HEADINGTON continued their relentless progress towards yet another Division 1 title in the Oxfordshire Bowls League, sponsored by Bridle Insurance.

Banbury Central, who started second, were brushed aside 5-1 by some outstanding performances, most notably on Nick Rae-Welsh and Mark Charlett’s rinks, as Headington amassed a whopping 98 shots.

Carterton climbed into the top two thanks to their 5-1 win at home to Shiplake.

At the other end of the table, City & County’s 5-1 victory at West Witney could go a long way to ensuring their survival.

There were big wins for Mike Peterson and Alan Ley, with Paul Skidmore replying for the home side.

Watlington beat South Oxford A 3½-2½ in Division 2, thanks to Shane Cooper’s rink.

The 22-shot victory helped their team to victory, despite losing on two other rinks and drawing the third.

However, their success was not enough to stop Witney Mills leapfrogging them into top spot with a 4-2 win at Thame.

Witney Town remain top of Division 3 despite their 4½-1½ loss to City & County.

Banbury Chestnuts closed the gap with a 4-2 win at Chipping Norton.

With both the leading teams losing at home, Division 4 is wide open with the top four separated by just three-and-a-half points.

RESULTS

DIVISION 1

West Witney 63 (1), City & County A 108 (5) (West skips first): T Prew 12, A Ley 27; H Williams 12, M Peterson 40; K Alder 20, C Earl 25; P Skidmore 19, P Comley 16.

Headington A 98 (5), Banbury Central A 61 (1) (Headington skips first): N Rae-Welsh 33, N Galletly 15; G May 12, L Campion 21; M Charlett 25, W Campion 11; J King 28, J Tee 14.

Carterton 89 (5), Shiplake 59 (1) (Carterton skips first): P Sharman 13, G Kennedy 23; T Jupp 24, T Beaumont 11; R Clanfield 24, B Evans 11; B Sparkes 28, J Bland 14.

DIVISION 2

Adderbury 88 (½), Charlbury 66 (½) (Adderbury skips first): J Dancer 24, M Smith 16; P Gladden 24, D Dix 17; T Ely 21, D Cooper 14; C Skidmore 19, J Stevens 19.

Thame 81 (2), Witney Mills 87 (4) (Thame skips first): P Heafey 21, C Weller 18; G Penn 15, L Days 28; A Walker 22, R Barnett 28; G Andrews 23, J Mott 13; South Oxford A 75¾ (2½), Watlington 78 (3½) (S Oxford skips first): R Claridge 20, R Gilkes 20; K Mobley 6¾, S Cooper 33; R Claridge 26, G Hooker 12; M Keen 23, S Gilkes 13.

DIVISION 3

Chadlington 80 (5), Bloxham 67 (1) (Chadlington skips first): R Arthur 23, A Round 19; P Radbone 19, D Morse 18; C Smart 22, J Stephens 12; A Hobbs 16, T Gardner 18.

City & County B 84 (4½), Witney Town 78 (1½) (City skips first): C Pollard 15, A Scholan 26; N Wharton 28, B Bloomfield 16; G Powell 24, P Demczak 19; T Gripe 17, T Ludlow 17.

Chipping Norton 78 (2), Banbury Chestnuts 88 (4) (Chipping Norton skips first): P Rathbone 11, D Ives 36; N Siford 18, L Wilkinson 28; S Davis 29, A Wase 12; K Field 20, K Buckle 12.

Kidlington 71 (1), Headington B 75 (5) (Kidlington skips first): C Cox 15, R Edwards 26; M Brain 25, S Gould 11; A Rowe 17, M Kirby 19; J Hardie 14, M Kershaw 19.

DIVISION 4

Hanborough 71 (2), Blackbird Leys 77 (4) (Hanborough skips first): G Thompson 17, P Sage 18; M Oliver 19, D Buckwell 15; G Haynes 22, R Brain 21; K Williams 13, J Baldwin 23.

Banbury Central B 72 (2), Woodstock 86 (4) (Banbury skips first): R Cox 15, B Clarke 13; M Leather 15, D Francis 26; J Pickering 18, R Wright 27; T McKenna 24, P Shipton 20.

West Oxford 115 (6), Florence Park 43 (0) (West skips first): M Alderson 27, C Harris 9; B Murphy 24, I Gray 14; E Fry 30, J Simmons 11; G Richardson 34, C Dawson 9.