GLADIATORS A came away from The George A with maximum points thanks to some fine throwing by Kevin Baker.
George set the opening leg with 22, but the Glad’s hit 26 in reply. In the second leg, George set 21 and mixed throwing left Baker needing a maximum, but he did not disappoint as he clanged off all six. Glad’s completed the whitewash, winning the final leg 25-18.
The Black Prince got their defence of the Premier Section underway with a close 2-1 win away at Garsington Sports Club. They set and won the opening leg 26-23 and then took a two-nil lead in the next leg 28-18. They could not complete the whitewash in the final leg when Garsington set 27. In reply, The Black Prince started strongly but fell one doll short with 26.
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In Section Two, Pete Rampton (3-6-5) and Steve Ward (3-5-6) were both in scintillating form as they clanged off fourteen dolls apiece, including a maximum six for Red Lion B Kidlington, but still ended up on the losing side, 2-1 to visitors Donnington Club A. The damage was done in the first two legs, which Donnington won 21-18 and 22-19, before Red Lion grabbed a point in the final leg 23-15.
The Blackbird, last year’s Section Three champions, got their Section Two debut off to a good start, beating Seacourt Bridge 2-1. They coasted the first two legs 15-7 and 22-11, before Seacourt fought back to claim the final leg 16-14.
In Section Three, Kidlington Football Club B won all three legs against Rose Hill Club A. Winning the first leg 18-14, they had to rely on a three-stick shoot-out in the next leg after it was tied 14-14, and then took the last 20-16. Donnington Club D triumphed over the B team 2-1. Losing the first leg 17-13, the D team bounced back to claim victory in the next two legs 18-13 and 16-14. Only two dolls separated Cricketers Arms (Littleworth) and Yarnton British Legion, but they proved to be vital. Legion set and won the first leg 15-14 and then set 17 in the next leg. Cricketers won the leg with 18. The final and deciding leg, Cricketers set with 18. Legion replied well and Paul Kilcoyne needed three dolls to win, however he failed to trouble the doll.
OTHER RESULTS
Section Four: Masons Arms B 2, George B 1; Northway Club B 0, The Swan C 3; Cricketers Arms 2, Littlemore Rugby Club 1; Duke Of Monmouth 3, Cowley Workers 0; Kidlington FC A 3, Six Bells B 0.
Section Five: Headington Con Club 3, Catherine Wheel 0; Six Bells C 3 Red Lion A 0; Democrats 0, White Hart 3; Original Swan 2, Northway Club C 1.
SIXERS: K Baker (Gladiators A), P Rampton, S Ward (Red Lion Kidlington), J Cleaton (Cricketers Arms).
BLOBBERS: S Hannon (Cowley Workers), N Collier (Gladiators B), G Thomas (Littlemore Rugby Club), J Whiting (Red Lion A), S Coupe (Six Bells B), P Rivers, F Delaney (Democrats Club), A Edwards, D Woodward (White Hart), J Boyd (Northway).
TOP DOLL SCORERS: 14: L Worrall (Duke Of Monmouth), S Ward, P Rampton (Red Lion B Kidlington), K Baker (Gladiators A); 13: M Rollins, C Buckingham (North Leigh FC), K Giles (Gladiators A).
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