Registration Night fast approaches for the 2026 season!

It’s on Monday 16th March after 8pm at Abingdon Conservative Club.

Bring your reg forms (on the Home page) for the League and for the Handicapped 8s Knockout!

In other news, if you are building a new pitch and need a backdrop we have a supplier in Seal Seams.

Dolls, irons, swivels and sticks are also available from our other supplier Brian Collins.  – see our Buying Kit page.

Match Results

P/A – Abingdon United A 6 – Steventon Sports SC A 0; Legs (22-17, 24-21, 23-18)

P/A – Berinsfield SC A 5 – Croft Nomads 1; Legs (27-25, 28-26, 28-28)

P/A – College Oak A 2 – Abingdon Conservative Club 4; Legs (19-31, 23-25, 21-20)

P/A – Red Lion A 6 – Plum Pudding 0; Legs (21-20, 30-24, 26-17)

P/A – Stanford in the Vale FC 6 – The Vine, Cumnor 0; Legs (25-21, 24-16, 23-17)

B – Abingdon RBL 4 – Royal Oak 2; Legs (11-13, 12-10, 13-9)

B – Bear & Ragged Staff 2 – Harwellian B 4; Legs (18-14, 10-13, 16-17)

B – Fleur De Lys A 2 – Earl of Abingdon A 4; Legs (12-13, 13-14, 15-13)

B – The Bell A 4 – WADS Bar 2; Legs (18-13, 9-11, 16-14)

B – The Croft Bar 6 – Abingdon United C 0; Legs (15-11, 15-10, 18-12)

C – Boundary House 4 – The Bell B Grove 2; Legs (15-8, 13-9, 10-15)

C – Brewery Tap 0 – The Fox, Denchworth 6; Legs (9-14, 5-13, 5-14)

C – The Earl of Abingdon B 4 – Red Lion B Drayton 2; Legs (15-7, 14-13, 5-17)

C – The Wheatsheaf, Didcot 6 – The Midget 0; Legs (19-9, 17-8, 17-16)

D – Harwellian A 4 – College Oak B 2; Legs (9-4, 9-11, 12-10)

D – Prince of Wales Shippon 4 – Fleur de Lys B 2; Legs (14-10, 11-14, 13-8)

D – RAL Social Club 0 – Plough West Hanney 6; Legs (5-12, 8-12, 10-11)

D – Steventon Sports B 4 – The Fox Boars Hill 2; Legs (8-7, 12-8, 11-13)

D – The Lamb Wantage 0 – The Plough Inn Long Wittenham 6; Legs (8-11, 10-12, 1-12)

E – Black Horse E.Hanney 0 – Bystander 6; Legs (7-15, 8-12, 4-11)

E – Challow Cricket Club 5 – Crown Marcham A 1; Legs (11-11, 11-9, 13-4)

E – Hanney RBL 2 – Marcham Centre A 4; Legs (8-10, 11-10, 6-9)

E – Queens Arms Didcot 6 – The George Sutton Courtenay 0; Legs (7-6, 10-7, 12-5)

E – Waggon and Horses B Southmoor 6 – Berinsfield SC B 0; Legs (18-8, 11-8, 8-4)

F – Black Swan 0 – Ladygrove A 6; Legs (6-8, 5-6, 8-11)

F – Crown Marcham B 5 – Plough Appleton A 1; Legs (7-7, 12-7, 10-6)

F – Long Wittenham AC 6 – Horse & Jockey Stanford in the Vale 0; Legs (10-8, 7-4, 9-7)

F – Marcham Centre B 1 – Grove RFC 5; Legs (11-20, 8-8, 8-13)

F – North Star B 4 – The Lamb Wantage B 2; Legs (8-4, 6-7, 18-7)

Blobbers

A Watson-Harrison (The Lamb Wantage B), Adam Davies (RAL Social Club), David Mills (Brewery Tap), Jo Wilson (The Fox Boars Hill), John C Vaughan (Harwellian A), Lloyd Woodington (Berinsfield SC B), Matt Tarrant (Ladygrove A), Mckenzie Godfrey (Horse & Jockey Stanford in the Vale), Michael Barry (Harwellian A), Nigel Tait (Abingdon RBL), Pam Edwards (Black Horse E.Hanney), Pete Hogan (C) (The Lamb Wantage), Robert Beasant (Black Horse E.Hanney), Sarah Stacey (Plough Appleton A), Simon Busby (Berinsfield SC B), Tessa Beasant (Black Horse E.Hanney), Tom Moore (Royal Oak), Wayne Robins (Plough West Hanney).

