Week 7 June 10th

CHRIS WEBB SMASHES OFF A DOUBLE SIXER AS LEGION EXTEND LEAD AND JOLLY SPORTSMAN CONTINUE HOT STREAK

Black Horse A celebrated their first win of the season after edging out The Masons Arms A 2-1 in a thrilling encounter. Chris Webb was the star performer for Masons, compiling a superb 15-doll haul (6-3-6), including two maximum sixes. However, Black Horse claimed the crucial opening leg when Steve Walton produced a perfect finish, knocking off all six dolls required to secure a dramatic 25-24 victory after Masons had set 24.
Black Horse followed up by setting 21 in the second leg and watched Masons fall short on 17 to secure the match. The visitors salvaged a point in the final leg with an excellent reply of 25 to Black Horse's 17, but the hosts were celebrating a long-awaited first success of the campaign.

Littlemore British Legion A moved two points clear at the top of the Premier Section after another impressive night's work, while Jolly Sportsman maintained their excellent form with a convincing victory over White House.

The leaders produced the performance of the week against New Club A, chasing an opening set of 23, with a one doll handicap, they blasted an incredible 36 dolls in reply. Mark Bayliss and Kevin Stuart both hit maximum sixes as Legion took control from the outset. The second leg proved far tighter. Chasing 21, Legion appeared to be wobbling after a mid-leg collapse left the final two players needing eight dolls. Kevin Baker responded with five before anchor-man Kevin Stuart held his nerve to knock off four and secure a 23-21 victory.
New Club prevented the whitewash in the final leg with a fine set of 27, Legion managing only 20 in reply. Stuart led the scoring with 14 dolls (6-4-4), while Baker added 13 (5-5-3). James Morrison was New Club's standout performer with 13 dolls (3-4-6).

Jolly Sportsman continued their climb up the table with a 3-0 success over White House, who suffered a second consecutive defeat. White House opened with 22, but Sportsman comfortably passed that mark with 29. The visitors improved to 25 in the second leg and looked capable of levelling the match, only for Sportsman's lower order to rescue the situation. Garry Bailey and Mark Hewitson both hit five before Mark Revill delivered four as anchor-man to complete a winning total of 27.
The third leg produced the night's drama. Sportsman set an impressive 27 and White House mounted a spirited chase. Wayne Townsend's four left Ian McAteer needing all six to win, but he fell just short with five, forcing a three-stick shootout. Sportsman held their nerve setting 15 to complete the whitewash. Hewitson starred with 14 dolls (4-5-5), while Revill contributed 13 (4-4-5).

North Leigh FC recorded their first 3-0 win of the season with a hard-fought victory over Black Horse B. Despite the score line, the contest was closely fought throughout, with North Leigh taking the opening two legs 22-17 and 23-21. The final leg finished level at 17-17 before the hosts prevailed in the three-stick shootout.

In Section 1, Blackbird continued their impressive run at the summit with a maximum-points haul at The Ampleforth Arms. The league leaders were rarely troubled as they claimed all three legs 20-18, 22-17 and 23-13. Doug Mingham led the way with a dozen dolls (3-4-5) as Blackbird strengthened their position at the top of the table.

DONNINGTON CLUB 'A' REMAIN TOP OF SECTION 2 AS SIX BELLS 'C' MAKE IT FIVE STRAIGHT WINS

Donnington Club A remain top of Section 2 by a single point after surviving a major scare before defeating WADs Bar 2-1 in one of the season's most dramatic encounters. The league leaders looked vulnerable from the outset after setting just 14 in the opening leg. WADs Bar appeared certain to take advantage, drawing level with two players still to throw. However, in an extraordinary twist, both players blobbed out, allowing Donnington a route back into the contest. The visitors seized their opportunity, winning the ensuing three-stick shoot-out to snatch the leg.
WADs Bar hit back impressively in the second leg, setting and defending a score of 15 to record a 15-13 success and level the match. However with the game in the balance, Donnington showed why they sit at the summit, setting 18 in the deciding leg WADs Bar could only reply with 12 to secure a valuable victory for Donnington. Ian Sharp led the way for WADs Bar with 10 dolls (2-4-4), the only player to reach double figures.

