WestOx Mixed Bowls League.

Burford  pulled off a 3 rinks to 1 victory over Middle Barton to move into second place in the Westox League just 8 points behind Woodstock with a game in hand.

 Tony Symes and Brian Winfield pulled off comfortable 13 and 15 shot wins with Paul Downey supporting with a 5 shot victory to ensure Burford took the 4 match points. 

It was left to C.Williams to secure the single rink win for Middle Barton by just 3 shots.

 
10 points to Burford – 2 to Middle Barton

Woodstock maintained top position of the Westox League with a narrow home victory over close rivals Witney Town.
Mike Morgan and Terry Summers led the way with 6 and 5 shot win for Woodstock only for Witney Town Skip Bill Carvey to reply with a 4 shot victory.
The tightest game of the match was the fourth, where although Mike Jones held off Peter Horseman of Woodstock to even the match to two rinks each, he could only pull back 1 shot with a 14 -13 victory.

8 points to Woodstock  – 4 to Witney Town 

Wychwood 68 Burford 75

Burford shot to the top of the Westox League on shot difference from Woodstock, with a narrow 7 shot victory at Wychwood.
Brian Winfield won 22 – 16 for Burford to record the biggest shot margin of the game.
Barbara Pearce of Wychwood replied with a small 2 shot win over Andrew Auger only for Tony Symes to edge Burford further ahead with a 20 – 16 result over Alan Bowers.
The tightest game of the match was the fourth, where although Pete Rathbone of Wychwood managed to even the match to two rinks each, he could only pull back 1 shot with a 15 -14 victory over Burford’s Paul Dowley.

8 points to Burford  – 4 to Wychwood 

Woodstock 76 Middle Barton 61

Woodstock restored their position as leaders of The Westox League just 3 days after Burford’s victory with a 3 rinks to 1 win at home to an improving Middle Barton side who maintain 3^rd place in the league.
The husband and wife skips - Brian & Cilla Clarke  – led the way for Woodstock with solid  23 - 14 & 26 -10 wins over Tony Fowler & Ray Kinch.
Ron Gascoigne of Middle Barton replied with an equally impressive result 21 – 9 on a very tricky rink over Woodstock’s Enid Jerrams.
Brother Bill Gascoigne appeared to be in control of the fourth rink for Middle Barton leading 16 – 7 after 15 ends over Bob Wright. The game then took a surprising turn when the Woodstock skip managed a 4 on the 16^th and a 6 on the 17^th end to lead into the final end by 1 shot. With Bob holding 2 shots in the head, Bill knew he needed shot with his last bowl to draw the game, but could only manage second to leave the Woodstock skip relieved to gain an 18 – 16 win.

10 points to Woodstock – 2 to Middle Barton

Despite a comfortable score line this match had thrilling finishes on three of the rinks.

Ron Collett led the way for Woodstock winning 29 - 11 with Priscilla Clarke also appearing to be in control for most of the game finally edging home in a tense finish by a single shot at 15 – 14.

Husband Brian Clarke’s rink struggled for most of their match. Down 11 – 4 at 12 ends they were playing against a determined skip in Eddie Woodmore. However, they dug deep to edge level at 14 – 14 at 17 ends and snatched the match with 2 shots on the final end.

The 4^th rink provided an even closer finish. With Graham Read of Woodstock holding a 2 shot lead at 16 ends but 1 shot down in the head on the 17^th, he played a cracking bowl to rest the Begboke bowl out. Don Hickey, the Begbroke skip, with the last bowl of the end - and ridding his luck - proceeded to drive away the Woodstock bowl to take 2 shots.

Level going into the final end Helen Comley’s excellent bowl held shot for Woodstock in a very tight head. Again, the Begbroke skip knew he had to play a forcing bowl with his final delivery to win the game. He did so only for the jack to come to rest along side a Woodstock bowl to take the end and the game by 1 shot.

12 points to Woodstock – but 3 very close games and a very enjoyable afternoon.