WATLINGTON strengthened their hold on second place with a convincing victory at home to West Witney in Division 1 of the Bridle Insurance Oxford & District League.

The hosts triumphed 5½-½, with Witney skip David Leighfield avoiding the whitewash after an epic

contest.

Leighfield’s men led Shane Cooper’s rink until they dropped two shots on both 16th and 17th ends to go three behind.

It looked all over for the visitors, but Leighfield produced two great bowls to snatch a 21-21 tie.

Any thoughts Watlington might have had about significantly closing the gap on Headington were dashed as the leaders won 5-1 at home to Kidlington.

Division 2 leaders Carterton were in rampant form, winning 6-0 at Chipping Norton.

BRIDLE INSURANCE OXORD

& DISTRICT LEAGUE RESULTS

Division 1

Witney Mills 75 (5pts), City & County A 50 (1) (Witney skips first): R Barnett 8, C Lewis 16; C Weller 25, O Shariff 15; L Days 22, A Ley 5; A Auger 20, C Pollard 14.

Kidlington 64 (1), Headington A 84 (5) (Kidlington skips first): P McGrath 16, N Lewis 21; C Cox 18, N Rae-Welsh 11; J Hardie 13, I Snowdon 30; B Ray 17, H Watts 22.

Watlington 94 (5½), West Witney 55 (½) (Watlington skips first): S Cooper 21, D Leighfield 21; S Gilkes 27, A McIntyre 15; S Watts 23, K Alder 11; C Gilkes 23, P Skidmore 8.

Division 2

Chipping Norton 56 (0), Carterton 80 (6) (Chipping Norton skips first): K Field 15, T Jupp 16; J Martin 14, G Walker 26; T Sealey 14, R Clanfield 19; N Siford 13,P Sharman 19.

Hanborough 57 (1½), Charlbury 77 (4½) (Hanborough skips first): K Williams 22, E Pitts 13; C Hayley 11, M East 21; M Oliver 11, M Fraser 30; N Williams 13, D Cooper 13.

Witney Town 67 (4½), Shiplake 64 (½) (Witney skips first): B Bloomfield 11, D Webb 17; P Warner 21, L Mitton 14; A Scholan 18, J Bland 18; T Ludlow 17, T Reid 15.

Division 3

City & County B 85 (6), Blackbird Leys 57 (0) (C &C skips first): T Gripe 21, M Major 16; G Gray 20, A Fleming 18; K Buckingham 17, R Brain 11; M Plested 27, J Baldwin 12.

Banbury Central B 42 (0), Adderbury 113 (6) (Banbury Central skips first): J Pickering 15, C Skidmore 19; T McKenna 3, P Gladden 44; M Leather 7, D Sharpe 24; R Cox 17, T Clarke 26.

Headington B 59 (2), Thame 64 (4) (Headington B skips first): M Kershaw 21, K Calcutt 12; S Gould 10,L Clanfield 25; C Whitehead 17, G Penn 10; R Edwards 11, J Timms 17.

Division 4

Oxford University Press 54 (1), West Oxford 80 (5) (OUP skips first): P Tweddle 15, G Richardson 23; G Giles 14, A Blackburn 18; D Barlow 7, J Parker 26; R Cann 18, C Sherwood 13.

Woodstock 65 (1), South Oxford B 70 (5) (Woodstock skips first): B Clarke 14, J Guest 14; S Hopkins 19, D Lyne 19; T Stevens 20, D Portman 23; P Shipton 12, J Cope 14.

Chadlington 68 (5), Bicester 59 (1) (Chadlington skips first): P Madeley 15, T King 11; A Hobbs 21, P Sansome 15; P Radbone 13, M Graves 22; C Smart 19, K Taylor 11.