Reigning champions Banbury Central A pipped Division 1 favourites Headington A by one shot in a thrilling clash in the Oxford & District League, sponsored by Yarnton Nurseries.

No more than four shots separated any rink as Central edged home 79-78 to claim four points against their opponents’ two.

Bicester scored an impressive 5-1 victory at Carterton with the excellent Paul Hooley leading the way with a 28-18 win.

South Oxford A can count themselves unlucky as they went down 5-1 at Banbury Chestnuts, despite only losing by three shots.

Witney Mills opened up a five-point gap at the top of Division 2 with a 5-1 win at Oxford City & County B.

John O’Shea’s four shone with a 31-13 win in Kidlington’s win 4-2 at home to Thame.

West Witney go second after a 6-0 win at home to Shiplake, who were a man down.

Division 3 leaders Blackbird Leys kept up their good start to the season with a 4-2 win at Headington B.

Woodstock are just a point behind following a 5-1 win over Witney Town.

Charlbury won 4-2 at Bloxham, despite being a man short.

Division 4 leaders West Oxford lost 4-2 at Hanborough, for whom Geoff Thompson scored a 19-shot victory.

Watlington took advantage of other results to go second with a 5-1 win at Chadlington.

Chipping Norton secured a 5-1 home win against Oxford University Press, while Florence Park defeated South Oxford B 4-2.

Results Division 1 Banbury Central A 79 (4pts), Headington A 78 (2) (Banbury Central skips first): M Sykes 20, N Rae-Welsh 16; J Tee 20, M Charlett 23; L Campion 23, I Snowdon 25; P Norton 16, H Watts 14.

Banbury Chestnuts 78 (5), South Oxford A 75 (1) (Banbury Chestnuts skips first): D Munslow 22, R Claridge 16; A Northcote 15, M Keen 28; D Bryant 19, J Hall 18; B Neal 22, K Clarke 13.

Carterton 67 (1), Bicester 87 (5) (Carterton skips first): S Richens 19, M Workman 15; R Clanfield 18, P Hooley 28; P Sharman 17, K Taylor 22; G Walker 13, J King 22.

Division 2 Kidlington 83 (4), Thame 63 (2) (Kidlington skips first): J O’Shea 31, J Timms 13; D Snell 14, G Lazaruk 16; G Watts 21, M Dale 15; R Slater 17, J Hardie 15.

Oxford City & County B 61 (1), Witney Mills 83 (5) (City & County skips first): N Satchell 13, A Auger 21; B Slatter 22, J Mott 13; O Sharif 17, R Barnett 24; M Charlett 9, K Dunsby 25.

West Witney 98 (6), Shiplake 59 (0) (West Witney skips first): H Williams 30, G Kennedy 12; T Prew 21, L Mitton 12*; K Alder 24, T Beaumont 14; M Hitchcox 23, B Evans 16. *25 per cent score deducted – player short.

Division 3 Bloxham 67 (2), Charlbury 71½* (4) (Bloxham skips first): J Hay 17, C Skidmore 15; A Round 14, M Smith 28; J Boyt 16, J Stevens 19½*; J Lucas 20, D Dix 9. *25 per cent rink score deducted – player short.

Headington B 69 (2), Blackbird Leys 74 (4) (Headington skips first): T Murphy 25, M Major 14; R Edwards 17, R Brain 16; P Sargeant 13, S O’Keefe 21; M Kershaw 14, G Roper 23.

Rover 74 (1½), Banbury Central B 79 (4½) (Rover skips first): J Warland 23, B Collins 17; K Hall 16, R Havard 18; M Bracewell 18, T Mold 18; M Burrage 17, A Cox 26.

Woodstock 83 (5), Witney Town 58 (1) (Woodstock skips first): R Collett 26, B Buckingham 18; W Major 22, B Bloomfield 10; B Clarke 13, M Jones 17; K Comley 22, V Comley 13.

Division 4 Chadlington 74 (1), Watlington 84 (5) (Chadlington skips first): P Radbone 23, J Trimmer 20; R Arthur 23, H Franklin 25; C Smart 14, S Gilkes 22; A Hobbs 14, R Gilkes 17.

Chipping Norton 76 (5), Oxford University Press 50* (1) (Chipping Norton skips first): J Benfield 14, J Taylor 15; D Barnes 22, P Cornish 13; A Sleeman 24, K Blay 7*; C Parish 16, D Plessey 15. *25 per cent rink score deducted – player short.

South Oxford B 67¾* (2), Florence Park 86 (4) (South Oxford skips first): M Lyne 18, I Gray 14; V DePaaw 17, A Thomas 24; D Walker 9¾*, J Simmons 32; M Freeman 23, S Green 16. *25 per cent rink score deducted – player short.

West Oxford 68 (2), Hanborough 75 (4) (West Oxford skips first): M Bostock 9, M Oliver 19; B Stone 12, G Thompson 31; P Moffat 25, G Parsloe 10; M Alderson 22, J Edwards 15.