Saturday 7th June at home to Byfield

Saturday saw us entertain Byfield, in a match of 4 rinks.  We had to loan them 1 of our players as they could only muster 15 players, Many thanks go to Mick Wilkins who agreed to play for the in order to make up the numbers.  The forecast was, to say the least not good, but we managed to start, a little later than scheduled and agreed to play 16, rather than 18 ends.  We could not quite manage this but were able to get 13 ends in before the rain forced us off the green.  We had 3 winning rinks and came away comfortable winners 53-30.
 
 
 
Rink 1  -  Lead  -  Jill Hart
 
               No. 2  -  Dave Drinkwater
 
               No. 3  -  Steve Clarke
 
              Skip    -   Bryan Ogilvie
 
A close game for the first 6 ends, when we were 4-3 ahead, but their skip changed things after this with some successful firing and after the 13 ends they won 12-7.
 
 
 
Rink 2  -  Lead  -  Yvonne Twomey
 
               No. 2  -  Paul Jones
 
               No. 3  -  Paul Christmas
 
               Skip    -  Chris Twomey
 
This was a very close game, but Chris won 7 of the 12 ends completed and came out winners 9-8.
 
 
 
Rink 3  -  Lead  -  Claudia Stokes
 
               No. 2  -  John Standen
 
               No. 2  -  Dan Wegerhoff
 
               Skip    -  Mark Stokes
 
Mark's rink were a little behind everyone else and only completed 11 ends, but only let the opposition win 3 of these and came away comfortable winners 17-7.
 
 
 
Rink 4  -  Lead  -  Richard Lawrence
 
               No. 2  -  Cliff Hall
 
               No. 3  -  Graham Tyrrell
 
               Skip    -  Chris Skidmore
 
Chris's rink took the afternoons honours letting the opposition win only 2 of the 13 ends played and came away with a huge victory margin of 20-3.
 
 
 
No doubt Byfield will be looking to take their revenge when we go over to them in 5 days time, an unusually quick turn around.  A huge thank you must go to ' Drinky' who, as well as playing in the game, looked after the bar.  Also another thank you to Chris Skidmore who had arranged the club house prior to the start of the game.

Tuesday 3rd June away at Kidlington

The best thing about the night was that it was dry after a day of showers and strong winds, with the latter continuing into the evening and most of us were only too pleased to get into the warmth of the clubhouse.  We took a 2 point deficit into the game but couldn't improve on this and our hosts ran out winners 85 - 72.  We did have two winning rinks with Phil French's trio making an impressive comeback but more of that later.
 
 
 
Rink 1
 
Jill Hart, Graham Tyrrell and Ted Eley didn't find the green or conditions to their liking and picked up 5 ends coming in 11 points down 9 - 20.
 
 
 
Rink 2
 
Yvonne Twomey, Iain Mobbs and Chris Twomey struggled against stiff opposition and only claimed 6 ends to end up 12 - 17 down.
 
 
 
Rink 3
 
David Drinkwater, Peter Wells and Phil French were up against a County player and were 0 - 8 down after six ends looking "holed below the water line" but then had a purple patch and picked up 8 of the remaining 12 ends to run out winners 18 - 15.  Their success was down to the fact that when they scored they scored well!
 
 
 
Rink 4
 
Cliff Hall, Pete Griffin and Chris Skidmore,  AKA the holy trinity, were always in control taking 11 ends including a four on the 18th to run out victors 22 - 13.
 
 
 
Rink 5
 
Tony Bird. Mick Wilkins and Bryan Ogilvie were up against the President's triple and managed 7 ends and came in second 11 - 20.

Saturday 31st May away to Chipping Norton

Saturday saw us travel to Chipping Norton to play a 5 triple game.  The weather was warm and humid and the green was extremely fast, many of us saw our first wood land in the ditch and there were a number of others during the game.  Unfortunately these conditions did not suit us and although we won 2 rinks each and drew the other, we went down 78-93.

 

Rink 2  -  Lead  -  Richard Lawrence

               No. 2  -  Mick Wilkins

               Skip    -  Mark Stokes

Mark's rink struggled all afternoon and were always on the back foot and found themselves 24-4 down after 11 ends.  They did however win 5 of the remaining 7 ends, but eventually went down 28-11.

 

Rink 3  -  Lead  -  Jill Hart

               No. 2  -  Claudia Stokes

               Skip    -  Bryan Ogilvie

It was lovely to see Jill back on the green and she and Claudia had extremely good games and we were never in trouble throughout the game and went on to win 18-12.

 

Rink 4  -  Lead  -  Yvonne Twomey

               No. 2  -  Graham Tyrrell

               Skip    -  Chris Twomey

Chris's rink got of to a slow start and found themselves 8-0 down after 4 ends.  They picked up a 3 and two 4's over the next 3 ends to take the lead and had a 1 shot lead going into the final end, but a lucky, or should I say unlucky wick for us, saw the opposition  take the end by 1 shot and therefore the game ended 18-18.

 

Rink 5  -  Lead  -  Cliff Hall

               No. 2  -  Pete Griffin

               Skip    -  Chris Skidmore

Another slow start for us and Chris's rink found themselves 8-0 down after 6 ends, but they then won 9 of the remaining 13 ends with a 6 and a 5 on the 14th and 15th end to come home victorious 21-16.

