Last week saw some quite close encounters. With 30 matches played on the night 11 resulted in 6-0 victories, 3 in 5-1 wins and 16 ended 4-2. Although there were no shared points on the night of the 90 legs played 20 of those were either tied or were separated by only 1 doll and that 1 doll often makes a difference between winning the match or losing! Indeed in 2 of the matches played last week the losing side outscored, in terms of dolls scored, that the winning side! This was in the games between the Plum Pudding and Croft Nomads in the Premier (66 dolls v 70) which ended in a 4-2 win for the Plum and in the E section where despite losing 4-2 Black Horse scored 35 dolls against Berinsfield B’s 33. Funny old game!!
Lots of good performances last week only one “sixer” and that honour goes to Steve Browning of The Bell A in section B and teammate Steve Weeks also hit a 5 in the same leg, but despite hitting 11 between them it was still a leg lost by the Bell as they went down 4-2 to the Royal Oak.
Whilst Steve scored the only maximum of the night we had, for the second week in succession, a 15 doll score with Dave Dix, like Steve Taylor last week hitting three 5 doll legs for his 15 dolls the highest individual total of the week which helped Abingdon Conservative Club extend their lead at the top of the Premier section with a 4-2 home win against the Vine. Dave was in good company with Leigh Clapton showing his best form of the season hitting 12 dolls and Phil Adams also contributing 11. Collectively the Con Club hit 76 dolls, that’s, as a team, a 52% success rate and remember none of their dolls are “freebies” by way of handicap!
There were lots of other double figures recorded last week including Alan Bell (11) and Tosh Wooloff (10) for Croft Nomads and Paul Longford (10) for the Plum Pudding. Jason Bowler and Steve Martin both hit 10 for Abingdon United A, as did Andy Phelps of Berinsfield SC A. Danny Hamilton for the Vine scored 11 and Scott Tabor of the Red Lion hit 10 that’s 2 double digit scores in 3 weeks for Scott.
Some notable “big” scores also recorded in Sections C, D and F with Andrew Wilson notching 12 for the Plough, Long Wittenham as they, Jack Wrigglesworth’s 10 for the Bell B in the C section and Bobby Baker’s 10 for the North Star B in the F section.
I mention the big scorers and I should look at the other end of the scoring and mention that, of the 30 matches played only 2 featured no “blobs”. Overall there were over 300 blobs on the night, so there are nights to remember (and to forget!). For those who recorded blobs we should be charitable and say there are many “substitute” players co-0pted in during July and August as many regulars are on holiday! And so as not to make anyone feel too bad 25 of those “blobs” were actually teams in the Premier/A section!
It just shows that hitting dolls or recording “blobs” are both essential ingredients of our game!
The league tables did not significantly alter as a result of last week’s results, but worth mentioning that The Wheatsheaf maintained their 100% winning record in the C section with a 4-2 win against the Earl of Abingdon B, Martyn Bolton top scoring for the Wheatsheaf. Elsewhere the Prince of Wales recorded their third successive win after amassing a total of just 27 dolls in 3 legs, but those dolls were enough to earn a maximum 6 points!
Some really good leg scores in all sections last week worth mentioning. Notably leaders Grove RFC in Section F hit 17 in their second leg and then topped that with 21 dolls in the 3rd leg. Berinsfield B amnd the Black Horse Hanney shared 31 dolls in their 3rd leg with Berinsfield edging home 16/15 to secure the 4-2 win. Likewise Bell Grove B hit legs of 17 and 19 in defeating the Eight Bells 6-0, Croft Bar’s 4-2 win against the Bear & Ragged Staff featured a 19 doll leg and there were was a winning consolation leg securing 2 points for the Plough West Hanney when their 19 dolls in the 3rd leg was just enough to overcome the Fleur B’s 18 dolls, but the Fleur still secured a 4-2 win on the night.
Finally I should mention the “Battle of the Fudgies” when the Earl of Abingdon A secured a 4-2 win over the WAD’s Bar in the B section a battle where Andrew Fudge, a long time supporter, of Abingdon Aunt Sally had a vested interest in both sides!
That’s about it for this week. I apologise for any errors and omissions in this weekly review as always!!
Oh as well as a full league programme this week we will also be hosting the Team 4’s and 3’s Competitions at the Croft Bar on Thursday evening with a 7.30 start so if you have time on your hands and the weather is fine why not come along and have a pint (or two!) and support the competing teams as they strive to reach the Finals of both to be played in September.
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