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By on 27th May 2026 in Newsletter

Week 5 and for the first time this season just a reminder don’t forget your sun screen and hats!

Well for the first 4 weeks of the season it has all been about how cold it is and where’s your coat, but tonight it’s probably going to be complaints about how hot is is and we need to go inside to cool down!

As with many of our players and scores our it’s often the talk  about inconsistency and the weather is certainly matching that so far this summer! The only thing lacking so far is rain, but I am sure that won’t be long coming and it will be the gardeners wishing for it, but hopefully not on a Wednesday anytime soon!

Some interesting fixtures tonight the pick of which are Berinsfield SC A entertaining Steventon Sports SC A in a battle of the leaders of the Premier and the A section. In the B section The Vine host leaders WADS Bar A and in the D section there’s a  local derby between The Black Horse A and The Bell Grove, a less local derby in G section  when the Seven Stars travel from Marsh Baldon to The Red Lion Northmoor. (I understand The Red Lion provides very reasonable overnight accomodation should you require it after probably your longest trip of the season!). Finally again in the G section Horse & Jockey Stanford host section  leaders Oxford RFC many of whom played for the Horse & Jockey last summer!

Enjoy your evening.

 

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Another Aunt Sally Legend lost, Week 4 round up and Competition Reminder

By on 27th May 2026 in Competition News, Newsletter, Summer League Reports

Again with apologies for the late post again! I will try to do better after tonight’s fixtures!

Firstly though I want to start by sharing some very sad news. Tony Ward one of the top Aunt Sally players in both our Winter and Summer Leagues over many years passed away last week. Many will know that Tony had battled against illness for several years and that illness had caused his retirement from our game in recent years. Our thoughts and sympathy go out to Doreen and all of Tony’s family and friends from all of the Aunt Sally community. Tony’s funeral will be held at the South Oxfordshire Crematorium at 1pm on Friday 19th June and will be followed by a gathering at Abingdon British Legion, just one of the venues that Tony played his Aunt Sally so successfully at.

Tony was a serial winner both as an individual and as a team member. Tony played for many teams in both our seasonal leagues including the Saxton Arms and Football Club, Abingdon Legion, Penlon, Heineken and Abingdon United. It was with the Legion that he featured in the highest single leg score in 1974 contributing 5 dolls in a 37 leg total when Abingdon Legion had 2 players who each hit maximums 3 others, who like Tony hit 5, one player with 5 and surprisingly one who managed only 1 doll. In that line up that night for the Legion were current players Dave Dix and Paul Leach and that was over 50 years ago!

Tony won the Singles title at least twice firstly whilst playing for the Saxton and also for Abingdon United and many, many other team awards for all the teams he represented.

Now, to last week’s results. In the Premier section there was a welcome return to winning ways for Abingdon Conservative Club even without the missing Dave Dix and Phil Adams. They still managed a 6-0 victory at their old stamping ground Abingdon United. Despite the margin of the win the doll difference on the night was only 7 dolls! Rolling back the years for the Con Club Brian Clapton hit 10 dolls and Paul Barrett for the 3rd successive week hit double figures. For United it was Dave Hudson leading the reply with 9 dolls. 

In the Prem/A section the clash between the 2 previously unbeaten sides was another close encounter which resulted in a 4-2 win for Berinsfield SC A courtesy of a 1 doll winning 3rd leg at the Red Lion which puts the Berinsfield boys very well placed as leaders of the Premier section. Malcolm Jones recorded a maximum for the visitors and promptly followed it with a blob in the next leg!

Croft Nomads enjoyed a very sociable evening at the Wheatsheaf Didcot, helped by a 6-0 victory with double figure contributions from Steve Enock and Barry Townsend with 11 dolls each well supported by Alan Bell and Chris Jenkins both weighing in with 10 dolls

In the A section Stanford FC continued their strong start to the season winning their game at the College Oak 4-2. Steventon Sports A strengthened their position at the top of the A section beating the Plum Pudding, Scott Humphries and Derek Fletcher top scoring for the Sports with 9 dolls apiece and Terry Downes matched that score for the Plum.

