Last week heralded the start of the second half of the season and the return fixtures from week 1.
Looking first at the Premier and A sections Abingdon Conservative Club exacted revenge when they entertained The Red Lion who had been 6-0 victors on the opening day of the season at the Lion. This time it was a 5-1 win for the Con Club with their irrepressible skipper Dave Dix leading the way with another 14 dolls including yet another maximum, Paul Barrett and Phil Adams each added 10. Jumbo Mott of Abingdon United was another player hitting a maximum 6 doll leg and 14 in total, but his contribution was not enough to save United as they went down 5-1 at home to Stanford in the Vale FC who are enjoying a good season. For the football club Rob Glen hit 10 dolls and was ably assisted by Will Glen and Darryl Kitchen’s contribution of 8 dolls each, Jason Bowler and Steve Martin hit 8 dolls for United.
The return match at the Croft between next door neighbours College Oak provided a repeat result to the opening night, a 4-2 win for the Nomads with Captain Steve Enock top scoring with 12 dolls and Oak skipper Phil Soden almost matching that with 11 dolls of his own. Plum Pudding, strengthened by the recent return to the team of Kevin Davies who, together with Terry Downes hit 9 dolls, had a welcome 4-2 win at Berinsfield.
In the B section leaders The Vine fell to a 4-2 defeat against Abingdon RBL in a fairly low scoring match, Paul Ealey providing 9 dolls to help the Legion to victory. WADS Bar A continued their good form and Gareth Brown’s 11 dolls were his best of the season as they defeated The Fleur de Lys 4-2. Mark McCutchen’s 10 dolls helped The Bear & Ragged staff to a maximum 6 points over the Croft Bar and The Plough, West Hanney overcame The Royal Oak 5-1
The Earl of Abingdon prospered thanks to some low scoring by their visitors The Bell in the C section, the Bell only mustering 29 dolls over 3 legs which helped the home side who only scored 34 dolls themselves in a 5-1 win. The C section also saw wins for Marcham Centre A 6-0 against a below par Waggon & Horses and despite 10 dolls from Gary Duluz Pera Harwellian B were on the wrong end of a 5-1 scoreline against The Fleur A team.
The North Star are starting to find their “feet” on their return “home” winning 6-0 their first maximum points of the season against Long Wittenham AC. The D section saw 6-0 wins also for The Prince of Wales and for The Earl of Abingdon whose 2 sides completed an aggregate score of 12-0 against the Bell on the night. Mickey Neal top scoring for the Earl with 11 dolls. The Fox returned to winning ways after their first defeat of the season in week 9, they were 4-2 winners against near neighbours WADS B and both skippers Steve Fernback and John Mackay led the way for their teams with 9 dolls each. College Oak B won 4-2 against the Black Horse A.
The E section there were 4-2 wins for Challow & Childrey CC, The Crown Marcham A and a 6-0 win for the Eight Bells.
Marcham Centre B and the Brewery Tap both enjoyed 6-0 wins and to cap a good night for the village the Crown A had a 5-1 win against the George.
The G section produced some interesting results and scorelines as the battle for the leadership between Oxford RFC and The Seven Stars continues. The Rugby Club were 6-0 victors against The Plough Appleton in a match, which in 6 legs produced only 30 scoring dolls, I think that’s an average of 5 dolls a leg each, but even better (or worse really) was the match between The Black Horse B and The Horse & Jockey which produced only 26 dolls on the night, but at least that game ended in a share of the points 3 a piece!
To redeem the G section though The Red Lion Northmoor emerged 4-2 winners against visitors The Black Swan and the The Old Anchor, doing well to date on their return to the Aunt Sally “family” this season succumbed to a 6-0 loss on their trip to Marsh Baldon with The Seven Stars 3 legs collectively hitting a very impressive 64 dolls!
Now to take a quick look at the league tables, of the 8 sections in the Premier and A and B sections only 1 point separates the top 2, in the C section Earl of Abingdon hold a 4 point advantage over Hanney RBL who have a game in hand; The Earl also lead the D section, but just by 1 point. The Brewery Tap are well clear in the F section at the moment, In the E section top spot is shared by Challow & Childrey CC and Hanney RBL both with 30 points and the G section sees Grove RFC and The seven Stars level on 43 points each.
So with just 7 or 8 league matches to go and a few re-arranged matches still to play it promises to be a close call as we head further into the season and remember where teams finish level on points at the end of the season it may will be dolls scored that decide final position.
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