Week 12 July 16th
Two thirds of the way though the season and all sections are still up for grabs. In the Premier Section only three points separate all the teams, while in Section 1 the top two are only separated by one point. Section 2 the lead is shared and Section 3 only four points separate the top five. Last in Section 4 there are four teams vying for top spot.
Onto this week’s games and Kevin Baker was in astounding form as he clanged off 15 dolls (5-5-5) and was well supported by skipper Martin Cook with 14 dolls (4-4-6) and Any Beal with a dozen dolls (2-5-5) following Littlemore British Legion ‘C’ 2-1 win at home to The Ampleforth Arms ‘A’. Legion set the opening leg with 23 and in reply Ampleforth were on track to surpass that, however a mini collapse in the middle order left them one doll short to give the Legion an early lead. The Amp set the second leg with 23 and it was looking to be enough as the Legion only had 12 on the board with three to go, however the tail wagged and left anchorman Baker needing four to win, he went one better and whipped off five dolls to give the Legion the leg with 25. A set of 26 by the Amp in the final leg was enough to give them a point as Legion fell 3 short in reply with 23. Colin Richardson threw well and top scored for The Ampleforth for the first time this season with 11 dolls (4-3-4). Richardson's last throw of 4 came after his first two sticks tried to demolish the shed roof!!
In Section 1 Fred Sawyer (3-4-6) and Kevin Stuart (5-4-4) both hit a baker’s dozen for Littlemore British Legion ‘A’ but it was all in vain as they crashed to a 3-0 defeat at The Masons Arms ‘A’ for whom Chris Webb also hit 13 dolls (5-3-5). Masons set and won the first two legs 27-24, 28-26 and then were set 25 in the final leg. A mixed reply by The Masons left their last two players needing 9 to win and a 4 from Dale Jacobs left anchorman Webb needing five to win and he was up to the task whipping off the winning doll with his final stick to give the Masons the leg by the odd doll with 26 and complete the whitewash.
The Black Horse ‘A’ move to top spot in Section One following their 2-1 win at Premier Section holders The White House. Carrying a three doll handicap The Black Horse could only muster up a set of 22 which was nowhere near enough as The White House exceeded that with ease hitting 27. Second leg Black Horse set with 27 and White House were looking good to surpass that, however they fell one short in the end with 26. The final and deciding leg Black Horse set and won 28-21.
The Swan raced into a 2-0 lead at Yarnton British Legion when they won both legs 23-19, 26-16, however the third leg was a lot closer and had to be decided on three sticks. Swan set with 22 and after some varied throwing by the Legion they left anchorman Mark Poulter needing all six to win and he nearly pulled it off but fell one short with 5 to send it to three sticks, which the Swan won to complete the whitewash.
The local derby between New Club ‘A’ and Garsington Sports didn’t produce any sparks as New Club ran out easy winners winning all three legs 21-17, 25-15, 22-13.
SECTION 2
Black Horse ‘B’ share top spot in Section 2 following their 3-0 win at home to Cowley Workers. Alan Surman led the way with a dozen dolls (3-3-6) as they won all three legs at a canter 16-12, 20-18, 21-12. Dave Ross with 11 dolls (3-5-3) was top dog for the Workers.
Six Bells ‘C’ had a tricky encounter at WADs Bar where the game could have gone either way. Bells won the first leg 18-14. The second leg was tied 12-12 with the Bells winning the leg on three sticks. Bells then set the final leg with 17 which was not quite enough as WADs Bar anchorman Oli Ludlow whipped off the two dolls needed to sneak the leg by the odd doll with 18 to give them a deserved point.
Donnington Club ‘B’ rise up the table continues after they just got the better over hosts Queens Head ‘A’ 2-1. Donnington set and won the opening leg by the smallest of margins 13-12. Queens levelled in the second leg, setting and winning it 19-17. A set of 18 by Donnington in the final leg was enough to see them over the line as Queens could only hit 14 in reply. Dave Matthews threw well for the Queens with 11 dolls (3-4-4).
