FINALS NIGHT REPORT

The Oxford & District Aunt Sally Finals, sponsored by Stuart & Sons builders, played in a packed Cowley Workers Club, Kevin Baker, from the Gladiators Club, at the seventh time of asking finally got his hands on the Oxford singles trophy when he defeated Billy Trinder from The George 2-0. Baker had lost six times before the first time in 1988 and in the opening leg Trinder set a respectable 4. In reply Baker missed with his first stick and then clanged off the next five to take a 1-0 lead. Baker set the next leg with 4. Up stepped Trinder to try an reciprocate Bakers effort in the first leg, he missed with his first stick, got the next two but missed with his fourth to give Baker the title to great applause.
Baker then teamed up with Scott Thompson in the Oxford Pairs final against Nigel King and Mark Poulter from the Red Lion Cassington and chasing a set of 5 Thompson hit two and Baker whipped off the four needed to win the leg. King & Poulter levelled in the next leg when chasing a set of 5 they themselves hit 6 in reply. Final and deciding leg the Glad’s pair set 5. King clanged off 5 and with Poulter whipping off the one doll needed with his first stick gave the Red Lion pair the winning title.
In the Ted Houghton singles fina,l after already lost twice in the final, it was third time lucky for Brian Reidy from the Tandem when he beat Henry Johnson from Kidlington FC 2-0 in a close exciting game. Johnson set the opening leg with 3 and in reply Reidy whipped off the winning doll with his final stick to give him an early lead. Reidy then set 4 in the second leg that Johnson matched. In the three stick shoot out Reidy knocked all three off which was enough to give him the title as Johnson missed with his first stick in reply.
The Jim Whitbread team cup for lower sections was a long drawn out affair between Six Bells C Kidlington and Cricketers Arms Littleworth. The opening leg was tied 14-14 and the three sticker couldn’t separate them as that was also tied 6-6. In the one sticker Bells set 3 which was enough to give them the leg and go one up. Cricketers levelled in the next leg 13-11 to send it to a deciding third leg. Bells set 15 and in reply Cricketers left their anchor man Chris Holton needing 4 to tie and he nearly pulled it off. He hit 3 and with one stick left in his hand it came just short to leave them with 14 and for Six Bells to claim the win after coming runners up last season.
The White House won the Monty Greenaway fours when they defeated holders Gladiators A 2-1. A set of 9 by the Glad’s was never going to be enough as White House shot passed that with ease. White House then set 11 and a slow response from The Glad’s left anchor man Kevin Giles needing 5 to win and he was up to the task whipping off the winning doll with his final stick. A surprise move in the final leg Glad’s won the toss and decided to put the White House in and they took full advantage setting a formidable 16 which was more than enough to give them the title.
In the Oxford Fours Masons Arms B defeated Littlemore Rugby club 2-0 winning both legs 8-4, 6-5.
In The Parent & Child final both pairs were competing in the final for the first time, Ben & Dave Green from The Chequers and Mark & Ollie Tilling from Seacourt Bridge. In the opening leg both pairs hit 4 a piece to send it to a three sticker. Chequers pair set and hit a remarkable 5 which was more than enough to give them a 1-0 lead. The Tilling’s set with 4 in the second leg and in reply a 3 from Ben and 2 from dad Dave was enough to give them the win.
The Lower Section pair was a close high scoring game between holders Steven Reeves & Mick Morbey from Vikings Sports and Dave Lammin & Dave Rudman from Littlemore Rugby club. The Vikings pair set the first leg with 6 and in a reply a 5 from Rudman left team mate Lammin the task of knocking off the 2 needed which he duly did. In the second leg a set of 7 by Morbey and Reeves was enough to win the leg. Final and deciding leg the Vikings pair could only muster up a set of 3 which Rudman passed that on his own to give the Rugby club pair the title.
The Stuart & Sons Cup went to The White House who completed the treble when they beat the George 2-0. The George set the opening leg with 17 and in response with Roger Goodall hitting the first six of the night they passed that with two players to spare. Second leg George set again this time with 24. Like buses a second six came along this time from Phil Austin, White House passed the target with one man to spare with Darren Grant hitting the winning doll.

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