Week 15 report

Premier Section holders White House hold a four point lead with three games to go after they beat The New Club 2-1. They started off with an impressive set of 30 in the opening leg which was more than enough as New Club replied with 17. Second leg New Club decided to set and hit a respectable 27. A slow reply by The White House left their last three players needing 13 to win and they were up to the task as they clanged off 14 dolls between them to take the leg with 29. Another set of 27 by The New Club in the final leg was enough to give them a well-deserved point as White House could not repeat the second leg heroics and hit 22 in return . Jon Townsend (3-6-4) and Roger Goodall (3-4-6) both hit a baker’s dozen for the leaders.
Gladiators ‘A’ are still hanging in there, awaiting for any slip ups by the leaders after they had a comfortable 3-0 home win against North Leigh FC. Three scores of 26 was enough to see them take maximum points as North Leigh replied with 16-21-15. Kevin Baker’s hot form continues as he smashed off 14 dolls (5-5-4) for The Glad’s.
Section 1 leaders The Red Lion B Cassington roared the loudest as they beat close rivals Red Lion A Kidlington A 2-1 but had to come from behind after losing the opening leg 19-15. Lion Cassington levelled in the next leg 24-18 and completed the turnaround in the final leg on three sticks after it was tied 19-19.
George A are only two points behind but have played a game more and their title chase was hampered when they dropped a leg at Garsington Sports Club. Racing into a two-nil lead, 24-19, 18-9, they couldn’t quite complete the whitewash losing the final leg 21-18.
Rose Hill Club ‘B’ Graham Hambridge threw well for his 13 dolls (4-4-5) however it could not stop visitors The Swan ‘A recording a 2-1 victory, who won the opening leg 23-21. Rose Hill pulled level in the second leg 21-15 and then set 24 in the final and deciding leg. A good start by The Swan left them only needing 6 to win from their last three players, however they made hard work of it with anchor man Lee Thompson whipping off the winning doll with his final stick.

SECTION 2
Section 2 is still up for grabs with three teams that can potentially win it. Leaders Red Lion B lead the way by two points after they beat basement boys Seacourt Bridge 2-1 who took a shock lead in the first leg 16-13. Lion recovered in the second leg 18-16 and completed the turnaround in the final leg 16-11.
Donnington Club A boosted their title challenge with a comfortable 3-0 win at home to The Blackbird. With Todd Morris and Ian Walters both hitting 11 dolls (3-4-4) they cruised all three legs 21-14, 19-13, 23-15.
Gladiators ‘B’ made it three wins on the bounce when they came away from Chequers A with a 2-1 win. Keith Tanner with 11 dolls (3-3-5) led the way as they stormed the first leg 26-14, lost the next 15-17 then won the final leg 18-15.
Queens Head struggles continues as they lost their third game on the trot this time at Masons Arms A 2-1. With the game nicely poised at 1-1 Masons won the final leg on three sticks after it was tied 15-15.

SECTION 3
Donnington Club A lead Section 3 by five points after a close 2-1 win at home against Rose Hill Club A. Donnington won the first leg 14-12 and the second on three sticks after it was tied 12-12. Rose Hill won the final leg 20-10 for a well-deserved point.
Kidlington Sports club B are keeping up the pressure on the leaders after they beat visitors Donnington club ‘B’ 2-1. The sports men raced into a two nil lead 16-14, 17-14 but fell apart in the final leg when chasing a set of only 11 they could only hit a paltry 8 in reply to drop a crucial point.
Vikings Sports club rise up the table continues with their fifth game on the bounce when they came away from Yarnton British Legion with a 2-1 win and leave Yarnton languishing at the foot of the table in the leg scores of 20-9, 13-15, 14-10.
The Tandems dramatic fall down the table continues losing their ninth game out of ten when they lost at home to The Cricketers 3-0. Brian Reidy with dozen dolls (3-5-4) for The Tandem was their only bright spot as they lost all three legs 13-9, 15-12, 16-13.

SECTION 4
Masons Arms B open up a four-point lead in Section 4 after they hit their best score of the season to beat Duke Of Monmouth 3-0 and put a dent in the Monmouth’s title ambitions. A good team performance saw them win all three legs 14-13, 18-14, 20-17.
Former leaders, Cricketers Arms struggles continue, after going 12 games undefeated they lost their third game on the trot, this time at The George B 2-1 who threw well in the first two legs winning them both 19-16, 19-14. Cricketers snatched a point in the final leg on three sticks after it was tied 9-9.
The Swan ‘C’ outside chances of the title hang in the balance after they dropped a point against Kidlington FC ‘A’ who prop up the table. Swan won the opening leg 13-11 and then were set 12 in the next leg. A good start by the Swan in reply meant they only needed four from their last four players to go two up, however they crashed dramatically and could only muster up two dolls between them to give the football team an unexpected point. Swan recovered well in the final leg winning it 14-4.
Cowley Workers had a fine 3-0 win at home to Littlemore Rugby Club 16-6, 14-10, 17-11.

SECTION 5
Section 5 leaders Six Bells C and Northway Club C fought out a high scoring game with Northway’s Jack Lane top scoring with 11 dolls (5-3-3). Bells set all three legs with 17 and in reply Northway hit 16-20-14 to give the leaders a 2-1 win.
It was unlucky 13 for Golden Ball in their game against Headington Con Club. They set all three legs with 13 and lost 2-1. The opening leg went to the Con club 19-13 with Golden Ball winning the second leg on three sticks after it was tied 13-13. Final and deciding leg a four from the Con club’s anchor man Dave Spriggs saw them over the line by the odd doll with 14. Spriggs was top dog on the night with 10 dolls (3-3-4).
Catherine Wheel at last tasted victory after losing their last six games they beat Democrats at home 3-0 in the leg scores of 11-2, 13-3, 13-4.

SIXERS: R.Goodall, J.Townsend (White House) M.Holton (New Club)

BLOBBERS: E.Bradbury, A.Gibbs, C.Gibbs, B.French (Democrats Club)


TOP DOLL SCORERS:
14: K.Baker (Gladiators A)
13: R.Goodall, J.Townsend (White House) G.Hambridge (Rose Hill B)

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