Week 8 June 17th

BAYLISS KEEPS LEGION MARCHING ON AS BLACK HORSE SPRING A SURPRISE
With only two-thirds of the scheduled fixtures played due to the England match, high scores and sixers were in short supply, but there was still plenty of drama across the Premier Section.
League-leading Littlemore British Legion strengthened their grip on top spot with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over North Leigh FC, thanks in part to another outstanding performance from top doll scorer Mark Bayliss. Bayliss continued his remarkable consistency with 14 dolls (5-4-5) as Legion moved four points clear at the summit.
The hosts could only muster a modest 21 in the opening leg, but North Leigh failed to take advantage. After making a bright start, the visitors faltered badly to finish on just 14 dolls, handing Legion an early lead. North Leigh responded well in the second leg, setting a competitive 26 and putting the pressure firmly on the home side. Legion looked on course to match the target before a mid-leg wobble left anchor man Kevin Stuart needing five to tie and six to snatch victory. Stuart almost pulled off the escape act, knocking down four dolls with one stick remaining, but his final effort narrowly missed, leaving Legion one short on 25.
With the match level, the deciding leg produced another tense contest. Legion set 24 and then held firm to restrict North Leigh to 19, sealing the win and extending their advantage at the top of the table. Legions Kevin Baker chipped in with a dozen dolls (4-5-3).

Black Horse 'A' produced the shock result of the night as they followed up last week's first win of the season by taking all three points from the in-form Jolly Sportsman. The Sportsman endured their poorest scoring performance of the campaign and never really found their rhythm. A disappointing opening-leg total of 14 was comfortably overhauled by the Horse, who replied with 22 to take an early advantage. The Sportsman improved in the second leg with 21, but erratic throwing from the Horse left the outcome hanging in the balance. With four dolls needed for victory, anchor man Steve Walton delivered under pressure, firing off five dolls to secure the leg with a total of 23.
The final leg could not have been closer, ending level at 20-20. However, Black Horse held their nerve to win on 3 sticks and complete an unexpected whitewash. Singles champion Pete Rampton also rediscovered his best form, finishing with an impressive 12 dolls (5-4-3).

Masons Arms 'A' ended a six-match losing streak in dramatic fashion, battling back from a leg down to claim a 2-1 victory over Ampleforth Arms 'A'. The home side struggled early on, setting only 16 in the opening leg, which Ampleforth comfortably passed with 19. The visitors looked set to build on that advantage, but their challenge unravelled in the second leg as they could manage only 10 dolls. Masons were unable to take full advantage and made hard work of the chase, eventually scraping past the target with one player remaining to level the match with 16.
The deciding leg saw a transformed Mason’s side take centre stage. Ampleforth set 17, but the hosts produced one of their best legs of the season in reply, firing 26 dolls to complete an impressive comeback and secure a much-needed victory.

SIX BELLS TAKE TOP-OF-THE TABLE HONOURS IN CRUCIAL SECTION 2 CLASH
The battle between the top two sides in Section 2 went the way of Six Bells 'C', who strengthened their promotion hopes with a hard-fought 2-1 victory away to Donnington Club 'A'.
The hosts made the brighter start, setting 19 in the opening leg and looking well placed when Bells found themselves struggling on just eight dolls at the halfway stage of the chase. However, a strong finish from the visitors turned the leg around as they recovered superbly to reach 21 and snatch the advantage. Bells again found scoring difficult in the second leg, managing only 18 despite a maximum six from Jack Lane. Donnington eventually found their rhythm in reply, overcoming a slow start to finish on 23 and level the match at one leg apiece. With the contest finely balanced, Donnington failed to make home advantage count in the deciding leg, setting just 14 dolls. Six Bells took full advantage, comfortably reaching 18 to seal a valuable victory. Lane finished with 11 dolls (3-6-2), while Ben Carter matched that tally for Donnington with 11 dolls (4-4-3).

Donnington Club 'B' continued their excellent form by recording a fifth consecutive victory with a 2-1 success at home to The New Club 'B'. The visitors edged a low-scoring opening leg 12-11, but Donnington responded immediately. A second-leg total of 19, aided by a maximum six from Luke Preedy, proved too much for The New Club, who could only manage 14 in reply.
The home side carried that momentum into the deciding leg, producing their best performance of the night to claim a comfortable 20-9 victory and secure all three points. Steve Horwood was the standout performer for The New Club with 11 dolls (3-5-3).

Donnington Club 'C' also kept themselves firmly in the title race with a battling 2-1 victory away at Garsington Sports Club in one of the closest contests of the evening. The opening leg produced high drama as Garsington's anchor man required just one doll for victory but failed to score, forcing a three-stick shootout that Donnington eventually won. A closely fought second leg then swung the visitors' way when Lee Worrall rose to the occasion. Chasing 16, Donnington's anchor man needed three for victory and delivered in style, knocking off four dolls to secure an 18-doll total and the leg.
Garsington earned a deserved reward for their efforts in the final leg, setting 18 and holding off the visitors' challenge by a single doll to claim a point, although Donnington had already done enough to take the match and boost their championship ambitions.

