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The 2023 Fixture list is now available on line. See 2023 Fixture List PDF
NOTE There is a minor problem with the fixture as printed (and PDF) for the Harwellian B, Abingdon Arms A/B, Abingdon RBL and Wheatsheaf Didcot due to a home game clash due to two team venues. Team captains have been contacted that are affected and have agreed to reversing the home/away status for some matches. Ask your captain/secretary for details.
Last week saw the launch of the 2023 season with the 1st round of the team 8’s competition and the 4 matches held on a typically “cool” early May evening were closely contested, none more so than the one between Premier Section “giants” and the relative newcomers to Aunt Sally from Steventon Sports B.
It obviously helped the newbies from this years Section F to receive the cushion of a 10 doll handicap advantage but nonetheless they did the Stevie boys did themselves proud before bowing out 2-1 and losing the deciding leg by only 1 doll 22-23. Credit to the Stevie team, they are in the lowest section and I think the first side to enter the competition from the lowest section, that result shows that with the handicap system in place even the very best teams can be seriously challenged and under pressure in this Competition. Both teams reported that it was a very enjoyable evening and Steventon Sports despite losing the competition had the enjoyment and satisfaction of winning the beer leg!
Other results also showed this with Section C teams The Bell Grove, and The Fox Denchworth defeating Section B sides Abingdon United and Abingdon RBL in close encounters. The other tie saw Berinsfield A ease out Steventon Sports A in an all Premier section tie.
The next round draw, to be completed by the end of June, will see The Bystander A pitted against Plum Pudding, Berinsfield A entertaining The Bell Grove, Croft Nomads at home to Abingdon Con Club and Abingdon Utd/ConClub hosting The Fox Denchworth.
We had 12 teams entered into the Team 8s competition this year so there are 4 preliminary matches….
Don’t forget there is a handicap in place 2 dolls for each section difference so A playing Prem would have 2 dolls up to a max of 10 dolls for Premier vs Section F for instance.
Prelims will be played on 3rd May and the 1st Round matches on a mutually agreed night during June.
Handicaps, where appropriate, will be determined by the Section position of competing clubs and will be confirmed once league sections have been published (late April)
| Preliminary | Home | Away |
| 1 | Abingdon British Legion | Fox Denchworth |
| 2 | Berinsfield A | Steventon Sports A |
| 3 | Abindon Utd C | Bell @ Grove |
| 4 | Plum Pudding | Steventon Sports B |
1st Round Matches
| Match | Home | Away |
| A | Bystander A | Winner of Prelim 4 |
| B | Winner of Prelim 2 | Winner of Prelim 3 |
| C | Ab Utd @ Con Club | Winner of Prelim 1 |
| D | Croft Nomads | Abingdon Con Club |
Well the 40th Abingdon & District Winter Aunt Sally League Finals and Presentation Night took place last Wednesday.
We had a great set of competition finals including a long fought battle for Singles champion between Leigh Clapton and Anton ‘Tosh’ Woolloff with Tosh becoming the winner. Presentations were given by World Aunt Sally Champion Barry ‘The Iceman’ Parker.
Best Performance of the Night was a tight run thing but Dave Dix clinched it with his 5-5-5 performance in the 5s. If you need full details, the obvious question is why weren’t you there, but Brian Clapton has the record.
I know Tosh would want to remind Winter League teams that there is an Extraordinary General Meeting on the 26th April to discuss the Winter league and he’d like all teams represented. Tosh has run the league for probably the best part of that 40 years so I know he’s got some important things to say on the night.
Since Registration Night there has been a few additional teams registered bringing the total number of teams registered to 52 an increase of 4 from 2022. Whilst this is great because our prime objective is always to grow both the number of teams and individuals playing our game as possible. 52 represents a not insignificant growth in numbers when you consider the challenges that pubs and clubs and their customers (us!) face in these difficult economic times.
The increase in numbers has, though, presented us with a dilemma, but in keeping with our desire to have as many teams as possible playing we have decided to add an extra section this season. This means that there will be 10 teams in the Premier/A section and in the B section with 8 teams in Sections C,D,E, and F. This means that instead of 18 matches in these sections there will be only 14 with 4 byes in each.
It’s worth reminding all teams that positioning in sections is, as it has been for several years, based on the aggregate score of the top 8 players from the previous season assuming they have registered again for 2023. In a few cases some teams and some players did not play in 2022, so where appropriate averages from their last full season (2019) has been taken into account. This process means that some teams may find themselves in a higher or lower section this year than last and this is simply because either their average determines that or because their registered players have changed. The handicap system used for the Premier and A section is based on exactly the same principles.
On the positive side, for those sections with less teams we have been able to arrange the sections so that they free up 2 teams from each section each week which will give the opportunity to either arrange friendlies or even an informal “supplementary league” with teams from across 4 sections having the opportunity to play each other. We will have to sort out how best that is organised a bit later, it will probably need to be sorted by the teams affected, but it does give the opportunity for all teams to play 18 games and every week over the season if they want to..
As a result of these considerations the production of the fixtures etc has been slightly delayed, but all of the details will be with you by the end of April. The league season proper starts on May 10th with the 1st round of the team 8’s knockout handicap competition scheduled for the week earlier May 3rd and the draw for those games will be published on the website and to the respective teams in the next few days.
Its the Finals Night for the Winter League tonight at Abingdon United FC so pop along to see some good games fingers crossed.
The Summer is coming and hopefully by May we’ll get rid of these heavy April showers which aren’t good for anyone’s doll score!
We’ve done the 8s draw and had 12 teams entered – fixtures will be published this week online ready for the preliminary matches on 3rd May.
The final summer sections will be at the printers soon and distributed as soon as we can, ready for the league start on 10th May.
Further details will be coming soon!
Well some of you may have spotted our little tongue in cheek of the rule and equipment changes and may have checked the date.
Have a great Saturday and get those competition forms in !
Earlier this week our Chairman, Reg Couch decided to stand down after 4 years in the role. Reg took over as Chairman back in 2019 and before that had held the role of Vice Chairman.
We thank Reg for his past service to the Association in his various capacities. Reg has also been one of our longest serving players, playing most recently for The Fox at Denchworth in what has been very much a family affair with his wife and son playing alongside him, together with their good friends, Vic and Pauline Pratt.
Unfortunately it looks like Fox B are not going to have sufficient players to form a side this coming season so Reg may be available for “transfer”, at this stage I don’t know whether a fee will be required! No doubt sides based around Grove and Wantage looking for more players could be interested!
Reg’s resignation leaves a gap on the Committee so if anyone is interested and is willing to be co-opted please make contact with any of the Committee formally or informally. It’s not too onerous a job half a dozen or so Committee meetings over 12 months, support for the Competition days (2), and being present on Finals night and the Annual Presentation Awards Night at the end of the season.
No money is involved, all Committee roles are entirely voluntary and all decisions made by the Committee are intended to be non controversial and in the best interests of all members of the league and all of the people who play our game.
As a result of Reg’s resignation Paul Stone has been asked, by the Committee, to take the Chair for 2023. Paul has accepted that role and we are confident that having Paul back on the Committee and now taking on the role of Chairman will be a real plus for the League going forward.
Once again on behalf of the League our thanks and best wishes to Reg and a warm welcome to the Chair Paul!
Registration forms for the league and competitions are now available on the home page.
2023 Registration Night will take place from 7.30pm on Monday March 20th at Abingdon Conservative Club