Match Results

P/A – Abingdon Conservative Club 4 – College Oak A 2; Legs (24-15, 21-19, 21-22)

P/A – Croft Nomads 4 – Berinsfield SC A 2; Legs (27-24, 23-24, 25-24)

P/A – Plum Pudding 2 – Red Lion A 4; Legs (16-19, 19-20, 22-17)

P/A – Steventon Sports SC A 4 – Abingdon United A 2; Legs (19-18, 17-24, 23-17)

P/A – The Vine, Cumnor 6 – Stanford in the Vale FC 0; Legs (19-17, 30-16, 21-18)

B – Abingdon United C 0 – The Croft Bar 6; Legs (14-19, 12-16, 11-14)

B – Earl of Abingdon A 4 – Fleur De Lys A 2; Legs (12-11, 10-19, 14-10)

B – Harwellian B 1 – Bear & Ragged Staff 5; Legs (12-12, 8-16, 13-15)

B – Royal Oak 2 – Abingdon RBL 4; Legs (12-22, 10-16, 15-14)

B – WADS Bar 4 – The Bell A 2; Legs (9-11, 15-14, 13-6)

C – Eight Bells, Eaton 0 – North Star A 6; Legs (0-0, 0-0, 0-0)

C – Red Lion B Drayton 0 – The Earl of Abingdon B 6; Legs (5-16, 9-12, 9-12)

C – The Bell B Grove 6 – Boundary House 0; Legs (12-11, 13-11, 13-12)

C – The Fox, Denchworth 5 – Brewery Tap 1; Legs (16-8, 13-10, 15-15)

C – The Midget 0 – The Wheatsheaf, Didcot 6; Legs (13-14, 7-15, 12-16)

D – College Oak B 6 – Harwellian A 0; Legs (17-9, 15-13, 13-11)

D – Fleur de Lys B 2 – Prince of Wales Shippon 4; Legs (12-13, 18-10, 10-12)

D – Plough West Hanney 6 – RAL Social Club 0; Legs (16-8, 14-8, 14-5)

D – The Fox Boars Hill 3 – Steventon Sports B 3; Legs (12-12, 8-12, 15-13)

D – The Plough Inn Long Wittenham 6 – The Lamb Wantage 0; Legs (16-6, 14-7, 15-7)

E – Berinsfield SC B 0 – Waggon and Horses B Southmoor 6; Legs (7-13, 10-16, 7-13)

E – Bystander 4 – Black Horse E.Hanney 2; Legs (14-12, 9-9, 10-10)

E – Crown Marcham A 2 – Challow Cricket Club 4; Legs (12-14, 13-16, 12-5)

E – Marcham Centre A 2 – Hanney RBL 4; Legs (16-17, 13-14, 13-12)

F – Grove RFC 6 – Marcham Centre B 0; Legs (16-8, 15-9, 12-10)

F – Horse & Jockey Stanford in the Vale 1 – Long Wittenham AC 5; Legs (7-7, 7-12, 4-14)

F – Ladygrove A 6 – Black Swan 0; Legs (10-4, 12-3, 11-4)

F – Plough Appleton A 0 – Crown Marcham B 6; Legs (6-9, 6-7, 5-13)

F – The Lamb Wantage B 1 – North Star B 5; Legs (7-11, 6-19, 14-14)

Blobbers

Adam Sanford (Black Swan), Alistair Brewis (Black Horse E.Hanney), Caroline Pask (Black Swan), J Campoli (The Lamb Wantage B), LL Aziz Scott (S) (Ladygrove A), Lloyd Woodington (Berinsfield SC B), Roy Loron (Red Lion B Drayton), Sylwia Lelowittis (RAL Social Club), Tim Jerreat (Black Swan).

Sixers

Andy Shipman (Harwellian B).

