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!
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