A dramatic finish to the season saw The White House retain the Premier title on the very last stick of the season.
Going into the last game two points in front of The Gladiators (who will be playing their last ever game at The Gladiators Club due to it closing at the end of the month) knew that two points would seal the title in their game at North Leigh FC. White House started off in superb form, setting and winning the opening leg 31-21. North Leigh hit straight back in the second leg winning it 28-24. North Leigh set the final leg with 29 which proved too much for The White House who responded with 26. This dropped leg meant that The Gladiators needed all three points in their home game against Littlemore British Legion, who themselves needed one point to secure the Section One title.
Legion set 24 in the opening leg which proved to be no problem for The Glad’s who hit 28 in reply. Gladiators then set the next leg with 30 and in reply to the Legion, with a 3-doll handicap, started off badly hitting only 13 with the front half of the team leaving the back four needing 17 to tie and 18 to win and they very nearly pulled it off, falling agonisingly one short with 29. So, the last leg meant a win for The Gladiators would force a playoff in the Premier and a win for The Legion meant they would be Section One champs. Gladiators set the final leg with a beatable 25, a steady reply by The Legion left anchorman Kevin Stuart needing four to win. After whipping off the doll with his first three sticks it looked an assured conclusion, however Stuart missed with his next two sticks, before clanging off the doll with his final stick, to the frustration of the Gladiators players and the roars of victory from The Legion and The White House. Chris Jenkins hit his second successive 15 for The Glad’s (5-5-5) while Brian Lester who hit double figures and his best score of the season with 13 (3-5-5) for The Legion.
Report – thanks to Oxford & District Aunt Sally Association