WHILE Headington A march on at the top of Division 1 of the Bridle Insurance Oxford & District League, their B team began their Division 3 campaign with a convincing victory.

They triumphed 5½-½ away to Banbury Central, although the contest was close on three rinks.

While Colin Whitehead’s team won at a canter, the others were close until halfway, after which Russell Edwards and Martin Kershaw’s men dominated, while Headington Steve Gould needed five shots on the final two ends to snatch a draw.

Alex Fleming’s rink snatched five shots on the last end to grab a point for Blackbird Leys in their 4-2 defeat at Adderbury.

In Division 1, Headington triumphed 6-0 at home to City & County, one of whose rinks had only three players.

Kidlington were victims of a strong finish from visitors West Witney, who triumphed 5-1, after two rinks came from seven shots down to win.

Steve Gibson’s home team led by seven shots after seven ends but only scored two more shots as Paul Skidmore’s rink won comfortably.

It was a similar tale for John Hardie’s Kidlington men who were seven shots ahead at ten ends, but Andy McIntyre’s rink only allowed them two more.

Division 2 leaders South Oxford continued their progress with a 5-1 success at Chipping Norton.

Bloxham still prop up Division 4 but may not do so for much longer after a 6-0 success at Oxford University Press. Tony Gardner’s rink were only one in any sort of trouble but they scored five on the last end to snatch victory.

At Woodstock, visitors Bicester had Tony King’s rink to thank as their 15-shot winning margin proved enough to outscore the other three rinks, all of which went to the home team, as the points were shared.

OXFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE

Division 1

Witney Mills 66 (5), Banbury Central A 47 (1) (Witney Mills skips first): P Robbins 18, N Galletly 8; L Days 22, W Campion 11; A Wiggins 15, K McNeil 13; C Weller 11, L Campion 15.

Kidlington 58 (1), West Witney 69 (5) (Kidlington skips first): P McGrath 26, D Leighfield 12; J Hardie 13, A McIntyre 15; S Gibson 10, P Skidmore 16; C Cox 9, K Alder 26.

Headington A 97 (6), City & County A 41 (0) (Headington skips first): H Watts 20, C Lewis 11; J King 21, A Ley 12; N Rae-Welsh 40, K Croxon 6; M Charlett 16, A Kerr 12.

Division 2

Chipping Norton 58 (1), South Oxford A 81¾ (5) (Chipping Norton skips first): D Leighfield 20, K Mobley 12¾; J Benfield 15, M Keen 18; N Siford 13, R Green 24; J Martin 10, J Hall 27.

Hanborough 68 (3), Shiplake 65¾ (3) (Hanborough skips first): G Thompson 11, J Bland 19; K Williams 18, D Webb 19; G Haynes 31, T Reid 6¾; M Oliver 8, G Kennedy 21.

Charlbury 47 (1), Carterton 82 (5) (Charlbury skips first): D Cooper 22, P Sharman 14; M East 8, G Walker 23; E Pitts 8, B Sparkes 15; M Fraser 9, S Richens 30.

Division 3

City & County B 59 (2), Thame 78 (4) (City & County skips first): M Plested 18, G Penn 13; M Gleeson 11, R Jenner 25; T Gripe 18,

J Timms 17; G Gray 12, K Calcutt 23.

Banbury Central B 51(½), Headington B 90 (5½) (Banbury skips first): R Cox 14, M Kershaw 27; M Leather 15, S Gould 15; T McKenna 9, P Arundel 23; J Pickering 13, R Edwards 25.

Adderbury 89 (4), Blackbird Leys 56 (2) (Adderbury skips first): T Clarke 19, A Fleming 21; C Skidmore 11, R Brain 14; P Gladden 22, J Baldwin 14; D Sharpe 37, S O’Keefe 7.

Division 4

Oxford University Press 45 (0), Bloxham 82 (6) (OUP skips first): G Jordan 13, T Gardner 16; P Tweddle 13, J Lucas 28; G Giles 10, D Morse 21; R Cann 9, A Miles 17;

Woodstock 62 (3), Bicester 64 (3) (Woodstock skips first): D Francis 21, S Cole 12; B Clarke 7, T King 22; T Stevens 17, K Taylor 15; P Shipton 17, P Sansome 15.

South Oxford B 72 (5), West Oxford 59 (1) (S Oxford skips first): D Portman 19, C Sherwood 11; J Guest 9, G Richardson 23; D Lyne 19, J Parker 17; J Cope 25, E Fry 8.