 

Rink 5  -  Lead  -  Tony Bird

               No. 2  -  Dan Wegerhoff

               Skip    -  Dave Bryant

Yet another slow start from us as Dave's rink found themselves 8-0 down after 6 ends, they did however manage to share the remaining 12 ends, but could not claw back the deficit and went down 10-19.

 

Overall a very pleasant afternoon and we hope to take our revenge when they come to Adderbury on 23 August.

Saturday 24th May at home to Bicester

Saturday saw us entertain Bicester in a match of 5 triples.  The weather was scheduled to be showery, but we were extremely fortunate to play the whole game in dry but cool weather and the rain did not come until after the game.  The games were very tight and we had 2 winning rinks each and a tie, but unfortunately we lost out on the shots difference and the overall score was a 5 shots defeat, 83-78.
 
 
 
Rink 1  -  Lead  -  Yvonne Twomey 
               No. 2  -  Graham Tyrrell
               Skip    -  Chris Twomey
 
Chris's rink kept the game very close for the first 11 ends and at the stage were only 3 shots adrift 13-10 but unfortunately the opposition won 6 of the remaining 7 ends to run out winners 24-13. 
 
 
 
Rink 2  -  Lead  -  Dan Wegerhoff
               No. 2  -  Cliff Hall
               Skip    -  Dave Bryant
 
Dave's rink were well in command and did not let the opposition take their first shot until the 9th end and, after the next end were leading 14-1.  They were still 11 shots ahead with 2 ends to play but unfortunately let the opposition take a 2 and a 4 and eventually came home winners 20-15.
 
 
 
Rink 3  -  Lead  -  John Standen
               No. 2  -  Pete Wells
               Skip    -  Mark Stokes
 
A close game for the first 5 ends, but then Mark's rink scored a 5 on the 6th end to pull ahead and only let the opposition win a further 4 ends and came home comfortable winners 19-13.
 
 
 
Rink 4    Lead  - Tony Bird
               No. 2  -  Dave Drinkwater
               Skip    -  Bryan Ogilvie
 
The Captain's rink won 10 of the 18 ends, but only managed to score 12 shots but, apart from losing a 5 on end 3 only let the opposition score a single on the other 7 ends they won and the game finished 12-12.
 
 
 
Rink 5  - Lead  -  Richard Lawrence
              No. 2  -  Mick Wilkins
              Skip    -  Phil French  
 
Phil's rink shared the ends 9 each, but unfortunately lost a 5 on end 10 and a 4 on end 12 and could not claw back these shots over the final 6 ends and lost the game 19-14.
 
 
 
A very enjoyable game, the green played very well and, as mentioned earlier the weather held out to allow a dry game.  Many thanks to Jenny for looking after the bar and we look forward to our revenge when we visit Bicester on Tuesday 15 July.

Saturday 10th May at home to Thame

Saturday saw us entertain Thame, unfortunately we only play them once each season and it was our turn to host the game.  The weather was excellent, and the green played very well.  The opposition arrived with 1 player short, apparently he got the incorrect departure times from Thame and was left waiting for everyone 45 minutes after they had left!  Thankfully, and I use the term loosely Cliff kindly volunteered to play for them and, as usual played out of his skin.  I am thinking that next time he plays for us we ask the opposition to bring an extra shirt which he can wear and imagine he is playing for them.  Fortunately he could not alter the overall result which was a win for Adderbury 66-47.
 
 
 
Rink 1  -  Lead  -  Richard Lawrence
 
               No. 2  -  Mick Wilkins
 
               No. 3  -  Mark Stokes
 
               Skip    -  Phil French
 
Phil's rink were never in trouble and, after 9 ends were 14-2 ahead, but took their foot off the gas over the final 9 ends, but still came away convincing winners 21-2.
 
 
 
Rink 2  -  Lead  -  Tony Bird
 
               No. 2  -  Pete Wells
 
               No. 3  -  Pete Griffin
 
               Skip    -  Chris Skidmore
 
A very close game throughout and with 7 ends to play Chris's rink were behind 8-6, but forged ahead over these 7 ends and went on to win 14-11.
 
 
 
Rink 3  -  Lead  -  Paul Christmas.
 
               No. 2  -  Pete Sutton
 
               No. 3  -  Dave Bryant
 
               Skip    -  Iain Mobbs
 
Iain's rink were totally in control throughout the game and allowed the opposition to win only 6 ends and eventually came away convincing winners 20-8.
 
 
 
Rink 4  -  Lead  -  Claudia Stokes
 
               No. 2  -  John Standen
 
               No. 3  -  Graham Tyrrell
 
               Skip    -  Bryan Ogilvie
 
It looked as though the Captains rink were going to win quite convincingly as, after 8 ends they were leading 8-2, but then the magic of a certain Mr Hall came to bear and we managed to win only 2 of the remaining 10 ends and finished losing 16-11.
 
 
 
 A big thank you to Cliff for standing in for the opposition, but the only reason he played for them was because he was injured and had to withdraw from playing for us, heaven knows what the result would have been if he had been fit!  Another thank you to Jenny for looking after the bar and, as I said earlier, unfortunately we only play Thame once a season and will have to wait until next year for a return encounter.