Inter League Cup

Playing with a much-changed squad due to late drop outs, Tom Finney & Scott Thompson both making their debut and Chairman Phil Hounslow stepping into the breach, Oxford just fell short again for the second consecutive season when they lost out to Bicester in the final of the Inter League Cup. Played at Banbury Foods club on four alleys Oxford scrapped by in the first round against Chipping Norton 2-1. Chasing all three legs Oxford lost the opener 20-17 but levelled in the second leg by the smallest of margins 21-20. Final and deciding leg Chippy set 21 and after a slow reply anchor man Chris Webb was left needing four to win, which was no problem as he clanged off five dolls to give a total of 23.
In the semi-final Oxford were drawn against Banbury and were set 21 in the opening leg. A six from Kevin Baker made sure Oxford passed that with ease finishing with a total of 27. They then made sure of a final spot winning the next leg without anchor man Webb throwing.
Bicester A were drawn against their B team in the first round and easily dispatched them two nil in the scores of 24-16, 28-15. In the semi final they came up against a strong Wychwood team but a set of 27 saw them claim the first leg when Wychwood could only reply with 23. Second leg was tied 22-22 with Bicester taking the leg and game on three sticks 11-9.
So, onto the final and a set of only 18 by Bicester should have been a piece of cake for Oxford, however they struggled all the way down the team and was thankful for Webb to clang of the four dolls to tie the leg and give Oxford another chance. However Oxford couldn’t take advantage after Bicester set 11 in the three sticks, once again Oxford fell short hitting 9 in reply.
Second leg Bicester set 25 and after a steady start Oxford still fell short by two dolls hitting 23 in reply to give Bicester the crown for the first time.
The alleys are always set up to Banbury rules where the alley is six inches longer and a great deal of players sticks were falling short. It does seem strange that the other seven teams invited to play all throw from the same standard distance, 30ft from the doll standard to the oche, maybe they need to change that next year to improve the throwing.

Oxford Team
Kevin Giles
Kevin Baker
Andy Beal
Chris Webb
Phil Hounslow
Tom Finney
Martin Cook
Scott Thompson

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