Fivers

Andy Hallett © 4-5-2 (The Croft Bar) – Week 9

Andy Shipman 6-5-4 (Harwellian B) – Week 9

Andy Stoter 5-2-0 (Grove RFC) – Week 9

Barry Townsend 5-4-3 (Croft Nomads) – Week 9

Chris Jenkins 5-4-2 (Croft Nomads) – Week 9

Dave Collett 5-2-4 (The Plough Inn Long Wittenham) – Week 9

Dave Dix 4-5-3 (Abingdon Conservative Club) – Week 9

David Sapey © 5-3-2 (Abingdon RBL) – Week 9

Harry Fryett 5-0-2 (The Midget) – Week 9

Nick Hill 5-2-2 (Crown Marcham A) – Week 9

Paul Brewerton 2-2-5 (Waggon and Horses B Southmoor) – Week 9

Pete Garland 1-5-1 (The Plough Inn Long Wittenham) – Week 9

Phil Adams 3-5-4 (Abingdon Conservative Club) – Week 9

Rene Laporte 5-1-1 (Bystander) – Week 9

Richard Jones 4-3-5 (Berinsfield SC A) – Week 9

Richard Selby 3-2-5 (College Oak B) – Week 9

Simon Hamblin 0-1-5 (The Midget) – Week 9

Steve Taylor 5-5-5 (The Fox, Denchworth) – Week 9

Terry Downes 5-2-2 (Plum Pudding) – Week 9

Trevor Hetherington 0-5-0 (The Bell A) – Week 9

The first week in July marks the end of the first half of our summer 2025 season and I think for most it’s been an enjoyable season with good Wednesday evening weather, good competition, some successes and some disappointments for both teams and individuals. One of the highlights for us is the very welcome addition of the new entrants all of whom have acquitted themselves well, particularly as most of their players are new to our “game”.

Not surprisingly it’s the well established teams that get most attention and particularly those in the top sections and that’s largely because it’s those teams and individuals who capture the headlines.  Whilst it’s important that we recognise this,  it is equally important that those who who have just joined the league or their teams in the last couple of years are also recognised because without new additions we would be significantly weaker as a league and our 46 pubs and clubs who represent our 60 teams would not have the “pleasure” of over 500 people visiting their local every week or every other week to play our game!

Well, back to a review of last week’s matches.  There was some outstanding  scoring and individual performances and the top billing must go to Abingdon Conservative Club in the Premier who extended their lead at the top of the section with a 4-2 victory against Croft Nomads. Phil Adams led the way with an overall score of 14 dolls including a maximum, but his contribution with 4 dolls from anchor  in the first leg saw the home side hit 26 dolls chasing a set of 25 by the Nomads. Nomads set again in the second leg and a set of 27 was just too much for the Con Club to level the tie, but setting again in leg 3 Croft tailed away setting only 17 dolls which was easily overtaken by the Con Club to secure the victory.

Also  a very close encounter in the top section featured  both sides sharing  the points when only 1 doll seperated Abingdon United A and Berinsfield SC A over the 3 legs with combined scores of 71 for United and 70 for Berinsfield so 3-3 looked to be a very fair reflection of the game!

In the B section there were also some close legs amongst them a fine 3rd leg between Harwellian B and WADS Bar which saw WADs Bar rescue 2 points when they overcame a Harwellian leg of 19 dolls with 20 of their own to deny Harwellian  maximum points.

Lots of notable individual scores last week and the  2 sixers the aforementioned Phil Adams (who was also a semi finalist in the  hot and windy Charlbury World Championship last Saturday) and the other was hit by our league sponsor John Pownceby playing for the Vine who have had a tough first half of the season  so a very welcome tonic for John  and his team although they  still went down 4-2 on the night. Lot’s of double figures recorded last week as well, Phil’s 14 led the way and John also hit his best of the season with 12 dolls matched by Terry Downes for the Plum Pudding, Dave Dix for the Con Club (looks like Dave will be first to treble doll figures this season and probably hit that milestone  this week as he only needs 8 more dolls!), Scott Tabor’s 11 for the Red Lion A was his best of the season (good job someone in the family line can throw!) and there was a host of 10 scores including Chris Jenkins and Alan Bell for Croft Nomads, Simon Winterbourne (Plum Pudding), Steve Martin and Jason Bowler (Ab Utd A), Alex Chamberlain (Ab Con Club), Richard Jones (Berinsfield SC A), Dean Bowler (Red Lion A), Andy Shipman (Harwellian B), and F section’s Michael Rainbow (Long Wittenham AC). Well done to all double digit scorers!

There were also some very good scoring throughout the sections with several leg scores of 16, 17 and 18 dolls in the lower sections with the best being 19 dolls from league leaders The Wheatsheaf in the C section.

I think though the stand out score of the lot, and for all the wrong reasons, was the first leg of the match between the Plough Appleton and the Lamb B in section F.

Overall the match resulted in a 6-0 victory for the Lamb B. The first leg  saw 12 “blobs” recorded  (a league record?), but  the Lamb edged home 3-2 thanks to a leg winning  2 dolls from captain, Simon Hamlet!!  I am sure both sides will be looking for something better in terms of scores  this week, but every credit to the players from both sides and  remember it’s the taking part that counts and everyone can have an off night whatever the level!!

