PETE Rampton from Red Lion B Kidlington came close to joining an elite group of players to hit the maximum 18 dolls.
He clanged off the doll with his first 15 sticks, before just missing with his 16th and ended up with 15 dolls (6-6-3). Only 17 players have hit the maximum in the league’s 86-year history and the last time was in 2014. Rampton was well-supported by his teammate Steve Ward, who bagged himself a six in his 14-doll haul (4-4-6) as they won all three legs against previously unbeaten Section Two leaders Chequers B.
In the Premier Section, the top two teams met and it was a cracker of a game between The White House and Gladiators A, with 170 dolls scored in total. White House set the opening leg with 29 and in reply Gladiators were on target to beat it but fell dramatically at the end and finished up one doll short. The second leg was almost a repeat as White House set 28 and once again Gladiators fell one short. White House completed the whitewash in the final leg 32-26. Andy Beal (Gladiators) and Rob Bradford (White House) led the way with 15 dolls apiece (5-5-5).
Section One leaders Red Lion B Cassington responded well from their only defeat last week by beating The George A on their own patch. Mark Poulter was in dazzling form with 15 dolls (5-5-5) as he led the Lion to a 2-1 win.
In Section Two, at the eighth time of asking, Seacourt Bridge finally smelt the aroma of success when they beat Donnington Club A 3-0. They won all three legs 17-12, 13-13 (on three sticks) and 22-13. After losing their first two games of the season, Chequers A made it five wins on the bounce when they beat The Queens Head 2-1.
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In Section Three, Donnington Club D closed the lead at the top of the table to one point when they defeated leaders Kidlington FC B 2-1. It started off well for the leaders when they won the opening leg 14-13. Donnington responded well in the next leg, 20-13, and completed the turnaround in the final leg 15-11. David Trim was top dog for Kidlington with a dozen dolls (4-4-4). Phil Cassidy clanged off a six in his dozen dolls (2-4-6) for Donnington Club B in their 2-1 win at home to Bletchingdon Sports.
OTHER RESULTS
Section Four: Masons Arms B 3, Kidlington FC A 0; Northway Club B 2, Littlemore Rugby Club 1; Six Bells B 1, The Swan C 2; Cricketers Arms 3, Duke Of Monmouth 0; Cowley Workers 0, George B 3.
Section Five: Headington Con Club 1, Six Bells C 2; Original Swan 1, White Hart 2; Red Lion A 0, Northway Club C 3; Democrats Club 1, Golden Ball 2.
SIXERS: P Rampton (2), S Ward (Red Lion B Kidlington), R Goodall (White House), K Baker (Gladiators A), P Cassidy (Donnington Club B).
BLOBBERS: T Buckle (The Blackbird), E Mazey, P Rivers (Democrats Club), C Winstone (Red Lion A Cassington).
TOP DOLL SCORERS: 15: A Beal (Gladiators A), R Bradford (White House), M Poulter (Red Lion B Cassington) P Rampton (Red Lion B Kidlington); 14: D Grant (White House), S Ward (Red Lion B Kidlington); 13: K Baker (Gladiators A), R Goodall, S McAteer (White House), L Thompson (Swan A).
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