Week 4 Report
REPORT WEEK 4
The cold weather dampened a lot of throwing this week and threw up some surprise results. Early Premier pacesetters The Black Prince were beaten for the first time this season at The Swan A who in turn recorded their first win. The Swan killed the game off after the first two legs taking them at a canter 26-20, 30-24, however the final leg was a lot closer. Swan set 23 and in reply Prince only needed five from their last two players to secure a leg. They struggled with Mick Phipps blobbing out and then anchor man Ian Grant coming to their rescue to whip off the four dolls to tie the leg. Prince winning the leg on three sticks. Lee Thompson was top dog for The Swan with thirteen dolls (6-3-4).
Gladiators A unbeaten run was also brought to a halt as Garsington Sports A came from behind to win 2-1. Garsington could only set 21 in the opening leg, Gladiators hitting 24 in return to win the leg. Second leg The Glad’s hit a respectable 27 however Garsington matched that to take it to a three stick shoot out. The Glad’s set fourteen, which would normally be enough to win but Garsington had other ideas and hit fifteen to level the match. Garsington completed the turnaround in the final leg 25-19.
For the fourth time of asking The George A finally got a win under their belt as they beat The Chequers ‘C’ 2-1 at home. George won the first leg 21-17 but could do nothing to a set of 27 by the Chequers in the second leg, hitting 21 again in reply. Deciding leg was tied 24-24. Chequers decided to set but could only put a miserable 2 on the board, George going past that with their first three players.
There was very little to separate The Woodman and Swan B as two legs went to three sticks and there were only two dolls difference in total dolls. Swan set the first leg with 22, a four from Woodman’s anchor man Mark Rollins tied the leg. Swan set 13 in the three sticks but The woodman went one better with 14 to win the leg. Swan levelled in the next leg setting and winning it 24-22. The final leg was a cliff-hanger as it was drew 23-23 and then three sticks could keep them apart as that was tied 11-11. Woodman finally claiming the leg on one stick 2-1.
In Section 2, The Bullnose A made it four out four but The Black Horse B came mighty close to beating them. The opening leg went to The Bullnose on three sticks after it was tied 20-20. Bullnose went two up in the next leg 24-17. Black Horse winning the final leg 23-22. Mick Jessett bagged himself a six in his dozen haul for the Black Horse.
Donnington Club A had to battle hard for their 3-0 at home to Six Bells D Kidlington. They won the first two legs 25-23, 22-20 and had to rely on three sticks in the last leg after it was tied 18-18. It was unlucky thirteen for The Bells Steve Ward as he top scored with 4-5-4.
Red Lion A Yarnton & Tiddington Cricket Club played out a ding dong battle with very little to choose between them. Lion took an early lead in the first leg 22-19 and were then set eighteen in the next leg. Some mixture of throwing in reply left anchor man Eddie Lacey needing two to win, but inexplicitly he blobbed out to give Tiddington an unexpected win. The deciding leg Tiddington set with nineteen which proved to be enough as the Lion fell one short to send them to defeat.
In Section 3 Vikings Sports A and Queens Head A fought out one of the closest contests so far. The opening leg was tied 16-16 with Vikings going on to win it on three sticks. Queens Head drew level in the next leg by the odd doll 17-16 and then went on to do the same in the deciding leg 20-19.
Rose Hill Club inflicted a clean sweep at home to Six Bells B Kidlington after an odd first leg. It was tied 11-11 and three sticks was also tied. In the one stick shoot out Rose Hill’s Brian Mossop was the only one to hit the doll but it was enough to give them the leg. Rose Hill completed the whitewash in the next two legs 15-7, 18-11.
In Section 4 it was a long night between Ampleforth Arms B and Bullnose Morris B as two legs went to three sticks. The first leg was tied 9-9 with the Amp winning it on three sticks and then going two up in the next leg 17-15. Last leg was tied 11-11 but this time Bullnose winning it on three sticks to grab a point.
Darren Walker for The George ‘B’ had a bizarre night away at The Cricketers Arms Littleworth . He blobbed out in the first leg, just managed to hit one in his next leg and then excelled in the final leg to whip off all six for a maximum. It was all in vain though as The George lost 2-1 in the leg scores of 18-15, 15-12, 15-18.
In Section 5 Florence Park B scored one doll less than their visitors Red Lion B Yarnton but still scrambled a win and they had to do it the hard way after losing the first leg 18-11. Red Lion could not take advantage though and only set a miserable 8 in the next leg, which was no problem for Florence Park who hit fourteen in reply. The final leg Red Lion set fifteen which the club men tied and then went on to claim the leg and game on three sticks.
There were a lot of celebrating at The Democrats ‘A’ as they at last tasted victory. The last twelve games of last season and the first three of this season saw them suffer defeat after defeat but they pulled this one out of the bag by defeating The Masons Arms B 2-1. It was not looking good after they lost the first leg on three sticks after it was drawn 13-13. They dug in well to win the next two legs 17-15, 18-15 and it took a while for it to sink in that they actually won ! Billy hill was their top man with ten dolls (3-3-4).
In Section 8 three scores of 6-6-6 by hosts Original Swan were not enough to scare The Democrats Club B as they replied with 8-12-7 to take all three points.
In a high scoring game for Section 8 Donnington Club D just got the better over visitors Catherine Wheel A 14-12, 12-18, 15-14. Alan Bremner threw well for The Catherine Wheel with ten dolls (3-5-2).
SIXERS : L.Thompson (The Swan A) A.Keenan (The Woodman) R.Jacobs (Vikings Sports A) D.Walker (The George B)R.Goodall (Garsington Sports 'B')M.Jessett (Black Horse)
BLOBBERS: S.Bradbury (Cowley Workers) R.Trafford (North Oxford Con Club ) M.Heavens (Democrats Club B) M.Davey (Marston B.L.) D.Light (Chequers 'A') T.Mault (Masons Arms)
D.Claque (Red Lion Cassington)
TOP DOLL SCORERS:
13: Lu.Purcell (The George A) L.Thompson (The Swan A) P.Austin (Black Prince) S.Ward (Six Bells D Kidlington)R.Goodall (Garsington Sports 'B')
The Swan 'A'
Back Row: Keith Powell, Dick Walsh, Jon Townsend, Graham Reading
Front Row: Mick Berry, Terry Stuart, Martin Herbert, Lee Thompson
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