North Oxford were forced to hold their nerve in two three-set thrillers before running out 6-3 winners over Banbury West End in Division 1 of the Ladies' 3-Pair League.

The scoreline suggests that North won the match with something in hand, but it was by no means the case.

The teams were locked together at 1.5-1.5 after the first round. But North showed their class with a superb second round, which saw them take a commanding 4-2 lead.

Needing just one victory in the third and deciding set of matches, it looked odds-on that the victory was heading to North.

However, West End's first pair of Karen Taylor and Claire Abbott beat Maddie Mitchell and Judy Davis 6-2, 6-2 to reduce the deficit.

It then needed North's second pair of Kate Calnan and Amanda Titmus, and the No 3 pair of Emma Tolson and Amy Shepheard to ensure victory with narrow successes.

Calnan and Titmus lost the first set on a tie-break to Katie Shires and Andi Padbury, but hit back to win the next two 6-1, 7-5.

Tolson and Shepheard were involved in an epic encounter with Claire Oldfield and Jenny Edwards, before prevailing 6-4, 3-6, 7-6.

Oxford City, however, show no signs of letting their crown slip.

They crushed Cholsey 8-1 to maintain their 100 per cent record.

Esther Symmonds, Barbara Gibbins, Karen Last and Jo Love were all unbeaten.

In Men's Division 1, North Oxford B like their women's side were forced to pull out all the stops in their clash with Woodstock.

North Oxford trailed 4.5-2.5 with the final two matches in progress, and were relieved to escape with a draw.

Glenn Hooton and Richard Brailsford beat Pramod Gujral and Tom Francis 7-6, 7-6, while Chris Brewster and Dave Evans were forced to battle to a 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 success over Manjor Gujral and Animod Gujral to share the spoils.