REIGNING champions Carterton were given a fright before winning 82-73½ at home to Banbury Central A in Division 1 of the Bridle Insurance Oxford & District League.

The visitors won on two of the four rinks, the outcome being decided when Sammy Timms’ rink comfortably saw off Will Campion’s three-man team.

Despite the victory, Carterton fell further behind pacesetters Headington, who won on all six rinks at South Oxford A.

The closest result came at Adderbury in Division 2, the hosts winning by two shots against promoted Chipping Norton, for whom Jeff Martin’s rink shone.

In Division 3, Headington won a topsy-turvy match at home to Hanborough.

Graham Haynes and Geoff Thompson ran up a 22-shot victory between them only to have Russell Edwards’ men win by 24 shots for Headington and snatch the match.

BRIDLE INSURANCE OXFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE

Division 1

South Oxford A 58 (0pts) Headington A 99 (6) (South Oxford skips first): R Claridge 21, R Gaskins 24 ; K Mobley 11, N Lewis 20; M Bracewell 15, N Rae-Welsh 32; M Keen 11, J King 23.

West Witney 92 (6) City & County A 66 (0) (West Witney skips first): P Skidmore 20, P Comley 19; K Alder 23, C Earl 11; A McIntyre 22, C Pollard 19; W Parker 27, A Ley 17.

Carterton 82 (4), Banbury Central A 73½ (2) (Carterton skips first): P Sharman 22, I Whelpton 19; B Sparkes 23, K McNeil 24; S Timms 20, W Campion 7½; T Warner 17, L Young 23.

Division 2

Kidlington 77 (5), Witney Mills 60 (1) (Kidlington skips first): C Cox 21, C Weller 19; P McGrath 14, L Days 20; M Brain 21, R Barnett 14; J Hardie 21, P Robbins 7.

Adderbury 74 (4½) Chipping Norton 72 (1½) (Adderbury skips first): T Ely 15, J Martin 22; P Gladden 21, K Field 17; B Ogilvie 17, N Siford 17; T Clarke 21, T Sealey 16.

Division 3

Banbury Central B 57 (0), Charlbury 96 (6) (Banbury skips first): J Pickering 12, M East 29; M Leather 15, D Cooper 22; R Cox 17, M Smith 23; T McKenna 13, E Pitts 22.

Chadlington 94 (5), Bicester 63 (1) (Chadlington skips first): R Arthur 12, M Graves 24; A Hobbs 24, A Hall 17; C Smart 27, K Taylor 14; P Radbone 31, A King 8.

Headington B 81 (4), Hanborough 73 (2) (Headington skips first): M Kershaw 19, M Oliver 13; R Edwards 32, K Williams 8; S Gould 9, G Haynes 21; C Harris 21, G Thompson 31.

Division 4

West Oxford 39 (1), South Oxford B 64 (5) (West Oxford skips first): E Fry 9, J Guest 19; M Alderson 9, P Power 14; A Blackburn 6, D Lyne 20; J Parker 15, M Lyne 11; Thame 87 (5) Woodstock 64 (1) (Thame skips first): R Jenner 24, D Francis 12; P Heafey 27, T Stevens 16; J Timms 9, B Clarke 23; G Andrews 27, P Shipton 13.