Sixers

Alex Chamberlain (Abingdon Conservative Club), Barry Townsend (Croft Nomads), Gary De La Ruiz (Harwellian B).

Fivers

Andy Morton 3-5-2 (Abingdon United A) – Week 18

Andy Phelps 5-5-3 (Berinsfield SC A) – Week 18

Andy Shipman 4-1-5 (Harwellian B) – Week 18

Bob Duff (S) 5-3-1 (Abingdon Conservative Club) – Week 18

Charlie Guinan 5-3-2 (The Wheatsheaf, Didcot) – Week 18

Dave Collett 1-1-5 (The Plough Inn Long Wittenham) – Week 18

David Mott 2-5-3 (Abingdon United A) – Week 18

Dean Bowler 3-3-5 (Red Lion A) – Week 18

Dennis Forbes-Smith 5-2-1 (Waggon and Horses B Southmoor) – Week 18

James Fletcher 2-1-5 (North Star B) – Week 18

Jason Bowler 3-2-5 (Abingdon United A) – Week 18

Ken Fisher 2-5-1 (Abingdon Conservative Club) – Week 18

Kevin Billington 0-5-1 (Red Lion A) – Week 18

Mark O’Neill 5-2-2 (Grove RFC) – Week 18

Mark Weston 5-1-1 (Plough West Hanney) – Week 18

Paul Leach 5-4-2 (Plum Pudding) – Week 18

Phil Soden (CS) 3-5-4 (College Oak A) – Week 18

Sam Weston 5-1-3 (Bear & Ragged Staff) – Week 18

Steve Weeks 5-0-3 (The Bell A) – Week 18

Steven Pembroke 1-1-5 (Plough West Hanney) – Week 18

Stuart Wilson (C) 5-4-2 (Berinsfield SC A) – Week 18

It really doesn’t seem over 18 weeks ago that we were looking forward to our Summer season, some with hope, some with trepidation and some just simply looking forward to Wednesday night’s with some banter,  a drink or two and a relaxing game of Aunt Sally with their mates in the garden or backyard of a local hostelry! 

So how do we reflect on the Summer? Firstly with lots of pleasure because this year we achieved our goal of attracting 60 teams to our league with 8 new teams welcomed some joining for the very first time, others returning after a time away and a few other changes saw some changes of names and venues for old friends. Remarkably the Summer was kind to us as well with Wednesday evenings being mostly rain free and warm! Can’t always say that, but it certainly helps! Equally remarkably our game attracted 835 actual players in total over the course of the season with 60 teams that’s at least 16 players and some onlookers at 30 pubs or clubs every Wednesday evening for 18 weeks! That must be good for business!

So who were the successful teams now that it is all over for another season? Firstly all teams were successful in their own way not necessarily because they won their section or finished runners up, but because they took part, introduced new players to our game and spent some much needed income in the pubs and clubs who provide the facilities and the environment which enables our game to continue to thrive.

We do need to reflect on to last week’s games and there were some tight finishes some of which were decisive in determining winners and runners up in some sections. The Premier section winners were Abingdon Conservative Club who finished 12 points clear at the top of the table averaging over 24 dolls per leg over 54 legs! A challenge and achievement for us all to aspire to (in our dreams!). Special mention to both Phil Adams and Dave Dix from the Con Club who both just fell 1 doll short of that coveted maximum 18 dolls match total. Maybe next year it will happen! Runners up in the Premier were Croft Nomads who despite losing 5-1 at Berinsfield SC A still managed to retain second spot because their nearest rivals Plum Pudding needing a win on the night at the Red Lion A, but they lost 6-0 so were unable to close the gap finishing 5 points adrift.

It was those 2 winning sides who dominated the A section, Berinsfield SC A winning the title with a 12 point winning margin over the Red Lion A who finished runners up.

The B section went right to the wire and it was the Croft Bar who clinched top spot by just 3 points with a closing night 6-0 victory over Abingdon United C and Abingdon RBL also won on the night to secure the runners up spot.

The C section was comfortably won by The Wheatsheaf who had an excellent season losing only 2 of their 18 matches, runners up in this section were The Bell B from Grove who enjoyed another successful summer.

The D section was won by The Plough West Hanney who topped the table for most of the season so congratulations to them and to the section runners up from East Hagbourne, The Fleur de Lys B.

