Last Wednesday’s fixtures saw several season outcomes decided. In the Premier Abingdon Con Club only needed 1 point to secure the title and Phil Adams needing 3 to draw the leg and secure that point with his last stick went 1 better with his 4 dolls in the opening leg actually gaining 2 points and securing the Premier section title against hosts Croft Nomads. The second leg went to the Croft, but Con Club secured a 4-2 result with the third leg in a match which saw 144 dolls recorded and the Premier league title comfortably finding a new home at the Con Club albeit with many serial winners of the title included in their side. For the Con Club of the 8 team hit double figures Dave Dix with 12, Phil Adams, Paul Barrett and Ken Fisher all contributed 11 and for the Croft Alan Bell top scored with 11 and Both Barry Townsend and Paul Stone hit 10, for Paul it was his first double digit score of the season.
Croft now need at least 3 points from their last game at Berinsfield SC A this week to see off nearest rivals for the runners up spot, Plum Pudding who closed the gap to 4 points with a 4-2 win against Stanford FC. Paul Longford again top scored for the Plum with 10 dolls.
Berinsfield SC A themselves have enjoyed a successful summer winning last week 6-0 against Abingdon Utd with Richard Jones hitting 10 dolls for the already secured A section winners. For Utd Jason Bowler recorded the only maximum six last week in his 11 dolls for Utd. Berinsfield will finish comfortable winners of the A section ahead of already certain to be runners up Red Lion A.
There were a good number of double figure totals recorded last week amongst the sections, Abingdon RBL’s Paul Ealey scored 12 in the B section and in the same section Harwellian B’s Andy Shipman hit 10. The C section saw Red Lion B’s Alex Winton hit 10 In the D section both Tom McGregor for the Fleur de Lys B and Todd Morris for the Fox, Boars Hill also scored 10 apiece for their sides and for them both that was their first double dolls tally of the season. And in the F section it was a 10 for Sol Parker which wasn’t only his first double figure haul, but also the first for the Horse & Jockey team so well done Sol and to all of the other first timers!
Of the 6 sections 3 are going to the wire in terms of both section winners and runners up with a lot of “crowding” at the top. In the B section Croft Bar find themselves at the top for the first time this season with just the one game to play, but 0nly 4 points separate the top 4 and both the the section winners and runners up could end up being decided not on points difference, but on actual dolls scored! All will become clear on Wednesday!
The C section winners are The Wheatsheaf Didcot despite losing only their second game of the season to The Fox, Denchworth they had already secured the title the previous week, The Bell B, Grove will finish runners up thanks at least in part to ensuring a maximum 6 points haul in 6 of their 17 games so far.
D section winners are The Plough, West Hanney and runners up spot has been secured by The Fleur de Lys B who are finishing the season strongly winning their last 3 games.
That takes us to the E section which is another section going right to the wire this week. Bystander currently lead the table by just 1 point from Marcham Centre A and the Waggon & Horses. Hanney RBL still have a theoretical chance of claiming one of the 2 top spots, but to do that they will have to win 6-0 at home to Marcham Centre this week and that, in turn would deny Marcham their hopes for top spot.
The F section has been led for most of the season by Grove RFC and they just need 4 points from this week’s home tie against Marcham Centre B to secure the F section title. North Star B look favourites to come runners up, but in the unlikelyhood of a 6-0 and a 6-0 defeat for the Rugby Club this week those roles could be reversed!
So as we approach the last week of the Summer 2025 season still lots to play for many teams and that also extends to a couple of the section individual “top dollers”.
Not surprisingly Dave Dix is not catchable in the Premier, but in the A section this weeks tally will determine the outcome in the race between Danny Hamilton and Richard Jones, Derick Brown of the WADs bar will take the honours in the B section and Steve Taylor in section C. Section D is very interesting with “brothers” ? Billy and Dave Collettt separated by only 6 dolls with just 18 sticks left to throw! Brian Bosley will collect the E section top “doller” trophy and Jim Fletcher the F section award!
So the last week of the season, one that has been pretty kind in terms of Wednesday night weather and still lots to play for!
Don’t forget Finals Night at Abingdon United on the 10th September with a 7.30 start.
And a final not from me by way of apology for all the times I have got things wrong in these reports over the season, but as I have said before I didn’t mean it and that includes anyone who has hit double figures who I failed to mention, Sorry to my teamate Steve Enock who should have got his 10 dolls mentioned in last week’s report!
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