Week 8 Report

REPORT WEEK 8

Pete Rampton from Red Lion B Kidlington came so close to joining the elite group of players that have hit the maximum 18 dolls. He clanged off the doll with his first 15 sticks before just missing with his 16th and ended up with 15 dolls (6-6-3). Only 17 players have hit the maximum in the leagues 86-year-old history and the last time was in 2014, which shows how difficult this task is. Rampton was well supported by his teammate Steve Ward who bagged himself a six in his 14-doll haul (4-4-6) as they won all three legs against previously unbeaten Section 2 leaders The Chequers B, 21-18, 25-14, 21-18.

In the Premier Section the top two teams met White House and Gladiators A and it was a cracker of a game with 170 dolls scored in total and some spectacular scoring by players. White House set the opening leg with 29 and in reply Gladiators were on target to beat it but fell dramatically at the end and finished up one doll short with 28. Second leg was a near repeat with White House setting with 28 and once again Gladiators falling one short with 27. White House completed the whitewash in the final leg 32-26. Andy Beal (Gladiators) and Rob Bradford (White House) led the way for top doll scorers with 15 dolls apiece (5-5-5). Darren Grant 14 dolls (5-5-4) Roger Goodall (4-3-6) and Steve Mcateer (4-4-5) 13 dolls all from the White House were not far behind.
After losing their opening six games on the trot Garsington Sports have bounced back with their second consecutive win at North Leigh FC who struggled all night. It started of well for the football club when they won the opener 23-20 however that was to be their only success as Garsington hit back in the next two legs 20-19, 23-16.
Section 1 leaders Red Lion B Cassington responded well from their only defeat last week by beating The George A on their own patch. Mark Poulter was in dazzling form with 15 dolls (5-5-5) as he led the Lion to a 2-1 win 21-15, 20-22, 22-13.
Lee Thompson hit a baker’s dozen (5-4-4) to direct The Swan A to a 3-0 win at home to Garsington Sports 25-16, 20-18, 26-21.

SECTION 2
Gladiators B beat The Blackbird 3-0, but the game was much closer than the result suggests. The Glad’s set all three legs and won the first two by the smallest of margins 16-15, 16-15 and then completed the maximum win in the final leg 22-15.
At the eighth time of asking Seacourt Bridge finally smelt the aroma of success when they defeated Donnington Club A 3-0. They won all three legs 17-12 13-13 (on three sticks) 22-13.
After losing their first two games of the season Chequers A made it five wins on the bounce when they came away from Queens Head with a fine 2-1 win in the leg scores of 16-14, 19-21, 19-14.

SECTION 3
Donnington Club D closed the lead at the top of the table to one point when they defeated leaders Kidlington FC ‘B’ 2-1. It started of well for the leaders when they won the opening leg 14-13. Donnington responded well in the next leg 20-13 and completed the turnaround in the final leg 15-11. Dave Trim was top dog for Kidlington with a dozen dolls (4-4-4).
Philip Cassidy clanged of a six in his dozen dolls (2-4-6) for Donnington Club B in their 2-1 win at home to Bletchington Sports 14-15, 20-16, 17-14.
Rose Hill Club A are finding life hard after being promoted and lost for the sixth time, this time away at The Cricketers Littleworth in a close 3-0 defeat. Cricketers batted away Rose Hill 18-15, 16-14, 17-15.
Vikings Sports sneaked the opening leg against The Tandem 13-12 and then was set a measly 8 by the Tandem in the second leg, which was never going to be enough to win the leg as Vikings sailed past that with 12. Tandem hit back well in the final leg 19-17.

SECTION 4
George B lead the section by one point after they came away form Cowley Workers with maximum points. George flew into a 2-0 lead 15-12, 14-10 but had to rely on a three sticker in the final leg after it was tied 16-16.
Cricketers Cowley remain unbeaten with their first 3-0 win of the season when they beat Duke Of Monmouth 3-0 in the leg scores 16-11, 15-13, 13-10.
Masons Arms B kept their title hopes alive with an easy 3-0 home win against Kidlington Sports club A. It was a comfortable night as they won all three legs 13-11, 16-6, 16-9.
Only two dolls separated Northway club B and Littlemore Rugby club in a close fought game. Northway set and won the first leg 16-14, with the Rugby men levelling in the next leg 15-13. Final and deciding leg Littlemore set with 14 and looked like it would be enough to give them the win when Northway could only hit 9 with two players to go. Kevin Vickers who had failed to trouble the doll in his first two throws hit 3 and anchor man Jack Wells clanged off the four dolls needed to give them an unlikely win.
Six Bells B Kidlington came so close to winning their first game of the season when they narrowly lost at home to The Swan C 2-1. The opening leg went to The Swan on three sticks after it was tied 14-14. Bells levelled in the next leg 12-11. A good set of 19 in the final leg by The Swan was too much for the Bells who hit 13 in reply. Keith Megson was in superb form for The Swan hitting 13 dolls (4-4-5).

SECTION 5
The top two clashed and it was leaders Six Bells C who triumphed over Headington Con club 2-1. This was the first leg Bells had dropped in the 18-10, 12-14, 17-14 scores.
Golden Ball scrapped a 2-1 win at The Democrats club in a low scoring but exciting close game, 7-3, 6-8, 6-5.
Northway Club C made it three wins on the bounce but had to thank anchor man Jack Lane for their 3-0 win at Red Lion A Cassington. Chasing a set of 8 in the first leg Northway left Lane needing 4 to win and he did not disappoint clanging off the winning doll with his last stick. Northway set and won the second leg 13-11. Final leg Lion set with 13 and once again Northway had to rely on Lane to whip off the three dolls needed to snatch the leg. Lane ended up with 10 dolls (4-2-4).

SIXERS: P.Rampton 2, S.Ward (Red Lion B Kidlington) R.Goodall (White House) K.Baker (Gladiators A) P.Cassidy (Donnington Club B)

BLOBBERS: T.Buckle (The Blackbird) E.Mazey, P.Rivers (Democrats Club) C.Winstone (Red Lion A Cassington)



TOP DOLL SCORERS:
15: A.Beal (Gladiators A) R.Bradford (White House) M.Poulter (Red Lion B Cassington) P.Rampton (Red Lion B Kidlington)
14: D.Grant (White House) S.Ward (Red Lion B Kidlington)
13: K.Baker (Gladiators A) R.Goodall, S.McAteer (White House) L.Thompson (Swan A)

PETE RAMPTON RED LION B KIDLINGTON 15 dolls 6-6-3
ROB BRADFORD (WHITE HOUSE) & ANDY BEAL (GLADIATORS A) 15 dolls 5-5-5
MARK POULTER (RED LION B CASSINGTON) 15 dolls 5-5-5

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