Six Bells C continued their remarkable run of form with a fifth consecutive victory, edging out hosts The New Club B 2-1 in a closely fought contest. The visitors raced into an early lead by chasing down a target of 16 and finishing on 21. New Club responded well in the second leg, with anchor man Chris Holton coolly hitting the three dolls required to overhaul Six Bells' score of 21 and level the match.
The deciding leg proved just as tense. Six Bells again posted 20, leaving Holton needing three to tie and four to win. This time he fell agonisingly one doll short as Six Bells held on for another important success. Jack Lane starred with 13 dolls (3-5-5), while Clive Walsh added 12 (4-4-4) in a fine all-round team performance.

Garsington Sports celebrated only their second win of the season after overcoming Queens Head A 2-1, at home and condemning their opponents to a fourth successive defeat. Garsington claimed the opening leg 16-13 before Queens Head responded with a convincing 17-10 victory in the second. The visitors then struggled badly in the decider, setting only 11, but Garsington found scoring equally difficult before eventually scraping over the line with 12 to secure the points by the narrowest of margins.

At the foot of the table, Catherine Wheel B remain rooted to bottom spot despite pushing hosts Donnington Club B all the way in a match decided by a single doll overall. Donnington made the brighter start, taking the opening leg 19-16 before edging the second 18-17 after Catherine Wheel had set a competitive target. The hosts gained a deserved reward in the final leg, winning 19-16 to earn a point from the contest. Steve Tooke was Catherine Wheel's leading scorer with 12 dolls (3-5-4), but it was not enough to prevent another narrow defeat as Donnington Club B departed with the match victory.

COWLEY WORKERS LEAD SECTION 3 AS RED LION KEEP WINNING RUN ALIVE

Cowley Workers strengthened their grip on top spot in Section 3, opening up a five-point lead despite being pushed all the way by Littlemore Rugby Club before emerging 2-1 winners.
The league leaders made a sluggish start, setting just 10 in the opening leg. Rugby Club had little difficulty chasing that down, comfortably reaching 16 to take an early advantage. The hosts then raised the bar in the second leg with a strong score of 18, leaving Workers facing an uphill task. After a poor start, the visitors once again turned to anchor man Eamon Hannon, who calmly knocked off the four dolls required to secure victory in the leg and level the match.

The decisive leg followed a similar pattern. Rugby Club set 14, and with the pressure mounting Hannon again delivered, clanging off the three dolls needed to guide Workers home by the odd doll, 15-14. Malcolm Bough was the standout performer for Rugby Club with an impressive 13 dolls (5-4-4).

At the opposite end of the table, Headington Con Club remain rooted to the foot of the standings after suffering a 3-0 defeat at Masons Arms B, although the score line failed to reflect how closely contested the match was.
Masons dominated the opening leg, running out comfortable 20-11 winners, before being set just nine in the second. The hosts looked in danger of wasting the opportunity when they stood on only three dolls with three players left to throw, but a late rally saw them scrape over the line with 10 to move 2-0 ahead. They completed the whitewash in the final leg, chasing down a target of 16 with 17 in reply.

Six Bells B edged a tight contest against visitors Ampleforth Arms B, recording a 2-1 victory after winning the opening two legs by identical two-doll margins.
The Bells claimed the first leg 15-13 before repeating the feat in the second with a 17-15 success. Ampleforth battled back in the final leg, winning 18-16 to earn a deserved point from the evening. Terry Lester led the way for Six Bells with 11 dolls (3-3-5).

