Gosford Hill cut the gap on Five Disciplines League Division 1 leaders Redefield to 28 points with a 144-87 win over Windrush A in the penultimate round.

With Redefield being held to a 126-106 victory by Abingdon A, it sets up a thrilling finale next week when the top two go head-to-head to claim the title.

Despite dropping the opening game of the first rubber - the mixed - Gosford's team of Paul Casey, Jemma Noble, Dave Andrew and Heather Booth bounced back to run out convincing winners.

Things were not so easy for Redefield, however, as a strong Abingdon side made them fight all the way.

Callum Blair and Judy McCairns beat Nick Raven and Annie Richards 15-14, 15-9 in the opening mixed to put Abingdon in front, with McCairns and Hannah Wilkinson also claiming the doubles.

However, Abingdon's men could not provide enough support, and Redefield scraped home.

ROUND 7

Results: Gosford Hill B 148, Oxford University 73; Abingdon A 106, Redefield A 126; Radley and Oxford 148, Oxon Schools 89; Gosford Hill A 144, Windrush A 87, Feathers bye.

Order: Redefield A 980, Gosford Hill A 952, Radley and Oxford 851, Abingdon A 842, Feathers 799, Gosford Hill B 782, Windrush A 750, Oxon Schools 649, University 488.

Oxfordshire 2nd beat Devon 2nd 9-6 in Division 2D of the Inter-County Championships to keep alive their hopes of avoiding relegation.

Needing one mixed success to win the match, but two for a crucial bonus point, Oxon could manage only a solitary victory through the second pair of Jonathan Barrett and Heather Booth.

It means that they must now win their final match away to Berkshire 2nd on March 20.

RESULTS

Oxford & District League

Women's Division 1: Wantage 7, Gosford Hill 2. Div 2: Evenlode 8, Harwell 1; Windrush 6, Evenlode 3. Div 3: St Clements 0, Breakaway 9.

Men's Division 1: Abingdon A 8, Didcot Power 1; Redefield A 7, Abingdon A 2. Div 2: Berinsfield A 8, Redefield B 1. Div 3: Oxford A 6, Gosford Hill B 3; Oxford University 5, Windrush B 4; Didcot Power B 1, Oxford University 8; Oxford University 9, North Abingdon B 0; Abingdon C 6, Oxford A 3. Div 5: Leys C 3, Thame 6.

Mixed Division 1: North Abingdon 1, Redefield 8; Abingdon A 4, The Park A 5; North Abingdon A 4, The Park A 5; The Park A 3, Gosford Hill A 6. Division 2: Leys A 0, Windrush 0; Leys B 1, Oxford Brookes 8. Div 3: Gosford Hill C 8, Berinsfield 1. Division 4: Icknield 6, Leys C 3.0.