Last update: Thu 28 Aug 2025 09:52

Week 16 August 20th

There was some incredible throwing this week with three players clanging off 15 dolls and five players hitting the maximum six. Kevin Duffy led the way for The Masons ‘A’ when he bagged himself a six in his 15 dolls haul (5-6-4) as they whitewashed visitors Garsington Sports 3-0. They won all three legs 17-15, 17-13, 20-11 and in doing so almost condemns Garsington to picking up the Section One wooden spoon this season.

New Club ‘A’ lead the Premier Section after coming away from Littlemore British Legion ‘C’ with all three points and in turn ended the Legion’s title hopes. They won the first two legs 25-20, 24-21 and had to rely on a three-stick shootout in the final leg after it was tied 21-21. Luke Purcell was in top form for The New Club with 14 dolls, (5-5-4).

The Swans title ambitions were also put to bed when they crashed to a 3-0 home defeat to Littlemore British Legion ‘A’ who in turn closed the gap on Section one leaders to three points. With a two-doll handicap, Legion set and won the first leg 30-25. Swan set 26 in the second leg which Legion matched and then went on to win the three sticker. A set of 23 in the final leg by the Legion was enough to complete the rout with the Swan replying with 21. Mark Bayliss (5-5-3) for the Legion and Keith Powell (5-4-4) for The Swan both hit 13 dolls apiece.

Black Horse ‘A’ opened up a three-point gap at the top of Section One following their 3-0 home win against a seven-man Yarnton British Legion. Pete Rampton top scored with a baker’s dozen (3-5-5) and Steve Ward chipped in with a dozen dolls (5-5-2) as they easily won all three legs 27-12, 21-17, 22-12.

White House had a fairly comfortable night at home to The Ampleforth Arms ‘A’ winning all three legs. Ady Cross (4-4-4) and Ian McAteer (4-5-3) both hit a dozen dolls for the White House in the leg scores of 26-21, 28-22, 26-25.

SECTION 2
In Section 2 Adam Baker shone above everyone else when he whipped off 15 dolls (5-5-5) for The Duke of Monmouth in their 2-1 win at Rose Hill Club. It started off well for the club men when they won the opening leg 19-17 but lost the next on three sticks when it was tied 17-17. Duke then completed the turnaround in the final leg setting and winning it 18-9.

Tom Finney for the Blackbird completed the trio of players as his 15 came playing off the anchor 4-6-5 in their 3-0 home win against Cowley Workers club. An impressive set of 26 was enough to give the Blackbird and early lead when the Workers could only hit 16 in reply. Blackbird went two up in the next leg 19-13. They were then set 18 in the final leg and in return The Blackbird left Finney needing four to win which proved to be no issue as he went one better and clanged off five dolls to give them the leg and a maximum win. He was well supported by teammates James Dineen & Steve Buckle who both hit 11 dolls.

Black Horse ‘B’ top the section by two points after they beat Queens Head ‘A’ on their own patch in a very tight game where only one doll separated the teams overall. Black Horse won the opening leg 16-14 however Queens struck straight back in the second leg 18-15. Queens set the deciding leg with 14 which was not quite enough as Black Horse hit 16 in reply to snatch the leg and game.

Six Bells ‘C’ are pushing The Black Horse all the way following their 3-0 home win against The Tandem who are languishing at the foot of the table. Only Luke Parsons hit double figures for The Bells with 10 dolls, however they were still strong enough to win all three legs 17-10, 15-10, 15-13.

WADs bar hit their best score of the season in their 2-1 home win over Donnington Club ‘B’. Chasing a set of 16 in the first leg WADs surpassed that with 19 to take an early lead. Donnington set 16 in the second leg and in reply a poor start by WADs cost them as they fell one doll short with 15. Final and deciding leg Donnington set again, this time with 17. Despite a blob, WADs passed that with ease hitting 22 to claim the leg and game. Phil Cassidy hit a dozen dolls for Donnington (4-3-5).