The league tables remain largely unchanged after last week’s results with the only unbeaten side still the Wheatsheaf who top Section C and the good news at this stage is that there is no team in the league who has yet to record a win.

Don’t forget as we are approaching the peak holiday season you can still register additional players (if you can find them!) simply by email, text to either myself or through team support.  

This Sunday sees the annual singles, pairs, captains and secretaries competitions take place at Abingdon United FC. There are plenty of entries for the Singles and Pairs and the Competition will get underway from 1 for registration and games from 1.30. The bar will be open all afternoon.  So why not  come along,  bring the family and enjoy an afternoon  of very good  and probably some not so good Aunt Sally hopefully in the sunshine!

Results delayed this week due to a card being sent in with nicknames not registered names. 
If you are going to send a card in and beg Roger to do it for you do make sure 
the names match the registered players - he's had to guess so check your scores! (and answer your emails).

Match Results

P/A – Abingdon Conservative Club 4 – Croft Nomads 2; Legs (26-25, 25-27, 22-17)

P/A – Abingdon United A 3 – Berinsfield SC A 3; Legs (23-21, 25-25, 23-24)

P/A – Steventon Sports SC A 4 – The Vine, Cumnor 2; Legs (17-16, 19-20, 19-16)

P/A – College Oak A 2 – Red Lion A 4; Legs (18-24, 22-20, 17-26)

P/A – Stanford in the Vale FC 2 – Plum Pudding 4; Legs (25-26, 24-19, 22-26)

B – Abingdon RBL 2 – The Bell A 4; Legs (8-14, 11-8, 12-14)

B – Bear & Ragged Staff 5 – Fleur De Lys A 1; Legs (10-10, 12-9, 12-11)

B – Harwellian B 4 – WADS Bar 2; Legs (16-11, 18-12, 19-20)

B – Royal Oak 4 – Abingdon United C 2; Legs (12-15, 18-13, 15-9)

B – The Croft Bar 4 – Earl of Abingdon A 2; Legs (7-14, 13-12, 13-10)

C – Boundary House 4 – Eight Bells, Eaton 2; Legs (10-8, 16-7, 12-14)

C – Red Lion B Drayton 2 – North Star A 4; Legs (10-6, 5-10, 11-13)

C – The Bell B Grove 6 – The Midget 0; Legs (12-7, 16-10, 16-12)

C – The Earl of Abingdon B 4 – Brewery Tap 2; Legs (10-13, 9-8, 13-10)

C – The Wheatsheaf, Didcot 4 – The Fox, Denchworth 2; Legs (14-16, 19-9, 16-12)

D – Fleur de Lys B 4 – The Fox Boars Hill 2; Legs (13-8, 15-12, 8-9)

D – Harwellian A 2 – Prince of Wales Shippon 4; Legs (6-10, 12-16, 10-8)

D – RAL Social Club 2 – College Oak B 4; Legs (7-11, 14-9, 8-9)

D – The Lamb Wantage 4 – Steventon Sports B 2; Legs (11-7, 14-13, 10-12)

D – The Plough Inn Long Wittenham 4 – Plough West Hanney 2; Legs (13-11, 15-13, 7-9)

E – Challow Cricket Club 2 – Marcham Centre A 4; Legs (8-11, 14-7, 11-18)

E – Crown Marcham A 6 – Berinsfield SC B 0; Legs (0-0, 0-0, 0-0)

E – Queens Arms Didcot 1 – Hanney RBL 5; Legs (10-15, 11-11, 8-10)

E – The George Sutton Courtenay 0 – Bystander 6; Legs (6-10, 5-14, 9-13)

E – Waggon and Horses B Southmoor 6 – Black Horse E.Hanney 0; Legs (13-7, 16-11, 15-10)

F – Crown Marcham B 4 – Long Wittenham AC 2; Legs (14-12, 13-9, 11-13)

F – Grove RFC 6 – Horse & Jockey Stanford in the Vale 0; Legs (14-7, 13-6, 19-10)

F – Marcham Centre B 2 – Black Swan 4; Legs (9-11, 6-7, 8-7)

F – North Star B 2 – Ladygrove A 4; Legs (13-9, 10-11, 4-8)

F – Plough Appleton A 2 – The Lamb Wantage B 4; Legs (3-2, 4-12, 2-7)

Blobbers

Anna Antell (Plough Appleton A), Caroline Baker (Red Lion B Drayton), Clive Rayson (Bear & Ragged Staff), Dennis Ruffels (The Earl of Abingdon B), Gill Ebberson (RAL Social Club), J Campoli (The Lamb Wantage B), Keith Buckle (Abingdon RBL), Michael Littlechild (Horse & Jockey Stanford in the Vale), Nick Blacow (The George Sutton Courtenay), Phil Waddy (The Fox Boars Hill), Ryhs Lewis (Plough Appleton A).

