WEST Witney had a baptism of fire in Division 1 when they faced Headington on the first day of the Bridle Insurance Oxford & District League campaign.

The promoted side conceded 100 points, with Ian Snowden and Nick Rae-Welsh’s rinks leading the way for Headington, who are determined to make up for their failure to win the championship in 2016.

Watlington, last year’s Division 2 champions, gained a comfortable victory over South Oxford, led home by Shane Cooper’s rink, who won by 30 shots.

Witney Mills showed their potential by beating Shiplake in Division 2, which will have fewer matches his season due to the late withdrawal of Banbury Chestnuts.

BRIDLE INSURANCE OXFORD LEAGUE

Division 1

Headington A 106 (5pts), West Witney 72 (1) (Headington skips first): J King 19, K Alder 20; H Watts 26, P Skidmore 21; I Snowdon 28, W Parker 17; N Rae-Welsh 33, A McIntyre 14.

Watlington 98 (6) South Oxford A 53 (0) (Watlington skips first): S Gilkes 16, D Tidball 12; S Cooper 38, D Claridge 8; R Gilkes 24, M Bracewell 14; C Gilkes 20, K Mobley 19.

Division 2

Witney Mills 88 (3½) Shiplake 88 (2½) (Witney skips first): R Barnett 26, J Bland 23; C Weller 24, R Bockett 21; P Robbins 19, B Evans 25; L Days 19, G Kennedy 19.

Witney Tn 102 (5), Kidlington 69 (1) (Witney skips first): P Warner 24, C Cox 12; A Scolan 25, J Woodward 16; P Demczak 19, P McGrath 30; B Bloomfield 34, M Brain 11.

Division 3

Bicester 79 (2), Headington B 88 (4) (Bicester skips first): K Taylor 20, C Harris 22; A Hall 27, S Gould 23; R Herbert 9, R Edwards 23; T King 23, M Kirby 20.

Charlbury 111 (5), Chadlington 67 (1) (Charlbury skips first): M East 25, R Arthur 14; M Smith 27; P Hadley 18, D Cooper 39, C Smart 8; E Abbey 20, P Radbone 27.

Banbury Central B 80 (4½), Blackbird Leys 69 (1½) (Banbury skips first): R Cox 16, J Baldwin 22; M Leather 23, P Sage 9; E Trinder 20, A Fleming 17; T McKenna 21, P Smith 21.

Division 4

South Oxford B 96 (6), Woodstock 53 (0) (South Oxford skips first): P Power 21, B Clarke 15; D Lyne 19, P Shipton 17; J Guest 22, T Stevens 13; K Clarke 34, D Francis 8.

Bloxham 86 (2), West Oxford 90 (4) (Bloxham skips first): T Gardner 20, C Sherwood 13; A Miles 27, M Alderson 18; R Higgins 19, A Blackburn 31; S Stepens 20, J Parker 28.

OUP 81½ (4½), City & County B 66 (1½) (OUP skips first): P Tweddle 17, G Powell 17; T Cox 25, J Glenn 14; G Jordan 20, T Gripe 22; R Cann 19½ , B Stone 13.