WITH just one week to go, the Premier Section is still up for grabs, however leaders The White House hold the upper hand and lead by two points from The Gladiators despite dropping a leg at home to The Swan, writes Andy Beal.
White House set and won the opening leg 25-21. With a three-doll handicap, Swan banged in a set of 31 in the second leg, which was more than enough as the leaders replied with 26.
In the final leg, Swan set an imposing 29, however White House upped their game and matched the 29 to send it to three-sticks. Swan could only set five, which White House passed with just four players throwing.
Graham Reading for The Swan was in top form with 14 dolls (4-5-5), while son Marcus bagged himself a six in his 12-doll haul (1-5-6).
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Gladiators could not take advantage as they also dropped a point away at The Black Horse ‘A’.
Gladiators set 23 in the first leg, and some inconsistent throwing by the Horse in reply left anchorman Steve Ward needing four to win, which proved to be no issue as he clanged off the first five dolls, just missing out on a six with his final stick.
Gladiators set and won the second leg 25-23, and then completed the turnaround in the final leg 27-22. Chris Jenkins was in superb form, clanging off 15 dolls (4-5-6).
The top two in Section One clashed and it was second-placed The Catherine Wheel ‘A’ who came away victorious from Littlemore British Legion with all three points, however the Legion still need just one more point from their final game to be declared champions.
The Wheel set and won all three legs 22-19, 20-20 (on three-sticks) 24-21. Mark Bayliss was top dog for the Legion with 14 dolls (6-5-3) while Kevin Bloomfield top scored for the Wheel with a baker’s dozen, 5-4-4.
In Section Two, Masons Arms ‘A’ and Catherine Wheel ‘C’ share top spot after the Masons beat Catherine Wheel 2-1 at home.
Masons’ Chris Webb led the way with 14 dolls (3-6-5) as they won the first leg 18-15, and then set 16 in the second leg. In response, The Wheel left anchorman Todd Morris three to win, which he managed to.
Wheel set the final leg with 18, and this time Masons anchorman Webb was left three to win and this proved to be no problem as he whipped off five dolls to give Masons a significant win.
SIXERS: C Jenkins (Gladiators), M Bayliss (Littlemore BL), M Reading (The Swan), C Webb (Masons ‘A’), G Mills (Red Lion Cassington).
BLOBBERS: D Sealey, S Warman (The George), S Ings (Ampleforth ‘B’).
TOP DOLL SCORERS: 15: C Jenkins (Gladiators); 14: M Bayliss (Littlemore BL), G Reading (The Swan), C Webb (Masons ‘A’); 13: K Bloomfield (Catherine Wheel ‘A’).
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