Sixers

John Pownceby (The Vine, Cumnor), Phil Adams (Abingdon Conservative Club).

Fivers

Alan Bell 5-4-1 (Croft Nomads) – Week 8

Alex Chamberlain 5-3-2 (Abingdon Conservative Club) – Week 8

Bernie Stimpson 0-1-5 (North Star A) – Week 8

Dave Dix 5-3-4 (Abingdon Conservative Club) – Week 8

David Mott 1-2-5 (Abingdon United A) – Week 8

Gary De La Ruiz 3-0-5 (Harwellian B) – Week 8

Geoff Lee (S) 5-2-1 (Berinsfield SC A) – Week 8

Jake Nutt 2-5-1 (Steventon Sports B) – Week 8

Jonathan Hutt 5-2-2 (Brewery Tap) – Week 8

Kevin Billington 1-1-5 (Red Lion A) – Week 8

Rory Mangan 1-5-2 (The Fox Boars Hill) – Week 8

Russell Flower 3-5-0 (Fleur de Lys B) – Week 8

Simon Winterbourne 2-5-3 (Plum Pudding) – Week 8

Steven Soden 3-0-5 (The Earl of Abingdon B) – Week 8

Terry Downes 5-3-4 (Plum Pudding) – Week 8

Match Results

P/A – Croft Nomads 4 – Steventon Sports SC A 2; Legs (23-21, 22-16, 22-23)

P/A – Plum Pudding 2 – Abingdon Conservative Club 4; Legs (19-24, 21-25, 27-24)

P/A – Berinsfield SC A 6 – College Oak A 0; Legs (26-25, 28-19, 25-20)

P/A – Red Lion A 6 – Stanford in the Vale FC 0; Legs (25-24, 23-18, 24-23)

P/A – The Vine, Cumnor 4 – Abingdon United A 2; Legs (23-20, 16-22, 21-16)

B – Abingdon United C 0 – Abingdon RBL 6; Legs (10-17, 10-14, 12-19)

B – Earl of Abingdon A 0 – Harwellian B 6; Legs (12-15, 14-15, 10-14)

B – Fleur De Lys A 3 – The Croft Bar 3; Legs (7-9, 14-12, 9-9)

B – The Bell A 2 – Bear & Ragged Staff 4; Legs (12-10, 11-12, 12-17)

B – WADS Bar 2 – Royal Oak 4; Legs (10-14, 15-18, 18-13)

C – Brewery Tap 1 – The Wheatsheaf, Didcot 5; Legs (10-10, 9-14, 9-15)

C – Eight Bells, Eaton 0 – The Earl of Abingdon B 6; Legs (9-13, 7-11, 6-18)

C – North Star A 0 – The Bell B Grove 6; Legs (7-10, 6-9, 5-10)

C – The Fox, Denchworth 2 – Red Lion B Drayton 4; Legs (8-9, 13-10, 10-14)

C – The Midget 6 – Boundary House 0; Legs (12-8, 14-7, 16-8)

D – College Oak B 2 – Fleur de Lys B 4; Legs (13-5, 7-8, 9-14)

D – Harwellian A 6 – RAL Social Club 0; Legs (16-6, 13-7, 13-5)

D – Plough West Hanney 6 – The Lamb Wantage 0; Legs (13-7, 9-8, 14-11)

D – Steventon Sports B 5 – Prince of Wales Shippon 1; Legs (8-8, 8-7, 22-9)

D – The Fox Boars Hill 3 – The Plough Inn Long Wittenham 3; Legs (10-12, 12-12, 12-8)

E – Black Horse E.Hanney 3 – Queens Arms Didcot 3; Legs (16-15, 5-8, 10-10)

E – Bystander 6 – Berinsfield SC B 0; Legs (17-8, 13-8, 16-8)

E – Crown Marcham A 5 – Waggon and Horses B Southmoor 1; Legs (12-8, 12-12, 13-11)

E – Hanney RBL 2 – Challow Cricket Club 4; Legs (10-13, 14-11, 9-10)

E – Marcham Centre A 5 – The George Sutton Courtenay 1; Legs (14-9, 12-12, 12-10)

F – Black Swan 2 – North Star B 4; Legs (5-15, 17-11, 8-9)

