Oxford CAMRA:
Aunt Sally vs Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe Branch

19th August 2006

Saturday 19th August saw a clash of the titans: the neighbouring Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe branch challenged Oxford branch to an Aunt Sally match (for anyone unfamiliar with the game: Aunt Sally is a traditional pub game which involves throwing wooden battons at small skittle, known as a "dolly", perched onto of a pole).

The venue was Oxford CAMRA's Pub of the Year, the Mason's Arms in Headington. The Mason's had two of their own "Old Bog" beers on the bar: Quarry Gold and the heady (5.6% ABV) but delicious Festival Ale. The pub also very kindly provided a buffet lunch for us to munch on as we played.

The branches had mustered two large and almost equally numbered teams: ten from Oxford and nine from Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe. We played as two teams of ten, the visitors being allowed to pick one of their number to go twice in each leg. The weather looked touch-and-go throughout the afternoon with threatening black clouds rolling past on all sides, but fortunately things stayed dry and bright in the garden throughout the match.

Oxford branch might have expected a home advantage, as the game is still actively played in our area, but in fact only few of the Oxford players had much experience and both sides were largely learning as the match progressed. The first and second legs of the three leg match went to the visitors (7-9 and 6-8). However, the home team was finally begining to get its eye in (or perhaps the beer was loosening up our style!) and we managed to avoid a whitewash, winning the final leg of the match in convincing fashion (12-8).

Now it was down to the really serious business: the Beer Leg (the fourth leg doesn't count towards the match result, but the team that looses it buys a round of drinks for their opponents). It was a tense and closely fought battle, with Dave Cogdell (Oxford branch) and Brian West (Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe branch) both scoring threes, but Oxford branch triumphed 10-9 and slaked their thirst at the expense of the visitors.

The event was a great success and everyone seemed enjoyed it. We look forward to next year's return match! I would like to thank John Wiliamson (aka "Noj") from Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe for proposing the joint social, and to thank Chris and Christine Meeson and all the staff at the Mason's for their hospitality.