The E section was, like the B section, a close run thing with 4 teams contesting the top spots for much of the year. At the end though it was The Bystander who came out on top just 1 point ahead of runners up The Waggon & Horses, both sides winning 6-0 on the last day! Marcham Centre A who had been in contention for a long time fell short on their last day going down 5-1 against Hanney RBL, but can take the consolation that their skipper Brian Bosley secured the overall top dolls total for the section.

Finally to the F section the home of several of our new teams i 2025. With lots of solid performances through the Summer Ladygrove and Long Wittenham AC can be pleased with their first year in the league, but it was last year’s newcomers grove RFC who clinched the title and long serving North Star B who finished runners up in this section.

Finally let’s not forget all of those players who recorded personal double figure scores last week, some for the first time (and last) this season.

Leading the pack last week was Alex Chamberlain for AB Con Club with 14 dolls including a maximum 6 Phil Adams and Dave Dix chipped in with 12 and 11 respectively for the league champions. In the Berinsfield SC A match against Croft Nomads, Andy Phelps top scored with 12 dolls for the home side and for the Croft both Barry Townsend (with a 6) and Chris Jenkins matched Andy’s 12. Also in this pretty high scoring match Stuart Wilson with 11 an Mick Greenaway and Richard Jones weighed in with 10 dolls each and for the Croft it was Alan Bell and Steve Enock with 11 dolls apiece.

In the Plum Pudding v Red Lion game Paul Leach and Dean Bowler for the Plum (Paul) and Red Lion (Dean) both hit 11 and also for the Lion, Scott Tabor racked up 10 dolls.

Elsewhere Phil Soden’s 12 dolls were his best of the season, Gary de la Ruiz’s 12 for the Harwellian B included a 6, Andy Morton’s 11 was joined in double figures by team mates, Jumbo Mott, Jason Bowler and Steve Martin who all contributed 1o dolls for Abingdon United A. Steve Davidson, mine host, captain and secretary for the Fox Denchworth led his team with 11 dolls.

There were lots of 10’s scored last week William Glen for Stanford FC, Charlie Guinan for the Wheatsheaf, Andy Shipman of the Harwellian B and his Harwellian clubmate from the A side Woodie Reiszner all broke single figures with 10 dolls each.

A final mention in the race for top doll scorer for top doll between father and son Billy and Dave Collett it was Billy who came out on top by just 4 dolls despite Dave outscoring him 7 to 5 last week. The difference in their season’s totals was probably decided by Billy playing all 18 fixtures whilst Dave only played 17!

Just to close this last league review of the season I would just like to remind you that the season is yet to finish! Tonight (Wednesday 10th) we will be staging the team competitions finals at Abingdon United and next week, Wednesday the 17th it is the Founders & Legends Trophy at Abingdon Conservative Club again from 7.30 which is open to all registered players aged 55 or over, registration on the night from 7 to 7.15. We also plan to hold the remaining semi final and final of the inaugural lower section pairs (D/E/F) before the start of that competition.

Even then the summer season isn’t completely over as we will stage our Presentation Night at Abingdon United FC from 7pm on Friday 10th October when the singles and pairs semi finals and finals will be played and all of the season’s trophies will be presented.

Still More to Come!

Don’t hang up your sticks just yet:

• Tonight (Wed 10th Sept): Team Competition Finals at Abingdon United.
• Next Wednesday (17th Sept 7pm): Founders & Legends Trophy at Abingdon Conservative Club (open to all players aged 55+ registration 7-7.15).
• Lower Section Pairs (D/E/F): Semi-final and final to be played before the Legends Trophy kicks off.
• Presentation Night: Friday 10th October at Abingdon United FC from 7pm. Singles and pairs finals, plus trophy presentations—don’t miss it!

A Massive Thank You

That’s it for this season’s Roger’s Ramblings! Huge thanks to every player, captain, secretary, landlord/lady, steward, and supporter. Whether you played every week or just stepped in when needed, you’ve helped keep this wonderful game not just alive—but absolutely thriving.

Here’s to another cracking season. Cheers!

Roger Nicols

League Treasurer and Match Secretary

Match Results

P/A – Croft Nomads 2 – Abingdon Conservative Club 4; Legs (22-23, 27-23, 23-26)

P/A – Plum Pudding 4 – Stanford in the Vale FC 2; Legs (24-21, 21-20, 18-22)

P/A – Berinsfield SC A 6 – Abingdon United A 0; Legs (23-19, 22-21, 24-10)

P/A – Red Lion A 5 – College Oak A 1; Legs (22-20, 21-19, 16-16)

P/A – The Vine, Cumnor 3 – Steventon Sports SC A 3; Legs (24-21, 17-17, 19-21)