In the B section it is WADS Bar heading the table with a 4th consecutive win 4-2 against The Fox Denchworth but on the night The Fox may have felt a little disappointed as they actually scored 42 dolls against the 40 scored by the winners! Derrick Brown scored 11 dolls for WAD’s. It was a similar close encounter at the Croft Bar whose 4-2 victory over the Fleur de Lys B side only featuring 66 dolls in total across the 3 legs.

A 4-2 victory was also secured by The Plough West Hanney against Abingdon RBL for whom Paul Ealey hit a maximum, only the second one of the night throughout the league, but the home side with a strong contribution from Mark Wheeler came out with the win with only a 1 doll advantage overall and ironically that was in the leg which saw Paul hit his maximum!!

The C section saw wins for Grove RFC, Harwellian B who included an equal top scoring 11 dolls on the night from Gary Daluz Veira and The Earl Of Abingdon A, In the D section had wins for The Bell A, Earl of Abingdon B to complete a winning double for the Earl sides and The Fox, Boars Hill for whom Rory Mangan top scored with 10 dolls against the soon to be “home again” North Star. We should mention our thanks to The Plough who have kindly “hosted” the Star whilst renovations have taken place. The pub should re-open next week!

The E section saw Challow & Childrey outscored by 1 doll on the night by Berinsfield SC B, but were still able to emerge winners on the night. Eight Bells Eaton had a very welcome 6-0 win when they visited The Crown and in the section it was a 4-2 win for current leaders The Brewery Tap and The Lamb A.

The G section which is made up almost entirely of new teams this season saw The Old Anchor claim local bragging rights when they defeated near neighbours The Black Swan and fellow newcomers The Seven Stars were 4-2 victors against The White Hart B.

The G section also included something last week that is/maybe/probably is a record that is a first in all of the history. There are 6 of the 7 sections led by teams who have won all their games played so far. Interestingly 2 of the teams are Rugby Clubs, 4 are predominately social clubs and only 2 are traditional “hostelries”, that together with our 3 football club based teams is confirmation that Aunt Sally is a game for everyone. This maybe/probably is representative of our licensed premises in these times, but it is good for our game that Aunt Sally is still able to be played in so many places.

An apology from me to anyone whose individual total scores I have missed in recent weeks (including this one) which I know includes Steve Fernback of the Fox Boars Hill, Dean Bowler of the Red Lion and I am sure several more. Not deliberate I promise!!

And now for a couple of  reminders:- 

Firstly, Competition entries for the Singles, Pairs, Captains and Secretaries (all open to all registered players from any section) need to be with us by next week with a closing date of May 31st (all competitions need a minimum entry of 8 and entry is just £1 per person) and will be played at Abingdon United on Sunday 28th June.

Secondly, already a number of fixtures have been postponed for sound reasons and these need to be re-arranged. Would the Captains/Secretaries please confirm the new dates as soon as possible to me please because the re-arranged games will need to be entered by the Committee in the week when they should have originally been played. Any fixtures not mutually arranged or played by the end of June may see the points to awarded against the side who originally requested the re-arrangement.

Thirdly, On Wednesday 17th June England are in World Cup action and will almost affect out fixtures that night with, hopefully, most it not all players, wanting to watch the game live. We will within the next week issue some guidance as to what the options (again they need to be mutually agreed) for fulfilling the fixtures scheduled that night.

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Week 4 action

By on 20th May 2026 in Newsletter, Summer League Reports

A warmer night in prospect for tonight’s fixtures with some interesting contests scheduled. A number of teams are looking to maintain their winning starts to the season and the leaders of the A section The Red Lion A entertain the leaders of the Premier, Berinsfield SC A. Both sides have won all 3 of their opening fixtures with the Lion defeating both last year’s Premier winners and runners up, with Dean Bowler in fine early season form with 2 maximums to his name already and a 3 doll team handicap advantage for the home side this should be a close encounter. There’s also a contest between 2 unbeaten sides in the E section featuring the Red Lion B side although with bye already and a deferred tie they are only defending a 1 game winning start when they travel to Hanney RBL who have got off to a 3 game winning start to their season.

The F section also has the unbeaten newcomers Oxford RFC hosting another 2026 newcomer, The Black Horse B as the Rugby Club look to build on their 3 game winning start.