F – Horse & Jockey Stanford in the Vale 6 – Plough Appleton A 0; Legs (13-5, 12-5, 6-5)

F – Ladygrove A 4 – Grove RFC 2; Legs (14-12, 8-15, 19-15)

F – Long Wittenham AC 6 – Marcham Centre B 0; Legs (15-5, 12-8, 11-8)

F – The Lamb Wantage B 6 – Crown Marcham B 0; Legs (8-5, 8-7, 12-10)

Blobbers

Ben Scott (Fleur de Lys B), Claire Wright (Marcham Centre B), Darryl Justice (Bear & Ragged Staff), David Carroll (RAL Social Club), Ed Hoolihan (Boundary House), Ed Tansey (Brewery Tap), Geoff Swinden (Fleur De Lys A), Gill Ebberson (RAL Social Club), Ian Condon (The Bell B Grove), Joe Cram (Crown Marcham A), Joy Brinkley (RAL Social Club), Lloyd Woodington (Berinsfield SC B), Luke Dewar (Earl of Abingdon A), Matt Dixey (Challow Cricket Club), Nick Faulkner (College Oak B), Paul Oliver (CS) (Plough Appleton A), Pete Hogan © (The Lamb Wantage), Peter Haydon (North Star A), Phil Ebberson (RAL Social Club), Richard Moran (Marcham Centre B), Ryan Weresch (Earl of Abingdon A), Ryhs Lewis (Plough Appleton A).

Sixers

Phil Adams (Abingdon Conservative Club).

Fivers

Andy Shipman 3-5-2 (Harwellian B) – Week 7

Ben Tyler 1-3-5 (Bystander) – Week 7

Billy Skellington 1-5-4 (Marcham Centre B) – Week 7

Chris Jenkins 5-3-3 (Croft Nomads) – Week 7

Colin Brind (S) 3-1-5 (Steventon Sports SC A) – Week 7

Dave Dix 4-3-5 (Abingdon Conservative Club) – Week 7

John Simmons 5-4-0 (Abingdon United A) – Week 7

Martin Rawlings 3-5-2 (Berinsfield SC A) – Week 7

Michael Rainbow (S) 3-2-5 (Long Wittenham AC) – Week 7

Paul Barrett 4-5-2 (Abingdon Conservative Club) – Week 7

Paul Burton 1-5-2 (Challow Cricket Club) – Week 7

Paul Hedges 1-2-5 (Steventon Sports B) – Week 7

Paul Kelsey 2-5-2 (College Oak A) – Week 7

Scott Tabor 4-5-1 (Red Lion A) – Week 7

Steve Peedell 5-1-2 (The Vine, Cumnor) – Week 7

Tom Swinney 5-1-1 (The Bell A) – Week 7

Warren Docherty 1-5-1 (Black Swan) – Week 7

Match Results

P/A – Abingdon United A 0 – Croft Nomads 6; Legs (19-24, 13-27, 22-27)

P/A – Steventon Sports SC A 3 – Plum Pudding 3; Legs (26-26, 26-20, 17-24)

P/A – College Oak A 4 – The Vine, Cumnor 2; Legs (20-21, 26-20, 23-17)

P/A – Red Lion A 0 – Berinsfield SC A 6; Legs (19-23, 19-24, 18-21)

P/A – Stanford in the Vale FC 0 – Abingdon Conservative Club 6; Legs (17-25, 17-19, 15-19)

B – Abingdon RBL 2 – WADS Bar 4; Legs (10-16, 8-16, 15-14)

B – Bear & Ragged Staff 2 – Abingdon United C 4; Legs (7-11, 12-8, 9-14)

B – Fleur De Lys A 2 – The Bell A 4; Legs (8-9, 9-13, 15-10)

B – Royal Oak 2 – Earl of Abingdon A 4; Legs (9-20, 12-10, 11-15)

B – The Croft Bar 2 – Harwellian B 4; Legs (9-15, 15-13, 4-14)

C – Boundary House 4 – North Star A 2; Legs (7-9, 10-8, 15-11)

C – Brewery Tap 2 – Eight Bells, Eaton 4; Legs (11-8, 7-13, 8-11)

C – The Bell B Grove 6 – The Fox, Denchworth 0; Legs (14-11, 13-10, 16-9)

C – The Earl of Abingdon B 4 – The Midget 2; Legs (8-14, 13-11, 15-12)

C – The Wheatsheaf, Didcot 4 – Red Lion B Drayton 2; Legs (17-16, 7-8, 15-13)

