Week 13 July 23rd
It is still very tight at the top of the Premier Section with only three points separating all four teams. New Club ‘A’ lead the way by one point despite losing 2-1 at Littlemore British Legion ‘A’. It started off well for New Club when chasing a set of 22 in the opening leg they hit an impressive 30 in reply to take an early lead. Legion set the second leg with 23 and some mixed scoring in reply left New Club’s anchorman Pete Shepherd needing all six to tie the leg. A good effort found him just falling one short when he whipped off five dolls. New Club set the final and deciding leg with 23 which proved to be no problem for the Legion as they hit 26 in reply to win the leg and game. Shepherd was top dog hitting 13 dolls (5-5-3) for the third time this season.
The White House and Littlemore British Legion ‘C’ fought out a high scoring close game where the White House won all three legs. White House set the first leg with an imposing 28, a solid reply from the Legion was not quite enough as they fell just one short with 27. Legion set the second leg with 24 and a mixed reply from The White House left anchorman Mick Phipps needing three to win and he was up to the task by clanging off five dolls to win the leg with 27. Final leg Legion struggled and could only set 23 which was no where near enough to trouble the White House as they went past that with ease hitting 29 to complete the whitewash. Phil Austin for the White House was in top form hitting 14 dolls (4-5-5).
The Swan had a fine 3-0 home win against the inform Masons Arms ‘A’ who set the first leg with 20. A slow start by the Swan was picked up by the tail and they ended up with a total of 23 to take an early lead. An exceptional set of 30 in the second leg by The Swan was more than enough as Masons hit 24 in reply. Swan could only set a beatable 20 in the final leg, however a decent start by The Masons was followed by an unprecedented thee blobs from their next three players which cost them dear as they fell one short with 19 to give Swan an unexpected maximum win. Mark Rollins for The Swan top scored with a baker’s dozen (4-5-4).
After a run of ten successive losses Yarnton British Legion tasted victory at last when they beat The Ampleforth Arms ‘A’ 2-1 at home. Legion won a close opening leg 21-19 and then set and won the second leg with 21 when The Amp replied with 19 again. The Amp grabbed a point in the final leg 22-18.
Black Horse ‘A’ top Section 1 after a comfortable 3-0 win over visitors Garsington Sports winning all three legs 18-16, 24-15, 27-17. Steve Ward for The Horse impressed again with 14 dolls (5-5-4) for the second time this season.
SECTION 2
In Section 2 Duke Of Monmouth’s Lee Worral hit his first six of the season in his 10-doll haul (2-2-6) against leaders The Black Horse ‘B’ however it was all in vain as they lost out 2-1 on their own patch. Horse won the first leg 23-15 with The Duke levelling in the second leg on three sticks after it was tied 17-17. The Black Horse won the third and deciding leg 23-18.
Six Bells ‘C’ share top spot but dropped a vital point at home to ninth placed Cowley Workers. They raced to a 2-0 lead winning them both 18-11, 20-17 but could not complete the maximum win in the final leg when chasing a set of 20 they could only hit 16 in reply to give the Workers a point and move them off the foot of the table.
Donnington Club ‘B’ are hanging on the coat tails of the leaders and waiting for any slip ups; however they slipped up themselves when they dropped a leg at home to basement boys The Tandem who shocked Donnington by winning the opening leg 14-13. Donnington hit straight back to win the next two legs 15-10, 22-9.
WADs bar lost for the fourth time on the bounce when they lost at home to The Queens Head ‘A’ 2-1 in the leg scores of 11-14, 21-16, 15-20.
The local derby between Rose Hill Club and The Blackbird produced a close fought game where the Blackbird came out on top 3-0. Blackbird set 21 in the first leg and Rose Hill were on target to surpass that but in the end fell one short with 20. Rose Hill set 17 in the second leg and some erratic throwing by the Blackbird in return left anchorman Tom Finney needing four to win, which proved to be no problem as he went one better whipping off five dolls to give a total of 19 and the leg. Blackbird completed the whitewash in the final leg setting and winning it 18-14. Finney top scored with a dozen dolls (4-5-3).