A few local derbies in store later, in the Premier it’s Abingdon Con Club strengthened last week by the return of Phil Adams entertain Abingdon United A. In the D section league leaders The Prince of Wales make the short trip from Shippon to Wootton where they will face WAD’s Bar B. The G section sees another Abingdon walking distance derby with The Old Anchor making their way to The Black Swan.

With 27 matches scheduled tonight and the promise of a warmer and drier evening with over 430 of us picking up our sticks let’s look forward to a good evening of Aunt Sally. 

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Week 3 and another chilly Wednesday

By on 19th May 2026 in Newsletter, Summer League Reports

Last week we endured another cold May evening but a good night’s Aunt Sally and for some teams another excellent result. In the A section Steventon Sports SCA and near neighbours The Red Lion are leading the way, both unbeaten after just 3 games and both have wins already over last years Premier Champions and Runners up. Steventon securing a 5-1 victory over Abingdon Con Club who have now suffered 3 successive defeats which is probably their first for many, many years and that despite being strengthened the early return from his recent operation of Phil Adams. For the Con Club Dave Dix returned to record the best total of the night with 13 dolls and teammate Paul Barrett added 12. Phil weighed in with 8 dolls, but their team total of 61 dolls on the night was not enough as Steventon ‘s Colin Brind’s 11 dolls, Doug Bolton’s 10 dolls and a contribution for all of their other team members was enough to earn the 5 points and an overall doll total of 74 on the night. The Red Lion also continued on their winning way with a 4-2 win at the Croft. Dean Bowler including his second maximum of the season as he added 11 dolls to his and the Lion’s excellent start to the season. For the Croft Alan Bell also hit a maximum leg, Martin Robinson top scored with 11 dolls and although Ian Brook weighed in with 10 dolls it was not enough to avoid the Nomads falling to their second defeat in 3 outings.

Berinsfield lead the way in the Premier with 3 successive wins and are already 7 points clear in the section. It’s a bit different in the A section though with only 5 points separating the 5 teams despite 2 of those being unbeaten! In the other sections there was plenty of good scoring and pride of place to Dean Cheshire who was the third player on the night to hit a maximum 6 leg. Lots of double figures recorded Steve Martin and Jumbo Mott for Abingdon Utd A, Rob Glenn’s 11 for Stanford FC, a 10 for Jerry Brandish for the Vine, Russell Flower’s 10 for the Fleur B, Billy Collett hit 10 for The Plough, Long Wittenham and a lot of 5 doll legs were recorded by players across the sections.

Early leaders in the other sections are WADS Bar A in the B section who have 3 straight wins at the top of that section, The Waggon & Horses lead the C section, but no team have a 100% record there, in the D section both unbeaten teams are The Prince of Wales and The Fox, Boars Hill top the table, the E section is led by Hanney RBL and the F and G sections are headed by The Brewery Tap and Oxford RFC. It’s still early days and as well as byes in 4 of the sections a couple of games did not take place last week due to illness and injuries so will probably need to be added to the fixture schedule later.

This Wednesday promises to be warmer so let’s hope the forecasters are right and we can have some more typical warm weather over the next couple of weeks as we close out the month of May!

Just a reminder that entry form for the Singles, Pairs, Captains and Secretaries Competition close at the end of the month. Forms are online and entry is just £1 per person per competition. All of these competitions will take place at Abingdon United FC using 2 throws on the Sunday afternoon of the 28th June with a 12.30 start and the bar will be open throughout.

Just a couple thoughts about the handicap system in the Premier and A section which is based on the previous season individual averages, but only for those players registered for this season including those who may have changed teams. A quick comparison of team averages after just 3 games this year compared to the same 3 weeks last year is quite revealing:

2025  2026

Berinsfield SC A  22 21

Croft Nomads  21  19

Plum Pudding 19  20

Abingdon United A  17  16

Abingdon Con Club 22  16

Steventon Sports A  18  23

The Red Lion  20 22

Stanford Fc 18 20

College Oak 17 18

These include some roundings (up and down) and handicaps, It is not based on top 8 players only on those who have, or did play, the first 3 games of the 2 seasons and it does show with probably only the one exception that the often much maligned handicap works OK, but cannot be perfect because the same players don’t always play nor do their individual scores always be consistent. 