Basement boys The Tandem lost their fourth game on the bounce, this time at home to Rose Hill Club 3-0. Tandem set all three legs but lost them all 10-12, 12-17, 14-17. Tony Eeles for Rose Hill was the only player to hit double figures with 10 dolls (4-2-4).
Duke Of Monmouth scored more dolls than their hosts The Blackbird but still managed to lose the game 2-1. Blackbird set and won the opening leg 24-20 however Duke struck right back in the second leg 21-14. Duke set with 16 in the final and deciding leg with 16 and in response Blackbird left anchorman Tom Finney needing four to win and he was up to the task whipping off the four dolls needed to sneak the leg with 17. Lee Worrall for The Duke top scored with 11 dolls (4-5-2).
SECTION 3
In Section 3 New Club ‘B’ who had gone 10 games unbeaten lost for the second time on the trot when they lost at Littlemore Rugby Club 2-1. It started off well when they won the first leg 13-12, however that was to be their only success as the Rugby club won the next two legs 22-15, 14-10.
Masons Arms ‘B’ move into second spot following their 2-1 win at Littlemore British Legion ‘B’. Masons were on top form the first two legs winning them both 18-13, 20-11 however they collapsed in the final leg when they could only set with 11 and lost a valuable point when the Legion flew past that with 17.
The Cricketers title ambitions took a hit when they lost at home 2-1 to Bletchingdon Sports who completed the double over them. A set of 10 by Bletchingdon in the first leg should have been a formality for The Cricketers however they didn’t even get out of the crease when they could only reply with a meagre 5. Bletchingdon went two up in the second leg setting and winning it by the smallest of margins 13-12. Cricketers salvaged some pride in the final leg winning it 14-10.
Red Lion Yarnton travelled to Vikings Sports ‘B’ and had their roar silenced after a disastrous start when they lost the first leg 16-6. Lion recovered well in the second leg setting and winning it 16-10. A set of 13 in the final leg by Vikings was just enough to secure the leg and game after the Lion fell two short with 11.
Donnington Club ‘A’ boosted their title ambitions following their 3-0 win at home to Queens Head ‘B’. They won the first leg impressively 20-11 but had to rely on a three-stick shootout in the second leg after it was tied 10-10. Donnington completed the maximum win in the final leg 15-12.
SECTION 4
In Section 4, playing with a man short and a player blobbing out, cost Headington Con club dear and put a serious dent in their title ambitions when they crashed to a 3-0 loss at Vikings Sports ‘C’. Con club lost the first leg 9-15 and then the second by the odd doll 8-9. Final leg was tied 10-10 but Vikings won the leg on three sticks to give them their second three nil win of the season.
Six Bells ‘B’ claimed top spot following their 3-0 win at home to The Golden Ball. They raced into a 2-0 lead winning both legs 15-13, 16-12 and then were set 13 in the final leg. A very poor start by the Bells in reply left anchorman Terry Lester needing three dolls to win the leg and he didn’t disappoint, clanging off the three dolls needed to sneak the leg with 14 and give them maximum points in their quest for the title. Lester top scored with 10 dolls (2-5-3).
SIXERS: F.Sawyer (Littlemore Legion ‘A’) M.Cook (Littlemore Legion ‘C’) A.Surman (Black Horse ‘B’)
BLOBBERS: D.Eggleton (Cricketers) S.Oliver (Vikings ‘C’) S.Carter (Headington Con club) G.Howell (Catherine Wheel) A.Fudge (WADs Bar) R.Walker (Kidlington FC)
TOP DOLL SCORERS
15: K.Baker (Littlemore Legion ‘C’)
14: M.Cook (Littlemore Legion ‘C’)
13: C.Webb (Masons ‘A’) F.Sawyer, K.Stuart (Littlemore Legion ‘A’)
TOP LADY SCORER: Juliette Kemish 65 dolls
TOP LEG SCORE: 27 White House
TOP SCORE OVER 3 LEGS: 74 White House
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