D – Harwellian A 4 – Steventon Sports B 2; Legs (8-7, 13-17, 14-13)

D – Prince of Wales Shippon 2 – Plough West Hanney 4; Legs (11-9, 11-14, 12-15)

D – RAL Social Club 0 – Fleur de Lys B 6; Legs (5-9, 6-12, 4-15)

D – The Lamb Wantage 1 – The Fox Boars Hill 5; Legs (9-10, 10-10, 13-14)

D – The Plough Inn Long Wittenham 0 – College Oak B 6; Legs (11-12, 9-10, 10-13)

E – Berinsfield SC B 0 – Marcham Centre A 6; Legs (5-15, 8-13, 6-17)

E – Challow Cricket Club 2 – The George Sutton Courtenay 4; Legs (6-8, 9-7, 11-13)

E – Hanney RBL 0 – Black Horse E.Hanney 6; Legs (8-9, 9-14, 9-11)

E – Queens Arms Didcot 2 – Crown Marcham A 4; Legs (13-12, 7-12, 9-12)

E – Waggon and Horses B Southmoor 5 – Bystander 1; Legs (17-13, 15-8, 9-9)

F – Black Swan 2 – Long Wittenham AC 4; Legs (12-7, 6-8, 5-10)

F – Crown Marcham B 2 – Horse & Jockey Stanford in the Vale 4; Legs (9-10, 9-6, 5-6)

F – Marcham Centre B 2 – The Lamb Wantage B 4; Legs (8-5, 5-7, 7-12)

F – North Star B 1 – Grove RFC 5; Legs (7-7, 10-13, 8-12)

F – Plough Appleton A 0 – Ladygrove A 6; Legs (8-13, 7-11, 6-11)

Blobbers

Adam Davies (RAL Social Club), Andrew Butcher (Crown Marcham B), Andrew Latimer (North Star B), Chris Wilding (S) (North Star B), Claire Collier (CS) (Black Horse E.Hanney), Colleen Ashby (Brewery Tap), James Morton (Stanford in the Vale FC), John Selwood (College Oak B), Les Rillinson (Marcham Centre B), LL Jo Baker (Berinsfield SC B), Mckenzie Godfrey (Horse & Jockey Stanford in the Vale), Mervyn Dyer LL (The Bell A), Neil Thorn (The Plough Inn Long Wittenham), Robin Band (Plough Appleton A), Ross Weston (Bystander), Sylwia Lelowittis (RAL Social Club).

Sixers

Dave Dix (Abingdon Conservative Club).

Fivers

Alan Bell 4-5-2 (Croft Nomads) – Week 6

Andy Shipman 5-2-1 (Harwellian B) – Week 6

Chris Jenkins 1-2-5 (Croft Nomads) – Week 6

Colin Brind (S) 5-4-1 (Steventon Sports SC A) – Week 6

Dave Dix 6-5-4 (Abingdon Conservative Club) – Week 6

Gary De La Ruiz 1-5-2 (Harwellian B) – Week 6

James Fletcher 2-5-3 (North Star B) – Week 6

Lee Brown 4-1-5 (Earl of Abingdon A) – Week 6

Paul Longford 5-1-4 (Plum Pudding) – Week 6

Richard Bunce 2-5-4 (Black Horse E.Hanney) – Week 6

Terry Downes 4-2-5 (Plum Pudding) – Week 6

Well last week saw some very good individual and team scoring and a week which resulted in some defeats for previously unbeaten sides and a return to form for some sides that had, in previous weeks, struggled to hit their usual level of performance.

Starting with individuals in the Premier/A section 4 leg maximums of 6 dolls were recorded by Alan Bell for Croft Nomads, Stuart Wilson and Richard Jones both of Berinsfield SC A and Barry Jones of Stanford FC. Well done to all.

Overall the highest doll scorers on the night were Dave Dix and Alex Chamberlain both belonged to Abingdon Conservative Club when both hit 14 dolls for Abingdon Conservative Club who, despite Colin Brind’s 10 dolls in response for Steventon Sports A, sailed to their first clean sweep of the season taking them to second place in the table. Phil Adams was another double figure scorer with 10 dolls for the Con Club.

Plum Pudding continue to impress and currently lead the Premier section. Terry Downes and Mick Samways with 11 and 10 dolls respectively saw the Plum emerge as 4-2 winners over Abingdon United A for whom both Bert Newman and Jumbo Mott hit double digits but a 1 doll advantage in the 3rd leg was enough to secure the win for the Milton side whose 29 dolls in the second leg was the highest leg score of the night.