In advance I apologise for any errors or inconsistencies in my calculations!! It was just my attempt to illustrate that individual and team form is not always consistent and therefore the handicap can’t always be perfect!!

A final note and thanks to every one for getting your results and team scores in online and on time it’s really helpful.

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Week 2 and another chilly evening

By on 15th May 2026 in Newsletter, Summer League Reports

Another chilly night last Wednesday welcomed the the 60 teams for week 2 of the “summer” season. Despite that the first sixers of the season were recorded, first up was “birthday Boy” Chris Jenkins whose second leg 6 against Steventon Sports SC A and his overall score of 10 dolls, a total shared by his teammate Ian Brook was not enough to secure any points for Croft Nomads  who were defeated by an all round collective performance by the home side with captain Grahame Brind and Roy Everill sharing 9 dolls apiece leading the home side to their second successive win.

Also hitting 6 dolls in his third leg was Dean Bowler for the Red Lion A, Dean was the league’s top scorer on the night with 13 dolls as his team also secured their second successive win beating Abingdon United A 4-2 to share top spot in the A section with their neighbours from “down the road”.

There was some good scoring elsewhere and a welcome return to more familiar territory (double figures) ) for Dave Dix with 11 dolls, Paul  Barrett outscored Dave on the night though with his  12 dolls, but their contribution alongside Leigh Clapton’s 11 dolls was not enough to stop last year’s Premier section Con Club falling to a second successive defeat at the Wheatsheaf. Hurry back Phil Adams I think they are saying and that can’t be soon enough for their much changed 2026 side! Despite losing 4-2 the ConClub did outscore the Wheatsheaf 56 – 54 over the 3 legs even with the newly promoted side’s  5 leg handicap advantage! In fact the game between the College Oak and Plum Pudding was only decided by a total of 4 dolls over the 3 legs, and  Steventon Sports 6-0 win against the Croft was also a closer encounter than the scoreline suggests with only 7 dolls separating the sides.  It does show that the handicap system does provide a basis for matches to be properly competitive and it expects us to score to our average over the season!

There were several double figure individual scores last week Berinsfield SC A maintained their impressive start to the season with an away win at Stanford in the Vale FC with 3 players for the visitors, Stuart Wilson, Richard Jones and Jack Hawkins all contributing 11 dolls apiece. The Soden’s father and son Phil playing for the College Oak A and son Steve playing in the B section for the Earl of Abingdon both hit double figures Phil with 12 dolls in a 5-1 victory against the Plum Pudding and Steve with 10 in the Earl’s,  Paul Longford  10 doll contribution for the Plum Pudding. Nick Hill also scored 10 dolls for The Crown Marcham  

Lots of other mentions this week from the other sections WADS  B hit 49 dolls in their 6-0 defeat of the North Star in the D section, a section where The Fox, Boars Hill hit 2 legs of 19 doll  in their win over The Bell A and in the E section The Crown Marcham also hit a 19 doll leg, but still went down 4-2 at home to Challow & Childrey CC. On the downside last week of the total legs played almost half of those resulted in single figure scores!

We also unfortunately had our first postponement due to one side being unable to raise a side so don’t forget you can still register additional players if you need to strengthen your side. We appreciate that some people agree to sign, but their enthusiasm sometimes falters so it’s OK to add more to try to ensure you have 8 players every week.

17 unbeaten sides across the sections some of whom have only played 1 game, but surprisingly only 2 of our 66 sides have still to register their first points of the season.

So onto week 3 and be prepared because the weather forecast is still not promising much in the way of sunshine or warmth on Wednesday!

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Week I results round up

By on 4th May 2026 in Newsletter

Well, as is quite commonplace the first week of the Summer season proved to be probably the coldest evening of the week and that was reflected in much of the scoring on the night! It was certainly a night to bring out the winter coats again rather than t shirts and shorts!

It was not the best of welcomes for many of our “newcomers” or returners although The Black Horse B got off to a 5-1 winning start in Section F as did Oxford RFC 6-0 victors against The Plough, Appleton. The Old Anchor and The Seven Stars shared the spoils in their opening fixture.

Despite the overall low scoring and the absence of any “sixers” on the night there were lots who came close with 5 stick legs including Jason Bowler (Ab Utd A), Wayne Waldron (Wads A), Robert Glen (Stanford FC), John Webster (The Fox, D’worth), And Ash Wheeler (Waggon & Horses).