Red Lion stretched their winning run to four matches, but only after recovering from a disastrous start to beat Catherine Wheel C 2-1.
Wheel took the opening leg after setting 16, while Red Lion could manage a miserable return of just four dolls. The visitors responded superbly in the second leg, setting 16 and levelling the match when Catherine Wheel could only reach 11.
The deciding leg saw standards dip once more as Red Lion posted just 11. Yet Catherine Wheel were unable to capitalise, falling two dolls short on nine as the visitors somehow secured another victory to continue their impressive run.
Queens Head B came from behind to inflict a fourth consecutive defeat on Littlemore British Legion B with a 2-1 home success.

The Legion looked set to end their losing streak after edging the opening leg 18-16. However, Queens Head responded strongly, taking control of the remaining two legs with victories of 18-14 and 17-14.
Josh Breakspear proved the difference-maker for the hosts, finishing as top scorer with 10 dolls (2-3-5) as Queens completed an impressive comeback.

RED LION AND KIDLINGTON FC SHARE SUMMIT AFTER WHITEWASH WINS

Red Lion Cassington and Kidlington Football Club remain locked together at the top of the table in Section 4 after both recorded convincing 3-0 victories.
Red Lion enjoyed home advantage against The Gardiners Arms and eased to a 16-7 success in the opening leg. The visitors put up a much stronger fight in the second, forcing a three-stick decider after the leg ended all square at 14-14, but the hosts held their nerve to prevail. They completed the whitewash with a comfortable 13-5 victory in the final leg.
Graham Mills was the standout performer for The Lion, finishing with an impressive 10-doll haul of 4-4-2.

Kidlington FC matched their rivals' achievement with a straightforward 3-0 home success over White Hart. The leaders controlled the contest throughout, taking the three legs 11-8, 13-8 and 14-7.

Rose Hill Club 'A' produced a fine display to leave The Tandem with all three points in a high-scoring encounter. The opening leg finished level at 15-15 before Rose Hill edged the three-stick shootout.
The Tandem posted respectable totals of 13 and 11 in the remaining legs, but Rose Hill found another gear, hitting 17 and 19 respectively to seal an impressive whitewash.
Father-and-son combination Brian and Dane Lovatt each scored nine dolls (3-4-2), while Steve Pitson matched their tally with a score line of 2-3-4.

Bletchingdon Sports saw their six-match winning run come to an end despite outscoring Rose Hill Club 'B' overall in a dramatic encounter at Rose Hill.
After Bletchingdon set 13 in the opening leg, Rose Hill anchor man Tony Eeles whipped off the three dolls required to snatch victory by the odd doll. The second leg followed a similar pattern, with Rose Hill again setting 13 before Bletchingdon's Walter Harwood clanged off the three dolls needed to force a three-stick decider. This time, however, Rose Hill again came out on top.
The hosts then collapsed in the final leg, setting just seven, and Bletchingdon made no mistake in replying with 16 to secure a deserved consolation point.
Mark Faulkner led the way for Rose Hill with nine dolls (3-4-2).

Corner House were left wondering what might have been as they narrowly missed out on their first point of the season against Vikings Sports. Playing a man short proved costly as they fell one doll shy of their target of 10 in the opening leg, losing 10-9. Vikings then took command, winning the remaining legs 13-2 and 8-5 to complete a 3-0 success.
SIXERS
C.Webb (2) (Masons Arms A) M.Bayliss, K.Stuart (Littlemore B.L. ‘A’) J.Morrison (New Club ‘A’) S.Walton (Black Horse ‘A’)

BLOBBERS
M.Bowers (Red Lion Yarnton) J.Dunne (Cowley Workers) H.Bates (Rose Hill B) B.Ming (White Hart)

HIGH SCORERS
15: C.Webb (Masons Arms)
14: K.Stuart (Littlemore B.L. ‘A’) M.Hewitson (Jolly Sportsman)
13: M.Bough (Littlemore Rugby Club) J.Lane (Six Bells C) K.Baker (Littlemore B.L. ‘A’) J.Morrison (New Club ‘A’) M.Revill (Jolly Sportsman) S.Ward (Black Horse ‘A’)

HIGHEST LEG SCORE
35 Dolls Littlemore British Legion ‘A’

OVER THREE LEGS
81 Dolls Jolly Sportsman

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