College Oak were also impressive 4-2 winners on the night on their “long” trip across the Peachcroft car park to the Croft. Both sides hit 28 doll legs, The Oak setting 28 in the first leg and despite a good response from the home side including Titch Bell’s 6 they still fell short by 2 dolls. The second leg saw the Croft set 28 and the Oak responded with a very credible 26 dolls. They then secured their win in the 3rd leg setting 24 which proved too many for the Croft who again fell short by 2 dolls again. For the Oak Kev Chapman top scored with 10 dolls and for The Croft it was Alan Bell with 11 dolls and Steve Enock recording his double figure score for the 4th time in 5 outings in a match which saw 149 dolls recorded over the 3 legs.

Berinsfield SC A were another side that showed a welcome return to form as they recorded a 5-1 result against Stanford FC. Although a significant winning score in terms of points recorded it was much closer in terms of dolls with Berinsfield tally being 67 dolls on the night which only just outscored the Football Club’s 66! Small margins in terms of dolls scored, but not in points earned!!

Red Lion A continued their unbeaten start with a 4-2 defeat of the Vine who hit their highest doll total of the season, but are still searching for their first win. Red Lion are playing consistently well and deserve their position at the top of the A section.

Elsewhere some of our previously unbeaten sides suffered first time losses. In the B section it was WADS bar whose form dipped as they went down 4-2 to the Bear & Ragged Staff from up the road in Cumnor. Mark McCracken was the star of the night with 11 dolls including a maximum for the Bear.

Also in the B section John Worrell’s 10 dolls helped Abingdon United C to a thumping 6-0 victory over the Fleur de Lys A side, a score matched by the Earl of Abingdon A who overcame Abingdon RBL. Royal Oak winners 4-2 winners at Harwellian B join WADS bar at the top of B.

In the C section it was The Fox, Denchworth who suffered their first loss of the Summer going down 4-2 at home to the Boundary House. The Wheatsheaf remain unbeaten in this section and now top the table.

The D, E and F sections are all being dominated by sides from the western reaches of our league. The Plough, West Hanney lead the D section, Hanney RBL the E section and Grove RFC the F section and with a number of teams from the west of our region it bodes well for some local rivalry as the season progresses.

So a summary of last weeks results.

Of the 30 matches played 10 resulted in 6-0 wins, 15 ended 4-2 only 3 matches ended with 5-1 outcomes and 2 were tied at 3 apiece. Over the 30 matches played 8640 sticks were thrown of which 2100 dolls were called (including handicaps in the Premier/ A section), which is close to 1 in every 4 dolls being hit across the 6 sections. This must mean that 3 in every 4 dolls thrown across the sections are not troubling the caller!

Room for improvement methinks!

By comparison the current 10 leaders in the top dolls race are averaging in excess of 3 dolls per throw.

As always apologies for any errors and omissions in these weekly summaries and particularly in my arithmetic which highlights just how difficult and frustrating our game can be because every one of us when we take to the oche hope and try to hit the doll, but often to no avail!

Well it’s onto week 6 and it’s also the week in which entries for all of the Competitions close. At the time of writing we do not have the minimum numbers required to stage ANY of the Competitions. So Captains and Secretaries we need to you to gather support from your teams and make those entries required to enable our long standing and new Competitions to take place! At the AGM we were told not to extend the deadline this year. Father’s Day is the deadline!

Match Results

P/A – Abingdon Conservative Club 6 – Steventon Sports SC A 0; Legs (25-13, 23-20, 24-15)

P/A – Croft Nomads 2 – College Oak A 4; Legs (26-28, 28-21, 22-24)

P/A – Plum Pudding 4 – Abingdon United A 2; Legs (25-28, 29-21, 23-22)

P/A – Berinsfield SC A 5 – Stanford in the Vale FC 1; Legs (22-21, 27-23, 22-22)

P/A – The Vine, Cumnor 2 – Red Lion A 4; Legs (22-25, 20-19, 17-22)

B – Abingdon United C 6 – Fleur De Lys A 0; Legs (16-9, 13-11, 16-8)

B – Earl of Abingdon A 6 – Abingdon RBL 0; Legs (17-10, 15-12, 14-11)

B – Harwellian B 2 – Royal Oak 4; Legs (10-14, 13-9, 12-16)

B – The Bell A 2 – The Croft Bar 4; Legs (14-11, 12-18, 8-14)

B – WADS Bar 2 – Bear & Ragged Staff 4; Legs (10-13, 14-13, 9-17)