There were lots of double digit doll scorers as well, topping the list with 12 dolls was Geoff Lee with 12 dolls,  11 dolls apiece were scored by  Dean Bowler (Red Lion A) Richard Jones and Stuat Wilson (Berinsfield SC A) and Terry Downes (Plum Pudding), Dave Kidd, (Waggon & Horses) and 10 dolls were hit by Nick Baldwin (Stev. Sports SC A), Andy Stoter (Grove RFC), Martin Rawlings and Jack Hawkins (Berinsfield SC A),Dan Foulks (WADS A) and Kevin Sanders (The Plough W Hanney).

Team Performances of the night probably were Berinsfiedd SC A who beat the Plum Pudding in the Premier Section 5-1 with a total of 77 dolls and 4 of their 8 all contributing 10 or more dolls. The Plum Pudding played their part with  67 dolls which, in any other fixture on the night would have been a match winning score! Also we can’t fail to mention the Red Lion A whose 6-0 win over long standing Premier League champions Abingdon Con Club who without some recently departed team members and the absence of recuperating Phil Adams managed only a disappointing 40 dolls. I have to give a once in a season mention to Dave Dix who for the first (and probably what will be the only time this season) did not hit double figures on the night and is not therefore leading the individual doll average. I doubt that will last very long either!!

Former Con Club players father and son Nick and Tom Baldwin together with Scott Humphries all helped Steventon Sports SC A to a 4-2 win over A section newcomers The Wheatsheaf in the A section

Overall last week of  the 31 matches played a total of 17 legs saw scores recorded of 20 or more, 65 legs failed to reach double figures and of those 31 matches played 25 were won and 6 were drawn. 71 dolls scored by Berinsfield  A was the highest total dolls scored in 3 legs and 16 dolls produced a 5-1 win in one match!

Finally, thank you to all who managed to input their scores online and for doing it so promptly. Just a reminder it is the winning sides responsibility to post results NOT the home team’s although both sides should check to make sure the scores are on the doors! We are aware that some teams struggled to post their scores due to accessing the website difficulties. Ewe will try and sort those problems out for the coming week, but if you do have continue to have issues just let me have  a copy of the match card and I will input for you until you are able to gain access.

Let’s all hope for a bit more warmth this week as I am sure the cold must have contributed to some of last week’s low scoring!! Most of all enjoy week 2 of our summer season whatever the weather!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Summer Season starts soon!

By on 10th April 2026 in Newsletter, Summer League Reports

The 2026 Summer Season is about to get underway with friendlies already being played must have been the sunshine that got some of you out so early!

The draw for the first round of the Skol Trophy 8’s competition has already been made and will be published with those matches due to be played on Wednesday the 22nd April.

The following week the league season gets underway on Wednesday the 29th. It’s highly probable that the sunshine will have gone and the temperature will be significantly cooler by then! Hopefully though it won’t be raining!!

The Team packs including the fixture list, match cards, teams, locations and other relevant information including email addresses and telephone numbers of Captains and Secretaries will be included in your packs which should be delivered by Friday 17th April to all 66 sides who have entered this year.

A plea from the committee to everyone especially Captains and Secretaries!

Can you check your teams as listed on the website to ensure we have entered everyone who you have registered, their names are right and are spelt correctly. Also any additional players registered after the registration forms were submitted are included,

Remember you can register any additional players throughout the season at no extra cost subject to Committee approval.

Finally, e-mail addresses for Captains and Secretaries are important as that is the only way other than the website we can contact all teams throughout the season. In our first email of the season to all a small  number were unable to be delivered due to the address not being recognised and we have to say some addresses may have been entered incorrectly by me and my excuse would be that may have been because some were barely legible. If, as a Captain or Secretary for your team  you haven’t received an e-mail it might be worth sending a test to roger.nichols@hotmail.com to make sure we have your correct address.

A final finally from your Committee the website belongs to everyone and it is kept up top date throughout the season with results, news, league tables, individual scores and much more so please keep in touch and use it as your information centre. It also has a team support facility where any team can raise, direct with the league any concerns, issues that they experience at any time through the season.