WORKERS EXTEND LEAD AS SIX BELLS SUFFER COSTLY SLIP
Section 3 leaders Cowley Workers tightened their grip on top spot as they condemned Littlemore British Legion 'B' to a fifth consecutive defeat with a 2-1 victory on home soil. The league leaders took control of the contest early, claiming the opening two legs 16-13 and 19-9 to put the result beyond doubt. Legion showed more fight in the final leg, setting 14 and hoping to salvage something from the evening. Workers appeared set to complete a maximum point’s haul when their anchor man stepped up needing just two dolls for victory. However, he unexpectedly blobbed out, allowing Legion to snatch a consolation point and denying the leaders a valuable whitewash.

Second-placed Six Bells 'B' missed an opportunity to put pressure on the leaders after being held to a 2-1 victory by Masons Arms 'B'. The hosts looked on course for maximum points after comfortably taking the opening leg 18-14 and were then presented with a golden opportunity when Masons could manage only 10 dolls in the second leg.
What followed was one of the surprises of the night. Bells, expected to cruise to victory, collapsed to an astonishing total of just eight dolls, handing Masons a lifeline and a crucial point. Although Bells recovered to set and win the deciding leg 17-9, the dropped leg could yet prove costly in the title race.

Meanwhile, Red Lion Yarnton continued their remarkable resurgence with a fifth straight victory, defeating Queens Head 'B' 2-1 at home. Having lost their opening three fixtures of the season, the Lion have transformed their campaign and are now one of the division's form sides. The foundations for their latest success were laid in the opening two legs, which they set and won 12-10 and 16-14 respectively. The visitors denied the hosts a whitewash in the final leg. Chasing a target of 13, Queens Head produced their best throwing of the night to finish on 15 and secure a point.
Paul Edwards led the way for Red Lion, top-scoring with a consistent nine dolls (3-3-3) as his side's impressive winning streak continued.

KIDLINGTON FC SURVIVE SCARE AS CHASING PACK CLOSE IN
Section 4 leaders Kidlington FC escaped with a 2-1 victory over struggling Tandem, but not before surviving a dramatic late scare that could have proved costly in the title race. Tandem set a modest 12 in the opening leg and the leaders looked comfortable as they replied with 15 to take an early advantage. Kidlington then failed to build on that momentum, setting just 10 in the second leg. Tandem made hard work of the chase but eventually scrambled over the line with 11 to level the match.
The deciding leg produced one of the most remarkable finishes of the evening. Kidlington set 13 and appeared vulnerable as Tandem approached the target. With only six dolls required from their final three players, the visitors looked set to complete an upset. Instead, all three players blobbed out, handing the leg and the match to a relieved Kidlington side.
Daryl Connelly (3-2-4) and Hassan Muhammad (2-3-4) led the way for the leaders with nine dolls apiece.

Bletchingdon Sports moved level on points in second place with Red Lion Cassington after a convincing 3-0 victory. Wayne Harwood (2-4-3) and Chris Thorne (3-2-4) both recorded nine dolls as Bletchingdon produced a consistent display throughout the evening. They claimed the opening leg 13-8 before backing it up with two closely fought 14-12 victories to complete the whitewash and strengthen their promotion challenge.

Rose Hill 'B' extended their winning streak to four matches with a hard-fought 2-1 home success over Vikings Sports. The visitors set 12 in the opening leg and looked on course to take the advantage before Rose Hill anchor man Tony Eeles stepped up needing two dolls for victory. Eeles held his nerve brilliantly, knocking off the winning doll with his final stick to edge the leg. Vikings hit back in the second leg. Chasing 13, their anchor man required just one doll for victory and delivered in style, clanging off two dolls to finish on 15 and level the contest.

The visitors were unable to maintain that momentum in the deciding leg, collapsing to a disappointing total of just eight dolls. Rose Hill comfortably knocked off the target with 13 to secure another valuable victory and continue their impressive run of form.

Rose Hill Club 'A' were also celebrating after overcoming an improving White Hart side 2-1 in one of the highest-scoring matches of the night. The hosts made a flying start, setting and winning the opening leg 20-9. White Hart responded strongly in the second leg, setting 16 and putting Rose Hill under pressure. The home side appeared well on course with eight dolls on the board after only three players, but a dramatic collapse followed and they finished two short on 14, allowing White Hart to level the match. The deciding leg was another closely fought affair.
Rose Hill set 15 and looked vulnerable, but two costly blobs in the White Hart reply ultimately proved decisive as the visitors fell just short on 13.
Liam O'Callaghan was the standout performer for Rose Hill, recording a steady nine dolls (4-2-3) to help guide his side to victory.

SIXERS
L.Preedy (Donnington Club ‘B’) J.Lane (Six Bells ‘C’)

BLOBBERS
M.Stimpson (New Club ‘B’) P.Eaglestone (Masons B)

TOP SCORERS
14: M.Bayliss (Littlemore B.L. ‘A’)

HIGHEST LEG SCORE
26 dolls North Leigh FC & Masons Arms ‘A’

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