C – Eight Bells, Eaton 0 – The Wheatsheaf, Didcot 6; Legs (11-14, 6-10, 6-10)

C – North Star A 4 – The Earl of Abingdon B 2; Legs (13-10, 11-10, 10-12)

C – Red Lion B Drayton 3 – The Bell B Grove 3; Legs (12-13, 9-9, 10-7)

C – The Fox, Denchworth 2 – Boundary House 4; Legs (11-12, 13-10, 10-15)

C – The Midget 4 – Brewery Tap 2; Legs (15-7, 10-9, 9-12)

D – College Oak B 4 – The Lamb Wantage 2; Legs (10-8, 9-5, 8-13)

D – Fleur de Lys B 6 – The Plough Inn Long Wittenham 0; Legs (10-9, 12-6, 15-8)

D – Plough West Hanney 6 – Harwellian A 0; Legs (9-8, 17-10, 15-6)

D – Steventon Sports B 6 – RAL Social Club 0; Legs (10-9, 14-10, 9-8)

D – The Fox Boars Hill 6 – Prince of Wales Shippon 0; Legs (19-9, 13-9, 13-10)

E – Black Horse E.Hanney 0 – Challow Cricket Club 6; Legs (7-13, 5-8, 6-11)

E – Bystander 4 – Queens Arms Didcot 2; Legs (15-8, 6-10, 8-6)

E – Crown Marcham A 3 – Hanney RBL 3; Legs (8-8, 11-10, 10-12)

E – Marcham Centre A 4 – Waggon and Horses B Southmoor 2; Legs (10-9, 15-11, 13-15)

E – The George Sutton Courtenay 4 – Berinsfield SC B 2; Legs (8-7, 7-6, 5-6)

F – Grove RFC 6 – Plough Appleton A 0; Legs (7-2, 12-5, 11-3)

F – Horse & Jockey Stanford in the Vale 1 – Marcham Centre B 5; Legs (7-7, 9-10, 5-10)

F – Ladygrove A 4 – Crown Marcham B 2; Legs (6-3, 12-10, 9-11)

F – Long Wittenham AC 4 – North Star B 2; Legs (12-10, 5-11, 13-9)

F – The Lamb Wantage B 1 – Black Swan 5; Legs (9-10, 8-9, 9-9)

Blobbers

Alison Coates (S) (Black Swan), Anna Antell (Plough Appleton A), Colin Trinder (Marcham Centre B), Dan S Smith (Berinsfield SC B), Dave Baker (Harwellian B), David Mills (Brewery Tap), Duncan Nicholl (Grove RFC), Gary Smith (Hanney RBL), Glen Bushnell (Crown Marcham B), Joy Brinkley (RAL Social Club), Lloyd Woodington (Berinsfield SC B), Mckenzie Godfrey (Horse & Jockey Stanford in the Vale), Nick Blacow (The George Sutton Courtenay), Phil Neale (Plough Appleton A), Ray Cousins (Prince of Wales Shippon), Robin Band (Plough Appleton A), Steven Pottenger (Marcham Centre A), Stuart Jackson (Abingdon RBL), Sylwia Lelowittis (RAL Social Club), Terry Doughty (Harwellian A).

Sixers

Alan Bell (Croft Nomads), Barry Smith (Stanford in the Vale FC), Richard Jones (Berinsfield SC A), Stuart Wilson © (Berinsfield SC A).

Fivers

Alex Chamberlain 4-4-5 (Abingdon Conservative Club) – Week 5

Andy Shipman 2-5-2 (Harwellian B) – Week 5

Brian Bosley © 1-3-5 (Marcham Centre A) – Week 5

Colin Brind (S) 3-5-2 (Steventon Sports SC A) – Week 5

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

David Mott 5-4-2 (Abingdon United A) – Week 5

Ian Brook (S) 3-5-1 (Croft Nomads) – Week 5

Ian Northover 0-5-2 (Brewery Tap) – Week 5

Jonathan Hutt 5-0-2 (Brewery Tap) – Week 5

Mark McCracken 5-2-4 (Bear & Ragged Staff) – Week 5

Martin Short 0-1-5 (Boundary House) – Week 5

Nathan Hamilton 5-2-1 (The George Sutton Courtenay) – Week 5

Nick Ridge 0-5-1 (The Croft Bar) – Week 5

Paul Gardner 1-0-5 (The Croft Bar) – Week 5

Paul Hedges 2-5-1 (Steventon Sports B) – Week 5

Phil Adams 5-3-2 (Abingdon Conservative Club) – Week 5