Greene King Oxford & District League

Roger Goodall came agonisingly close to a magical maximum as the new season got off to a sensational start, writes Andy Beal.

Goodall, playing for Six Bells C, Kidlington in the Premier Section, whipped off the first 14 dolls against Kidlington Sports Club, before seeing his next effort knock the doll off – but after hitting the iron first.

He bagged the next three dolls to end with 17.

Goodall was well-supported by teammates Andy Beal and Pete Rampton, who scored 13 dolls apiece, as they won all three legs 29-18, 30-17, 33-18.

Defending champions Cricketers started with a 3-0 win at Three Pigeons.

Cricketers took the first two legs 33-25, 35-30 and were set 28 to complete the whitewash.

Needing four to win with one throw left, anchor man Den Sellar knocked off the dolls needed to seal the leg and top-score with 15 dolls.

Pip Goulding and Philip Adams chipped in with 14 each, while Pigeons’ Dave Townsend hit a six in his 12.

In Section 3, Richard Wheeler, from Cross Keys A was another double-sixer as he hit 15 dolls in the 3-0 win at home over Quarry Gate.

Malcolm Dick also hit a six in his 12 as they comfortably won all three legs 25-18, 25-16, 28-14.

It wasn’t an unlucky 13 for Tiddington Cricket Club’s Dick Brownsill as he hit a bakers dozen (6-4-3) in their 3-0 defeat over Donnington Club.

Cricketers Arms, Littleworth, winners of last year’s Section 6 found the move up to Section 2 tough as they lost 3-0 at Cowley Workers Club.

Tony Eeles (5-4-3), Ray Winfield (6-3-3) and Monty Morgan (3-5-4) all hit a dozen dolls for Golden Ball B as they just got the better of Cowley Con Club 2-1 in Section 5.

There were mixed fortunes for the Hambridge family as Nelson B won 3-0 at Chandos Arms in Section 9.

Dad Raymond clanged off 13 dolls (3-4-6), but son Graham recorded three blobs!

RESULTS

Premier & Section 1: Vikings Sports B 1, New Club A 2; Three Pigeons 0, Cricketers B 3; Kidlington Sports B 0, Six Bells C 3; Garsington Sports 3, Black Swan A 0.

Section 2: New Club B 1 Six Bells 2; Gladiators A 1 Chequers B 2; Cowley Workers 3, Cricketers Arms A 0.

Section 3: Woodman Inn 2, Green Road Club 1; Tiddington Cricket 3, Donnington Club A 0; Red Lion B Eynsham 0, Red Lion Marston 3; Highfield Club A 2, Gardiner Arms 1; Cross Keys A 3, Quarry Gate 0.

Section 4: Whitmore Arms 1, Fairview Inn A 2; The Plough 2, Seacourt Bridge 1; North Oxford Con Club 0, Vikings Sports A 3; Masons Arms A 1, Red Lion Garsington 2.

Section 5: Whitehouse A 0, Democrats Club 3; Kidlington Sports A 0, The Bull 3; Cowley Con Club 1, Golden Ball B 2.

Section 6: Team Monarch 0, Red Lion Brill 3; Six Bells A 0, Northway Club A 3; Queens Head 3, Brill Club A 0; Nelson A 3, Marston British Legion 0.

Section 7: Unicorn Inn 0, Turners Arms B 3; Crown B 2, Eight Bells 1; Brill Club B 0, Red Cow 3; Ashton Club A 3, Barley Mow 0.

Section 8: Golden Ball A 0, Red Lion Wolvercote 3; Cricketers A 1, Red Lion C Eynsham 2; Chequers C 0, Red Lion Islip 3.

Section 9: Folly Bridge Inn 2 Ashton Club B 1; Fairview Inn B 1 Jolly Postboys 2; Chandos Arms A 0 Nelson B 3.

Section 10: Red Lion A Cassington 0, Red Lion Yarnton 3; Nutt Tree 2, Jack Russell B 1; Chequers D 0, Rose Hill Club 3; Catherine Wheel A 3, Masons Arms B 0.

Section 11: Prince Of Wales A 0, Black Horse 3; Kings Arms A 1, John Radcliffe Club 2; Cricketers Arms B 2, Kidlington Sports C 1.

Section 12: The Kite 2, Kennington Club B 1; The George 0, White Hart 3; Jack Russell A 3, Prince Of Wales B 0; Black Swan B 2, Kings Arms B 1.