HOSTS Carterton surprised pacesetters Headington A, despite only winning one rink in Division 1 of the the Oxford & District League, sponsored by Yarnton Nurseries.

The leaders won on two rinks and shared another, but the result was decided in the remaining contest.

Carterton skip Andy McIntyre guided his four to a seven-shot victory, which tipped the balance for the home side to win 73-72.

Second-placed Shiplake trimmed the gap at the top as they took four points from the visit of Witney Mills.

Barry Lambourne’s nine-shot winning margin was the key to the 82-76 victory.

The third match in the top flight was much more one-sided, as Banbury Central A romped to an 88-61 victory against visitors South Oxford A.

The key rink saw Will Campion’s team inflict a 33-6 defeat on their opponents, who slipped five points adrift.

The stand-out result in a very close Division 2 saw bottom club Chipping Norton cruise to a 5-1 win at home to Banbury Chestnuts.

Stuart Davis’s men sealed the result with a 15-shot win in their rink.

With leaders West Witney not in action, Bicester and Thame took advantage to close the gap.

Bicester defeated hosts Watlington 4-2, Kevin Taylor’s men the star performers with a 17-shot win.

Strong performances from Ron Slater and Chris Billingham’s rinks helped Thame to a comfortable 5-1 home win over Charlbury.

Division 3 front-runners Adderbury won 4-2 at home to Banbury Central B, where the highlight was provided by Phil Gladden’s rink finishing 20 shots clear.

Paul Ilott’s rink hit form as The Oxford kept up their pursuit with a 90-83 success away to City & County B.

Headington B’s 5-1 defeat of visitors Blackbird Leys featured a 26-shot win for Russell Edwards.

There was also a home win for Witney Town, who beat Kidlington 84-67 to pick up four points.

Bloxham remain the team to beat in Division 4.

They were the only side in the league to reach three figures, hammering Chadlington 128-49.

The whitewash was confirmed thanks to huge wins on the rinks skipped by Tony Gardner (32) and John Stephens (29).

Despite the humbling, Chadlington remain second, just ahead of Woodstock, who won 4-2 at South Oxford B.

Florence Park were unlucky to lose 6-0 at Oxford University Press, despite not losing a rink by more than three shots.

The remaining fixture saw West Oxford narrowly edge out fellow mid-table side Hanborough at home by a single shot.

RESULTS

Division 1

Banbury Central A 88 (5pts), South Oxford A 61 (1) (Banbury skips first): J Tee 21, M Keen 17; I Whelpton 18, D Tidball 17; W Campion 33, H Payne 6; M Andrew 16, R Claridge 21.

Carterton 73 (3½), Headington A 72 (2½) (Carterton Skips first): A McIntyre 24, I Snowdon 17; T Jupp 18, M Charlett 18; R Clanfield 15, H Watts 17; P Latter 16, J King 20.

Shiplake 82 (4), Witney Mills 76 (2) (Shiplake skips first): J Bland 22, L Days 17; B Lambourne 26, C Weller 17; B Evans 16, J Mott 22; T Beaumont 18, A Wiggins 20.

Division 2

Watlington 70 (2), Bicester 80 (4) (Watlington skips first): R Gilkes 24, R Pink 10; G Hooker 13, P Hooley 22; S Gilkes 20, A Hall 18; H Franklin 13, K Taylor 30.

Chipping Norton 85 (5), Banbury Chestnuts 64 (1) (Chipping Norton skips first): K Field 18, A Northcote 16; P Rathbone 25, A Wase 19; S Siford 17, K Buckle 19; S Davis 25, J Denbow 10.

Thame 91 (5), Charlbury 71 (1) (Thame skips first): A Twinn 23, D Cooper 15; R Slater 28, D Dix 11; G Andrews 11, M Smith 30; C Billingham 29, M Fraser 15.

Division 3

Adderbury 92 (4), Banbury Central B 76 (2) (Adderbury skips first): J Dancer 18, J Pickering 19; C Skidmore 23, R Cox 18; P Gladden 28, R Wilkins 8; T Ely 23, T McKenna 31.

Headington B 95 (5), Blackbird Leys 65 (1) (Headington skips first): S Gould 18, G Roper 17; M Kershaw 15, R Brain 21; C Harris 24, J Baldwin 15; R Edwards 38, S O’Keefe 12.

Witney Town 84 (4), Kidlington 67 (2) (Witney skips first): V Comley 16, M Brain 17; A Scholan 13, A Rowe 20; P Demczak 20, J Hardie 14; B Bloomfield 35, C Cox 16.

City & County B 83 (2), The Oxford Bowls Club 90 (4) (City & County skips first): C Pollard 20, G Watts 17; T Gripe 15, P Ilott 32; G Kerr 22, L Vaughan 24; N Wharton 26, M Bracewell 17.

Division 4

Bloxham 128 (6), Chadlington 49 (0) (Bloxham skips first): T Gardner 43, J Pickard 11; J Lucas 18, J Benfield 16; D Morse 29, C Smart 13; J Stephens 38, P Rathbone 9.

Oxford University Press 74 (6), Florence Park 63 (0) (Oxford University Press skips first): G Giles 19, P Booth 16; T Cox 19, M Gray 16; H Hyde 17, I Gray 15; P Tweddle 19, C Dawson 16.

West Oxford 74 (4), Hanborough 73 (2) (West Oxford skips first): F Webster 15, G Thompson 23; G Richardson 16, G Haynes 22; E Fry 22, M oOiver 15; M Alderson 21, K Williams 13.

South Oxford B 81 (2), Woodstock 98 (4) (South Oxford skips first): B Stewart 30, J Stone 12; P Woodville 19, R Wright 23; D Portman 9, R Collett 41; V De Paauw 23, B Clarke 22.