Well, with the end of the summer season fast approaching last week was a busy one with some results determining league winners, some bringing some very tight finishes in prospect. Also the two 8’s semi finals being held with Abingdon Conservative Club overcoming Abingdon RBL and Croft Nomads defeating Steventon Sports SC A. The final will take place at Abingdon United on September 10th together with all of the other “open” competition finals.
We also held our very first pairs competitions for players from sections D, E and F. We had a great turnout with 22 pairs entering and turning up on a very pleasant Thursday evening at the Harwellian Club who hosted us. This competition progressed to the semi final stage with 2 pairs from the Fox, Boars Hill, one from the host side Harwellian and another from Long Wittenham AC. A great evening with the individual highlight a cracking 6 doll leg by the Bystander’s international star from Canada Rene Laporte! Due to unavailability of individuals, which we had hoped to include the semi finals and final on Finals Night, will need to be arranged on dates that suit those players who secured their semi final places, so watch this space!
In the league once again it is Abingdon Conservative Club who lead the way in the Premier section. Another excellent performance saw them winning 5-1 against the Plum Pudding and that win included yet another plus 30 doll leg for the Con Club! It was Dave Dix’s night again on an individual basis hitting 17 amazing dolls taking him beyond 200 for the season and so, so close to that elusive 18 stick maximum which hasn’t been being achieved in our league since Doug Califano playing for Abingdon United back in 1979! Dave was aided and abetted on the night by Phil Adams who also hit a 6 doll maximum in his 13 dolls, Alex Chamberlain also with 13, Leigh Clapton with 11 and Paul Barrett and Ken Fisher with 10 a piece, so 6 players all in double figures on the night! Dave Dix’s doll average for the season so far is a remarkable 4.54 and the Con Club only need 1 point from the remaining 12 on offer to secure the title for another year. Paul Longford top scored for the Plum with 11 dolls in reply.
In the A section Berinsfield SC A also managed a 30 doll leg in their 6-0 victory against a depleted College Oak A side and like the Con Club Berinsfield only need 1 more point to secure the A section title. Andy Phelps was another “sixer” on the night for Berinsfield and Richard Jones and Stuart Wilson both hit a dozen dolls for Berinsfield. There was a good number of double figure doll scorers last week including Andy Morton (11), Steve Martin (12), Jason Bowler (10) and Steve Martin (10) for Abingdon United A. Barry Townsend (11) and Alan Bell (10) for Croft Nomads.
Elsewhere Gareth Brown managed 12 dolls for the WADS Bar whose 6-0 win felled the Royal Oak from the top of the B section and Dave Sapey’s 11 dolls for Abingdon RBL helped them to moved to top spot in that B section, I think for the first time this season, but only 1 point separates 4 teams so doll count may well come into play at the end of the season. In the F section Adam Connelly led the way for league leaders Grove RFC with 10 dolls which helped his side to a 6-0 win against close rivals Ladygrove and opened up a 3 point gap at the top of the F section.
So looking at the league tables as previously mentioned only 1 point each is required by AbingdonCon Club and Berinsfied to secure the Premier and A section titles, section B is still all to play for. The C section just requires 1 more point for the Wheatsheaf. The D section the Black Horse have a 7 point lead.
The E section is very tight with The Bystander and Marcham Centre A level on 63 points each, but Marcham Centre have a significant doll advantage, but Waggon & Horses are still lurking should there be any slip ups as they are just 1 point adrift. The F section looks like a race for the finish with Grove RFC holding a 3 point advantage from North Star B who are now 6 points clear of third placed Ladygrove.
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