B – Abingdon United C 2 – Royal Oak 4; Legs (11-10, 8-9, 9-11)

B – Earl of Abingdon A 1 – The Croft Bar 5; Legs (13-13, 6-14, 10-12)

B – Fleur De Lys A 4 – Bear & Ragged Staff 2; Legs (13-12, 13-9, 11-15)

B – The Bell A 2 – Abingdon RBL 4; Legs (14-15, 11-10, 14-18)

B – WADS Bar 2 – Harwellian B 4; Legs (13-17, 11-15, 14-13)

C – Boundary House 6 – Eight Bells, Eaton 0; Legs (0-0, 0-0, 0-0)

C – Brewery Tap 0 – The Earl of Abingdon B 6; Legs (0-0, 0-0, 0-0)

C – North Star A 0 – Red Lion B Drayton 6; Legs (11-12, 4-10, 9-15)

C – The Fox, Denchworth 4 – The Wheatsheaf, Didcot 2; Legs (18-8, 15-12, 9-12)

C – The Midget 0 – The Bell B Grove 6; Legs (7-20, 6-17, 6-7)

D – College Oak B 2 – RAL Social Club 4; Legs (11-7, 6-8, 9-11)

D – Harwellian A 1 – Prince of Wales Shippon 5; Legs (8-9, 16-16, 9-12)

D – Plough West Hanney 5 – The Plough Inn Long Wittenham 1; Legs (13-11, 10-10, 18-12)

D – Steventon Sports B 4 – The Lamb Wantage 2; Legs (5-8, 8-6, 7-6)

D – The Fox Boars Hill 1 – Fleur de Lys B 5; Legs (8-11, 15-18, 11-11)

E – Black Horse E.Hanney 0 – Waggon and Horses B Southmoor 6; Legs (6-8, 5-13, 5-7)

E – Bystander 6 – The George Sutton Courtenay 0; Legs (19-8, 12-9, 13-8)

E – Crown Marcham A 6 – Berinsfield SC B 0; Legs (13-11, 11-9, 16-7)

E – Hanney RBL 5 – Queens Arms Didcot 1; Legs (11-10, 7-7, 12-6)

E – Marcham Centre A 5 – Challow Cricket Club 1; Legs (15-12, 12-12, 12-11)

F – Black Swan 6 – Marcham Centre B 0; Legs (7-5, 6-5, 7-4)

F – Horse & Jockey Stanford in the Vale 3 – Grove RFC 3; Legs (18-16, 11-11, 13-16)

F – Ladygrove A 4 – North Star B 2; Legs (10-9, 12-10, 9-10)

F – Long Wittenham AC 2 – Crown Marcham B 4; Legs (12-9, 10-11, 8-10)

F – The Lamb Wantage B 6 – Plough Appleton A 0; Legs (10-8, 11-8, 9-4)

Blobbers

Aaron Scott (The Plough Inn Long Wittenham), Charlie Greenslade (Black Horse E.Hanney), Declan O’Neill (Earl of Abingdon A), Gill Ebberson (RAL Social Club), J Buchanan (The Lamb Wantage), James Mansfield (Plough Appleton A), Jamie Stewart (Queens Arms Didcot), Lloyd Woodington (Berinsfield SC B), Malcolm Thomas (Waggon and Horses B Southmoor), Mary Carey (Plough Appleton A), MIck Wright (Marcham Centre B), Nick Monger (Steventon Sports B), Paul Hackwood (Steventon Sports B), Pete Hogan (C) (The Lamb Wantage), Simon Busby (Berinsfield SC B), Simon Coate (Black Swan), Stuart Packford (The Fox Boars Hill), Tina Harper (S) (The Midget), Vince Tyrrell (Marcham Centre B).

Sixers

Jason Bowler (Abingdon United A).

Fivers

Alan Bell 3-3-5 (Croft Nomads) – Week 17

Dave Dix 5-3-4 (Abingdon Conservative Club) – Week 17

Ken Fisher 3-5-3 (Abingdon Conservative Club) – Week 17

Mark Brind 3-1-5 (Plough West Hanney) – Week 17

Pat Wiltshire 5-1-2 (Grove RFC) – Week 17

Paul Barrett 5-2-4 (Abingdon Conservative Club) – Week 17

Paul Ealey (S) 5-3-4 (Abingdon RBL) – Week 17

Paul Stone 5-4-1 (Croft Nomads) – Week 17

Steve Fernback (CS) 0-5-2 (The Fox Boars Hill) – Week 17

Wout VanGallen 1-1-5 (Abingdon United C) – Week 17

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!