THE top of the table clash between The Gladiators and The White House ended with the latter coming away with all three points in a high-scoring game, writes Andy Beal.
The White House set the opening leg with 28 and a mixed reply from Gladiators left anchorman Kevin Baker needing five to tie and six to win, and he nearly pulled it off.
After clanging off the doll with his first four sticks, the fifth just came underneath, and the sixth to the left, leaving Gladiators short by one.
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Gladiators set the next leg but could only muster up 21, and White House hit 30 in reply.
In the final leg, Gladiators set again with a much improved 28. A slow reply from the White House front four, hitting 13 including a six from Phil Austin, left their last four players needing 16 to win, and they flew past that with 18 dolls to go two points clear at the top of the table.
Austin was top scorer with 15 dolls (5-4-6) and was well-supported by teammates Ian McAteer (3-5-5) and Dick Walsh (4-6-3).
The Swan moved level with The Gladiators after they whitewashed The New Club. James Morrison was in superb form, clanging off 16 dolls (5-5-6), but it was to no avail as they lost all three legs 28-22, 21-19, 27-22.
Littlemore British Legion need just two more points from the final three games to be crowned Section One champions after they came away from Garsington Sports with a 3-0 win. They set and won the opening leg 17-16 and won the next two legs 21-17, 21-14.
Section Two leaders Catherine Wheel ‘C’ crashed at home to The Ampleforth Arms ‘A’ 3-0. Ampleforth won the opener 17-12 and the second leg 18-17, before a 26-12 victory thanks to a six from 2015 singles winner Geoff Townsend.
Second-placed The Masons Arms ‘A’ couldn’t take full advantage of the leaders’ slip-up when they dropped a leg at Viking Sports, who won the opener 20-12.
Vikings could only set the second leg with 12, however Masons struggled and left anchorman Chris Webb needing three to win, and he went one better to level the game.
A set of 11 by Vikings in the final leg shouldn’t have been enough to trouble Masons, however they struggled once more and left Webb needing one to win, yet he whipped off five.
SIXERS: P Austin, D Walsh (White House), G Townsend (Ampleforth A), C Probets (Donnington Club), B Geddes (Cowley Workers) J Morrison (New Club).
BLOBBERS: P Wells (Northway Club B), C Preedy (Donnington Club).
TOP DOLL SCORERS: 16: J Morrison (New Club); 15: P Austin (White House); 13: J McMahon (Catherine Wheel A), D Walsh, I McAteer (White House), A Surman (Black Horse B), D Mingham (Cricketers).
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