OXFORDSHIRE’S county sides are celebrating a sensational season – with their first team ending a 20-year wait to win promotion to the top flight.

And hot on their heels are the second side, who have made it to Division 2 after a superb campaign.

With the third team retaining their Division 3 status, the county’s future looks very bright.

Oxfordshire’s Over 70s team made it through to the national finals, where they lost to a Kent side whose men won the World Championships in India earlier in the year.

And not to be outdone, the under 21 side starred in the 17-21 English County Championships.

After topping their group, they lost to Yorkshire and Devon to finish fourth overall.

Meanwhile, Oxfordshire’s Under 18 side saw their unbeaten run in the Shires League finally come to an end.

A 16-4 defeat to local rivals Buckinghamshire at Abingdon School saw them defeated in a play- off for a place in the national finals to be held next month.

Earlier in the season, Oxfordshire had shocked Bucks, the No 1 ranked county at this level, by beating them 12-8 in a superb display.

But Bucks were determined to avoid a repeat result and fielded three England internationals in their line-up.

Oxfordshire battled hard, however the depth of quality in the Bucks team was always going to be difficult to overcome and the visitors ran out convincing winners.