Enjoy your season and a special welcome to all of the new locations, teams and players many of whom are new to our game in what we think is  the  66th year since our formation and co-incidentally has attracted 66 teams.

 

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SKOL TROPHY TEAM 8’s Competition

By on 1st April 2026 in Competition News, Newsletter, Summer League Reports

Don’t forget the above Trophy which is a handicap competition and is open to all registered sides that will kick off our season with the first games being played on Wednesday April 22nd.

It’s a great way to welcome the 2026 season and get some early competitive practice in ! 

We already have 15 entries, but would love to have some more! There is no limit to the number of teams who can enter, the only restriction is the closing date which is NEXT MONDAY at 10pm.  If you want to enter you need therefore to let us know quickly, either by e-mailing online via the Team Support option on the website or directly to me, roger.nichols@hotmail.com.

Entry only costs £8 (£1) per player and can be paid by cheque or cash and as long as it’s paid by the end of April your entry will be accepted. You see how much we trust you!

We have changed the handicap system this year so teams from each section will have the same handicap as all of the other teams in their section. It’s a variation from how the handicap  has operated in previous years and is being trialled for 2026 in the hope that it is more attractive to all teams and encourages teams from all sections to have a go, in this our most valued team competition!

Handicaps are consistently applied across individual sections and potentially you could get up to a 10 doll per leg start, but you can be certain that if you draw a side from a higher section you will get a doll(s) advantage in each leg! It’s an opportunity to test your team’s ability against other teams who, probably, you won’t meet during the course of the 2026 season.

Don’t be shy give it a try!

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2026 Registration Night Monday 16th March from 7.30pm

By on 14th March 2026 in Newsletter

Just a reminder that registration Night for the forthcoming Summer season will take place on Monday evening from 7.30pm at the Abingdon Conservative Club, Ock Street Abingdon.

A few things you need to know:-

  • Registration fee for 2026 is unchanged at £45 and that includes up to 15 players (additional players can be added throughout the season at the Committee’s discretion).
  • Payment can be made only by cash or cheque on the night. At the moment, unfortunately, we do not have a bank or card transfer facility.
  • Receipts will be issued as proof of entry, to enable, where appropriate, fees to be recovered where necessary from pubs/clubs.
  • Although registration will start at 7.30pm there is no need to rush because we will be there until at least 9pm.
  • Please make sure you have a copy or photo of your registration document as there are no photocopying facilities available on the night.
  • Please make sure you have completed all of the details including (legible) telephone number and e-mail addresses of your Secretary and Captain as they will be the main point of contact through the season together with the website.
  • Registrations for the Skol Trophy (the team 8’s handicapped knock out competition) will also be accepted on the night (entry fee £8 per team), but as we are making some changes to the handicap system for 2026 the entry date for this competition will remain open to all registered teams until the end of March.
  • The league season will start on Wednesday April 29th and conclude on and will conclude at the end of August.
  • The 1st round of the Skol Trophy will start the Summer season on Wednesday 22nd April for competing teams.
  • On Monday we will take orders for essential equipment which we will then order and deliver before the season starts. Again any orders should, if possible, be paid for on Monday by cash or cheque. Current prices are £65 for a set of six sticks, £20 for dolls, £25 for irons, and £30 for swivels these prices are considerably cheaper (up to 40%) than quoted retail online prices and from the same manufacturer!
  • All of your information packs including section formations and fixture lists will be available both online and hard copy delivered by early April.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask them on Monday when registering your team(s).

If for any reason you are unable to make it on Monday can you please send a representative and failing that, let us know in advance, either by e-mail using the team support facility on this website or alternatively by telephone to me (07768 427268).

We will be sorting out the league structure within the next few days following Monday so if we haven’t entered or paid your registration we can’t include your team.

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2026 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING at the CROFT BAR 8pm on Monday 26th

By on 25th January 2026 in Committee Meetings, Newsletter

Don’t forget tomorrow’s AGM which is your opportunity to have your input on the forthcoming Summer season, the league, competitions etc.

It’s also your opportunity to elect the officers who voluntarily administer the league on your behalf.

New people are always welcome to join the Committee and last year’s officers are particularly keen to have representation from teams in ALL sections.

 

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