Headington have successfully defended their Division 1 title in the Oxfordshire League, sponsored by Bridle Insurance.

Their 4-2 victory over City & County A ensured the champagne corks could pop, despite the efforts of Paul Comley’s rink, who won by 15¾ shots for the losers West Witney are relegated after losing 5-1 at Carterton, who secured the runners-up spot.

While the relegations spots had already been settled in Division 2, the title and second promotion place are still a three-way affair.

Watlington, Witney Mills and Adderbury will fight it out for honours.

Witney Town are the new Division 3 champions after beating Banbury Chestnuts.

Good wins for Brian Bloomfield and Alan Scholan’s men ensured Town got match points, despite the efforts of Kevin Buckle’s rink for Chestnuts.

Bloxham’s defeat at Kidlington sees them relegated, while Chadlington’s loss at Chipping Norton leaves them on the brink.

Just five or six points from their final match with Kidlington would provide them with a chance of survival.

Hanborough and Banbury Central B are both promoted from Division 4.

They will meet next week in the title-decider.

RESULTS

Division 1

Bicester 93 (4), Shiplake 67 (2) (Bicester skips first): P Hooley 36, B Evans 9; K Taylor 16, G Kennedy 22; A Hall 30, J Bland 12; R Herbert 11, B Lambourne 24.

Headington A 73¼ (4), City and County A 70 (2) (Headington skips first): J King 23, A Ley 13; M Charlett 25, M Peterson 13; N Rae-Welsh 14, C Earl 17; G May 11¼, P Comley 27.

Carterton 76 (5), West Witney 68 (1) (Carterton skips first): G Walker 15, H Williams 22; D Clanfield 18, T Prew 16; A Martin 20, P Skidmore 17; P Sharman 23, K Alder 13.

Division 2

Oxford Bowls Club 76 (2), South Oxford A 81 (4) (Oxford skips first): P Ilott 13, D Tidball 27; D Sims 24, M Keen 15; R Edney 19, K Mobley 22; G Watts 20, R Claridge 17.

Thame 92 (6), Charlbury 64 (0) (Thame skips first): A Walker 23, D Dix 10; P Heafey 25, D Cooper 19; G Penn 20, C Brock 16; J Timms 24, J Stevens 19.

Watlington 101 (5), Adderbury 67 (1) (Watlington skips first): C Gilkes 28, C Skidmore 7; G Hooker 18, P Gladden 38; S Gilkes 26, J Dancer 11; R Gilkes 29, T Clarke 11.

Division 3

City & County B 88 (5), Headington B 66 (1) (City skips first): N Wharton 15, R Edwards 18; C Pollard 21, M Kershaw 14; G Powell 21, S Gould 17; T Gripe 31, M Kirby 17.

Chipping Norton 81 (5), Chadlington 74 (1) (Chipping Norton skips first): D Leighfield 19, C Smart 15; S Davis 9, O Bennet 33; K Field 30, C Brett 10; N Siford 23, P Radbone 16.

Kidlington 80 (5), Bloxham 62 (1) (Kidlington skips first): A Rowe 23, R Higgins 14; C Cox 13, D Morse 19; M Brain 26, T Gardner 16; P McGrath 18, J Lucas 13.

Witney Town 83 (4½), Banbury Chestnuts 74 (1½) (Witney skips first): A Scholan 26, C Taylor 15; P Demczak 13, K Buckle 27; B Bloomfield 26, B Ray 14; T Ludlow 18, A Wase 18.

Division 4

Florence Park 39¾ (0), Woodstock 101 (6) (Florence Park skips first): J Battrawden 6, P Shipton 35; P Booth 9, D Francis 20; C Harris 13½, B Clarke 25; I Gray 11¼, R Collett 21.

Banbury Central B 88 (5), Blackbird Leys 53 (1) (Banbury skips first): T McKenna 24, P Sage 14; M Leather 21, J Baldwin 14; J Pickering 29, D Buckwell 9; R Cox 14, R Brain 16.

South Oxford B 69 (2), West Oxford 78 (4) (S Oxford skips first): J Guest 28, J Parker 13; P Woodville 17, M Alderson 13; K Clarke 12, B Murphy 27; D Portman 12, G Richardson 25.