (Masons Arms ‘A’)
13: K.Stuart (Littlemore B.L. ‘A’)

TOP LEG SCORE: 28 New Club ‘A’

TOP SCORE OVER 3 LEGS: 72 New Club ‘A’

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