SECTION 3
Its very tight at the top of Section 3 with only two points separating the top four. Leaders New Club ‘B’ had a disastrous night against visitors Vikings Sports ‘B’ when they crashed to a 2-1 home defeat for the first time this season. It started of well for The New Club, setting and winning the first leg 20-15. Vikings set 15 in the second leg, which New Club would have expected to match at least, however some inconsistent throwing saw them fall short by one doll. Final leg New Club set 13 which proved to be unlucky as Vikings exceeded that with 16 to give them an unexpected win.

Donnington Club ‘A’ share top spot; however, they dropped a leg at home to Bletchingdon Sports Club who could only set the opening leg with 8. However, a calamitous start in reply, Donnington saw their first three players all blob out. They recovered slightly and left anchorman Kevin McMahon needing three to win and he was up to the task going one better by clanging off four dolls to give them a total of 10. Bletch set and won the second leg 14-12 to level the game. Bletch set the final leg with 12 which was no where near enough as Donnington upped their game and with no blobs hit 18 to win the leg. McMahon top scored with 10 dolls (4-4-2).

Cricketers boosted their title ambitions following their 3-0 win at basement boys Littlemore British Legion ‘B’ and are only one point off the top. Cricketers set the opening leg with 13. Things were looking bleak for the Legion when in reply they only had five on the board with three to throw. However the tail wagged, and it was left to anchorman Dean Jacobs to whip off the four dolls needed to tie the leg and send it to three sticks, which the Cricketers won. Cricketers won the second leg 12-8 and then set an impressive 21 in the final leg thanks to a maximum six from lead off man Doug Mingham. Legion replied well but two blobs cost them dear, and they ended up with 15.

Masons Arms’ B’ are waiting for any slips from the leaders but they badly let themselves down when they could only set 9 in the opening leg at Littlemore Rugby club who hit 14 in reply to win the leg. Masons regrouped and upped their game and set 18 in the second leg. The Rugby club also improved and fell just one doll short in the chase with 17. Masons set the final leg with 17 and once again the Rugby club came up one doll short with 16 and in turn hand the Masons an important win.

Red Lion Yarnton stopped a five game losing streak when they beat visitors Queens Head ‘B’ 2-1. They won the first two legs 18-13, 14-10. They couldn’t quite complete the whitewash when Queens set and won the final leg 16-13. Arthur Bowers threw well for the Lion with 11 dolls (4-3-4).

SECTION 4
In Section 4 White Hart stunned hosts Headington Con club by beating them 2-1 and in turn claimed their second win of the season. The Con club are in a downward spiral, once title contenders they have now lost their fourth game on the bounce. White Hart won the first two legs 13-8, 13-5 and tied the last leg 11-11. Con club claiming a point in the three sticker. This was White Harts best score of the season.
Joint leaders Ampleforth Arms ‘B’ beat Golden Ball 3-0 in the leg scores of 8-6, 14-10, 14-6.


SIXERS:
Billy Trinder (Littlemore B.L. 'A')
Ian Bowler (Littlemore B.L. 'A')
Doug Mingham (The Cricketers)
Tom Finney (The Blackbird)
Kevin Duffy (Masons Arms 'A')


BLOBBERS: A.Webb (Masons ‘A’) G.Bourton (The Tandem) D.Sealey (Littlemore Legion ‘B’)
A.Harris (Golden Ball)

TOP DOLL SCORERS
15: K.Duffy (Masons ‘A’) T.Finney (The Blackbird) A.Baker (Duke Of Monmouth)
14: L.Purcell (New Club ‘A’)
13: K.Powell (The Swan) M.Bayliss (Littlemore Legion ‘A’) P.Rampton (Black Horse ‘A’)
12: A.Cross, I.McAteer (White House) B.Trinder (Littlemore Legion ‘A’) L.Thompson (The Swan) P.Cassidy (Donnington Club ‘B’) S.Ward (Black Horse ‘A’)

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