Singles Report

League games took a rest this week as the singles competitions took place. In the Oxford singles played at four different venues there will be a new name on the cup as the following eight players battled their way through to the play offs, Paul Sawyer, (BletchingtonSports Club), Phil Austin, M.Phipps, S.McAteer (White House) Kevin Baker, Scott Thompson (Gladiators A) Billy Trinder (George A) Ady Shepherd (New Club).

Played at Garsington Sports
What was an anticipated exciting 2nd round draw between the world Champion Rob Bradford (White House) and the singles holder Chris Jenkins (Gladiators A) turned out to be a damp squid as Jenkins failed to trouble the doll in the first leg and only set 2 in the next, which Bradford went passed with sticks to spare to secure an easy 2-0 win.
In the next round Bradford was drawn against Paul Sawyer (Blecthington Sports) from Section 3 who pulled off the shock of the night as Sawyer secured a 2-1 win 1-2, 4-3, 2-1.
Phil Austin (White House) beat teammate Dick Walsh 2-1 in the 1st round and then disposed of another teammate Darren Grant 2-0 in the next round. In the third round another 2-0 win over Martin Cook saw Austin through to the quarter finals without dropping a leg.

Played at Masons Arms
In an impressive line-up where we had three players who between them had won the singles once and were runners up 12 times, last year’s runner up Andy Beal (Gladiators A) overcame Ian Bowler (George A) 2-0 in the first round 3-1, 4-3 but crashed out in the next round 2-0 to James Bennett from The New Club. The first leg had to be decided on three sticks after it was tied 3-3 and then Beal set 3 in the second leg. This proved to be no problem for Bennett as he clanged off the doll four times out four to go through to the next round.
Six times runner up Kevin Baker from Gladiators A battled through to the quarter finals. In an early round against Ray Grant (North Leigh FC) with the game nicely poised at a leg each Baker whipped off a maximum six in the final leg that saw him progress to the next round against James Bennett. Baker set and won an impressive 5 in the opening leg. Bennett set 4 in the second leg which Baker matched and then went on to win the leg and match on three sticks 2-1.
Adrian Shepherd will join Baker in the quarter finals after he beat four times runner up Kevin Giles 2-1 and then defeated Aldofo Kerpache (North Leigh FC) 2-1 in the leg scores of 3-2, 4-3. In the next round two scores of 3 & 4 was enough to see off Charlie Buckingham from North Leigh FC who replied with 2 & 2.

Played at The Chequers
Scott Thompson from Gladiators A made his way through to the Quarter finals for the first time after beat Martin Seacole (North Leigh FC) 2-0 in the first round. Thompson upped his game in the next round against 2018 runner Kevin Stuart (George A) who won the first leg 4-3. Thompson turned it around in the next two legs with sets of 5 & 4 which Stuart could not surpass. In the final round of the night Thompson just scrapped past Adam Baker (Donnington Club A) 2-1. Going into the final leg at one apiece Baker set 3 which Thompson matched. Into three sticks and Baker set with 2, in reply Thompson excelled and clanged off the doll three times to see him through.
Billy Trinder who lost in the 2019 final will have another chance to put that right, but he was made to battle hard in the second round game against Ian McAteer (White House) who set 5 in the first leg. Trinder responded brilliantly by whipping off five dolls to send it to three sticks which McAteer won 1-0. Trinder levelled in the next leg after setting and winning it 4-3. Final and deciding leg McAteer set 4 with Trinder matching it to send the leg to another three sticker, with Trinder winning it this time 1-0.
In a low scoring next round Trinder just got the better over Steve Ducker from Red Lion 2-1.With the game at a leg apiece Trinder won the decider 2-1.

Played at The George
A very long night that saw many games having to be decided on three or one stick, Mick Phipps and Steve McAteer both from The White House completed the line up. Phipps had an almighty battle in the first round against 2016 winner Pete Rampton (Red Lion Kidlington) Phipps won the first leg 3-2. The second leg had to be decided on the second three stick shoot out after the scores were tied 4-4, then 2-2 on three sticks and both blobbed out on one stick. Back to six sticks, tied 2-2 with Rampton finally winning the leg on three sticks 3-2. In the final leg Phipps set and won 3-2.
Phipps was then involved in another long thriller against teammate Roger Goodall. Phipps won the opening leg on three sticks 2-1 after it was tied 3-3. In the second leg that seemed to go for ever and with Goodall setting every throw it was initially tied 5-5, then 3-3 on three sticks and 1-1 on one stick. Back to six sticks and another tie 4-4. Three sticks could not provide a winner as they both blobbed out and Goodall then failed to trouble the doll in the one stick shoot out, and in reply Phipps clanged off the doll to see him through an exciting game.
Steve Buckle from The Blackbird beat teammate Adam Williams in another long affair. The first leg had to be decided on the second three stick shoot out 2-1. The second leg was also tied 3-3 with Buckle finally going through on three sticks 2-1.
In the next round against Steve McAteer (White House) who set each throw, the opening leg was tied 3-3 as was the three sticker. One stick was also tied and back to six sticks produced another tie 4-4. McAteer finally winning the leg on three sticks 2-1. A maximum six from McAteer in the next leg ultimately saw him through.


TED HOUHTON SINGLES.
Played at The Blackbird down to the final two times runner up Brian Reidy from The Tandem will take on first time finalist Henry Johnson from Kidlington FC. Reidy got off to a slow start just scrapping past Patrick Giralao (Northway Club) 2-1. He then brushed aside Adi Cooper also from Kidlington FC 2-0. In the next round he was up against the impressive Jack Lane from Northway Club who had earlier disposed of Nick Edmonds (Six Bells ) 2-1 in a high scoring game. Reidy had to rely on a three sticker in the opening leg after it was tied 2-2. Reidy then set and won the second leg 3-2. In the semi-final Reidy won the first leg 3-2 against Wayne Harwood from Bletchington Sports club and banged in a set of 6 in the next leg that was more than enough as Harwood replied with 4.
Henry Johnson defeated teammate Dave Behan in an early round 2-1 and then had to come from behind to conquer Wally Harwood (Blechington Sports) 2-1. In the semi-final Johnson brushed aside Liam Purcell from Donnington Club D 2-0 to set up an exciting final on finals night.

SIXERS
K.Baker (Gladiators A) B.Reidy (The Tandem) S.McAteer (White House).


BRIAN REIDY (The Tandem)

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