Well last Wednesday was another dry and fine night with generally good scoring across the sections although in the lower sections one or two leg scores did look like close football scores, but thankfully there weren’t any no score draws!!
Last week’s results did however have some impact on the league leadership and Abingdon United@Con Club’s 4-2 victory over previous leaders Croft Nomads saw last year’s Premier section champions take top spot by a single point, but they do have, significantly, a game in hand which will this week give them the opportunity to draw further ahead when they host The Plum Pudding the current A section joint leaders. For Abingdon United@Con Club last week Dave Dix included another maximum 6 as he amassed another 14 dolls. Dave was ably assisted by team mates Phil Adams and Bob Duffy with 12 and 11 dolls respectively. The first 2 legs with the Croft setting were close encounters with just a doll between the teams, but the final leg saw United set 27 which proved too many for the Croft to chase and they fell well short.
Elsewhere in the Premier /A section there were 4-2 wins Berinsfield against The Vine with Alec Chamberlain hitting 10 dolls for Berinsfield and Steve Peedell matching that for The Vine for The Red Lion against The Bystander despite Steve Martin’s 10 doll haul for the Bystander and a 4-2 win for the Plum Pudding for whom Paul Leach hit 12 dolls and Simon Winterbourne hit a maximum 6 in the third leg against College Oak A whose Matty Belcher also grabbed a 10 doll haul.
The B section saw early season leaders fall to their second successive 6-0 defeat this time at the hands of The Bell A who joined Stanford at the top of the table both with 30 points from their 8 games played. Elsewhere in the B section there was a welcome 5-1 win for the Fleur de Leys against The Fox, Denchworth, a first defeat of the season for the Croft Bar who went down 4-2 to Harwellian B and a good win for Abingdon United as they travelled to Abingdon’s west end to inflict a 4-2 defeat on Abingdon RBL.
The C section saw previously unbeaten Abingdon Con Club go down 4-2 to Waggon & Horses despite Mick Neal’s, the Bell Grove B made it a “double” for the pub when like their A team they managed a 4-2 win against the Boundary House and the Royal Oak secured a 4-2 result against The Grapes A.
The D section saw wins for the College Oak B who hosted the Red Lion B. Rick Selby hitting a very credible 10 dolls and Ian Northover of the Brewery Tap matched that with 10 of his own in the Tap’s 4-2 win over Didcot’s Queens Arms.
The E section newcomers Horse & Jockey A are still striving to register their first point after a 6-0 defeat at home by the North Star A and their cause was not helped by only being able to field 7 players on the night. The F section saw a clash between the two teams vying for top position, both teams enjoying their first season in the league and it was the WADS bar who earned the honours with a 4-2 victory.
So after 8 weeks the sections are starting to take shape with Ab Utd@Con Club leading the way and an opportunity to increase their lead this week when nearest rivals Croft Nomads have a “rest day” following 2 successive defeats. Plum Pudding and Red Lion A are disputing the A section both with 30 points and The Bell Grove A have caught Stanford in the Vale FC with The Croft Bar just 1 point adrift and have a trip to Stanford this week.
Despite last week’s setback Abingdon Con Club are still well clear in the C section and The Wheatsheaf Didcot lead the E section whilst in the F section it looks as if the first half of the season if maintained throughout the season will see a close contest between the WADs Bar and the Fleur de Leys B.
Dave Dix is once again leading the doll averages with a quite magnificent average of 4.11 dolls, but will he be the first to 100 dolls this season?
Finally, I just want remind all of us who play the need to recognise that Aunt Sally is a game and one that is based not just on rivalry but on the goodwill and spirit in which it is played. Importantly, that our hosts the landlords and stewards of the pubs and clubs where we play, our team mates and our opponents are all involved because they want to enjoy the game as well as wanting to do their best as players, as teammates and whether they are playing, calling, picking up, chalking or just spectating so it’s important that we all treat each other with respect and courtesy whenever and wherever we play!
EGM
A final reminder about our Extraordinary General Meeting tomorrow (Tuesday 2nd) which is to discuss our scheduled Competitions this year and beyond. It’s important that we have as many attendees as possible to determine a way forward which meets both the needs of the Competitions and which encourages as many individuals and teams to take part.
Clearly at the moment, for whatever reasons, we haven’t got it right based on the number of entries received to date for 2024 including the proposed new competitions for players in the lower sections.
The meeting will take place at The Croft starting at 8pm and we need to hear your views not just the thoughts of one or two clubs.
