Vikings A’s Oxford & District League Division 1 title hopes took a knock when they crashed 9-1 to Bicester A – their first defeat of the season.

Gareth Hayward (Vikings) beat Tony Gorman, but then the Bicester big guns got going as Jeff Rigby and Jason Tustain hit maximums.

Vikings B beat the strong Forum B side 6-4 as Pavel Jaskolski and Jingyu Sun were once again invincible.

In Division 2, Forum D held two-man Gladiators A to a draw, thanks to Chris Smith, who started with a 12-10 win over Dave Ralls in the decider and then beat Paul Reynolds.

Begbroke and Gladiators B hammered out a 5-5 draw, with Kevin Giles winning all three for the latter.

Bicester B beat bottom side Witney A 6-4 in a closely-fought match. Tom Marrs had to go the full distance in the doubles and all three of his singles, but it was worth it as he won them all.

RESULTS

Div 1: Bicester A 9 (J Rigby 3, J Tustain 3), Vikings A 1; Vikings B 6 (P Jaskolski 3, J Sun 3), Forum B 4; Forum C 9 (M Shori 3, G Boone 3), Vikings C 1.

Div 2: Bicester B 6 (T Marrs 3), Witney A 4; Begbroke 5, Gladiators B 5 (K Giles 3); Gladiators A 5, Forum D 5 (C Smith 3).

Div 3: Vikings G 4, Bicester C 6 (D Badham 3); Haddenham A 8 (M Burr 3), Forum H 2; Forum G 7, Gladiators C 3.

Div 4: St James 10 (B Ford 3, P Guest 3, T Hookham 3), Holton 0; Vikings H 3, Forum K 7 (S Price 3); Holton 2, Forum J 8 (J Benford 3); Witney B 7 (T Morris 3), Bicester D 3.

LEADING PLAYERS

Div 1: K Bushell (Forum B) 22 wins out of 24; T Stead (RAL) 20, 27; G Boone (Forum C) 20, 30; G Hayward (Vikings A) 18, 21; J Sun (Vikings B) 17, 21.

Div 2: E Deeley (Vikings E) 25, 27; C Smith (Forum D) 25, 30; P Borrowdale (Vikings E) 22, 27; D Ralls (Gladiators A) 21, 24; P Humphrey (Begbroke) 17, 24.

Div 3: M Burr (Haddenham A) 21, 21; M Penn (Haddenham A) 20, 24; J Cripps (Haddenham A) 19, 21; J Duncalfe (Forum G) 19, 27; A Howgego (Forum G) 19, 27.

Div 4: T Morris (Witney B) 24, 24; J Allsworth (Witney B) 23, 27; J Stott (Forum K) 22, 27; S Price (Forum K) 20, 30; P Juiwong (Forum J) 18, 21.