They think it’s all over, but there’s still plenty to play for!

Well, the league season is drawing to a close with the planned last week of matches taking place on Wednesday. There are though a number of outstanding games in some sections which have, or need to be re-arranged. Many of these were postponed as a result of the World Cup back in June and July. We know that some of these have been scheduled for the next couple of weeks, but it seems that these won’t have too much affect on section winners and runners up, some of which have already been sorted! (Ed: when you play a rescheduled game email the photo of the card to Support – do not enter any postponed games online). Having said that there is still a lot to be decided as we enter the last week of the summer season. It’s been a good season with some of the best Aunt Sally weather many of us can recall, although the first few weeks were a bit chilly the past 3 months have been decidedly warm and, most importantly, dry!

So what about last week’s result, both individual and team performances and the impact on the league position?

Let’s start with the A section where Steventon Sports SC A were confirmed on Tuesday as section champions, by virtue of their nearest rivals Red Lion A losing their re-arranged home fixture against Croft Nomads on Tuesday 4-2 leaving it impossible for them to catch Steventon when they played the following night. So, disappointed they may have been, but it didn’t stop the Lion, with Dean Bowler’s 11 dolls contibution, beating the new A section champions 5-1 to confirm their spot as Runners up. Both sides still have a game to play on Wednesday. 

Ian Brook top scored for the Croft with 12 dolls against the Red Lion and the Croft returned another 4-2 victory the following night at Stanford FC where Dave Butler top scored for the Nomads with 9 dolls. These 2 wins mean that third placed Croft can still theoretically win the Premier, but they will need a minor miracle needing to beat this weeks opponents Abingdon Con Club by at least 5-1 and then hope that Berinsfield SC A, who are at home to the College Oak, a game re-arranged to be played at Berinsfield because the College Oak is closed for refurbishment, fail to pick up a victory.

Berinsfield are just 1 point ahead of Croft Nomads and 1 point below Abingdon Con Club so the Premier section title and runners up will be decided on the last game of the season! Incidentally, if that isn’t a close call after 18 games, the reality is that before these last games in the Premier section the difference in dolls scored, including the handicap, is just 59 dolls over 45 legs played and with just 9 legs left to play this season it’s truly been a close run section.

So maybe some who think the handicap system is unfair might want to consider that the title will only be decided on the 18th and final game of the season and the difference in recorded dolls between winners and 5th placed team is probably going to be around 1 doll per leg once the last 9 legs are played!

The tight finish is because Berinsfield were beaten by Abingdon United last week, Steve Martin top scoring for United in a 4-2 victory, Abingdon Con Club regained the top spot by beating the College Oak 4-2 with 13 dolls from Paul Barrett, 12 from Dave Dix and 11 from Phil Adams.

The Plum Pudding with 2 games remaining are finishing the season in some style, last week beating the Wheatsheaf 6-0, Simon Winterbourne top scoring with 13 dolls, but his contribution was more than well supported with Dave Bradshaw hitting a maximum 6 in his 10 dolls, Paul Longford added 10 more and 3 other teammates added 9 of their own to take the Plum to their 4th successive victory.

In the B section The Vine defeated their closest rivals WADS Bar 4-2 to strengthen their chance of winning the section and Dan Hamilton was again hitting double figures with another 10 dolls. 11 dolls for Derrick Brown for the WADS Bar was not enough to gain a share of the spoils leaving The Vine favourites to head the section as they also have a superior doll count than WADs who look like finishing runners up.

Skipper Paul Ealey led the way with 11 dolls for Abingdon RBL’s 4-2 win over Royal Oak.

Double figure scores were also recorded by Fleur de Lys Simon Skelly, Kevin Lewis for Harwellian B as they beat The Boundary House 6-0, Dave Collett for the Plough, Long Wittenham 4-2 winners over The Bell B, but the top score across the league last week was the 14 dolls, including a 6, scored by Jim Fletcher for the North Star in the D section, but that superb score was not enough to deny The Prince of Wales winning 4-2.

The Final Countdown!

So what has been decided with just 1 week and a few re-arranged matches to play? Well as already mentioned the Premier is still up for grabs both winners and runners up. The A section is sorted. In the B section The Vine hold a 3 point advantage over The WADS bar and both teams are on the road for their final game of the season with trips top the Croft Bar and The Plough respectively.

The C section sees Grove RFC who have headed the section for much of the season now holding a 13 point lead and The Earl of Abingdon B are looking to finish runners up. In the D section The Fox, Boars Hill clinched the title last week and The Earl A are likely runners up. The E section looks like being Challow and Childrey CC’s to win as they lead the Eight Bells by 9 points but there are still some “catch up” games outstanding so still some uncertainty before winners and runners up in this section can be declared!

Likewise the F section, still some outstanding results, but The Brewery Tap even with 3 games to play (all arranged) can almost be certain of taking the title whatever those results. The G section has been dominated by “new” entrants this year and The Seven Stars have a 4 point advantage over both The White Hart B and The Old Anchor and all that could change on the last day of the season and this section could see final positions determined on doll count if tems are level on points which is possible.