SECTION 3
After two consecutive losses Section 3 leaders New Club ‘B’ got their title ambitions back on track with a 2-1 home win against Bletchingdon Sports. They set and won the first leg 17-15, however Bletchingdon hit straight back to level in the second leg 16-11. Bletchingdon set the final leg with 13 and it was unlucky as New Club exceeded that with ease hitting 19 to win the leg and game.
Cricketers were made to fight all the way for their 2-1 win at The Queens Head ‘B’ and had to come from behind after losing the first leg 11-14. Cricketers levelled in the second leg 12-11 and completed the turnaround in the final leg, chasing a set of 13 they batted that away and hit 17. Steve Ledwell for The Cricketers threw well for his dozen dolls (4-4-4).
Donnington Club ‘A’ are in the hunt for the title now after their fourth consecutive win this time away at a depleted Red Lion Yarnton. Donnington struggled all night and was not helped by Corey Sharkey blobbing out all night including the beer leg, and had to rely on a three stick shoot out in the opening leg after Red Lion set 10. In return Donnington left anchorman Derrick Slater needing five to win and he nearly succeeded falling one short with 4 to send it to three sticks. Donnington then won the next two legs 11-7, 11-6 to complete the maximum win. Jamie Debanks for Donnington top scored with 10 dolls (1-4-5).
The local derby between Littlemore British Legion ‘B’ and Littlemore Rugby Club produced no fireworks as the Rugby Club converted a 2-1 win. They won the first two legs 15-12, 22-16 before The Legion earned a well-deserved point in the final leg 15-13. Dave Lammin top scored for the Rugby Club with 10 dolls (2-4-4).
Masons Arms ‘B’ title hopes took a massive tumble when they crashed to a 3-0 defeat at home to Vikings ‘B’. They could not have picked a worse time to hit their lowest score of the season losing all three legs 10-15, 11-20, 11-17. Mick Henley was top dog for Vikings with 10 dolls (3-5-2).
SECTION 4
In Section 4, Ampleforth Arms ‘B’ remain the only unbeaten side in the league following their 3-0 win at rivals Headington Con club whose own title hopes are vanishing quickly. It was comfortable night in the end for the leaders as they won all three legs 16-10, 15-14, 15-12.
Kidlington Football club and The Golden Ball fought out an entertaining game with some unusual scoring. The Golden Ball set the first leg with 14, in return Andy Lewis led the charge hitting a maximum six in the football clubs score of 20 to secure the leg. Golden Ball set again in the second leg this time with 16 which Kidlington matched. A set of 6 by The Golden Ball was not quite enough as Kidlington’s anchorman Daryl Connelly whipped off the one doll needed to sneak the leg with 7 to go two up. Looking for a maximum win Kidlington set the final leg and could only muster up a paltry score of 5. Golden Ball more than doubling that in reply with 12 to win the leg.
Six Bells ‘B’ are just one point behind the leaders after their fifth win on the bounce this time against The White Hart in the leg scores of 15-7, 14-12, 13-8.
SIXERS: A.Lewis (Kidlington FC) L.Worral (Duke Of Monmouth)
BLOBBERS: C.Sharkey (Donnington Club ‘A’) M.Peedell (Kidlington FC) D.Rees (White Hart) I.Morrison (Masons ‘B’)
TOP DOLL SCORERS
14: P.Austin (White Hart) S.ward (Black Horse ‘A’)
13: P.Shepherd (New Club ‘A’) M.Rollins (The Swan)
TOP LADY SCORER: Julliette Kemish 65 dolls
TOP LEG SCORE: 30 The Swan & New Club ‘A’
TOP SCORE OVER 3 LEGS: 84 The White House
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