Carterton launched the defence of their title with a 5-1 win at West Witney in Division 1 of the Kennington Bowls Specialists Oxford & District League.

The champions made a great start to the new campaign, finishing the match strongly to record a comfortable victory.

Charlbury and Chipping Norton were evenly matched in their Division 3 game, with the home side losing by just one shot. Although the scores were close on every rink, Charlbury came away with only the one point.

It was also close in the game between Blackbird Leys and Headington in Division 2, the home side winning by just one shot and 4-2 on points.

In Division 4, Morris Motors recorded the only 6-0 victory of the day, beating Begbroke, who failed to put out a full side.

RESULTS

Division 1

Thame 75 (3), Rover 70 (3): J Green 19, P Comley 21; G Lazuruk 16, P Stroudley 19; R Slater 14, C Earl 17; R Hesketh 26, F Cox 13.

Bicester 74 (2), Banbury Central 81 (3): K Davies 22, P Norton 22; K Taylor 12, K McNeil 28; P Hooley 18, L Campion 15; C Stephens 22, J Tee 16.

West Witney 60 (1), Carterton 76 (5): M Hitchcox 10, A Wise 21; D Hall 15, S Richens 19; H Williams 19, P Justin 15; P Latter 16, R Clanfield 21.

Division 2

West Oxford 68 (2), Banbury Chestnuts 72 (4): F Buck 16, E Hilton 17; R Claridge 19, D Bryant 16; P Moffatt 14, A Northcote 24; R Mackie 19, D Munslow 15.

Blackbird Leys 86 (4), Headington 85 (2): R Brain 25, B Foster 23; T Jackman 19, R Pyniger 24; M Gleeson 26, D Crane 14; H Payne 16, C Harris 24.

City & County 96 (5), South Oxford 62 (1): L Lacey 22, N Woodward 18; M Philpott 23 G Young 25; B Slatter 28, G Joiner 11; H Futter 23, B Moss 8.

Division 3

Kidlington 71 (5), Witney Mills 67 (1): J Denton 16, R Barnett 21; A Ryder 18, G Kearsey 15; D Snell 19, L Days 17; P Fitzgerald 18, J Mott 14.

East Oxford 86 (4), Cotswold 70 (2): N Rae 20, J Powell 23; L Eltringham 17, M Brain 20; L Vaughan 27, M East 14; G Kerr 22, J Winterbourne 13.

Charlbury 80 (1), Chipping Norton 81 (5): J Stevens 27, S Jones 22; R Thornton 16, K Field 20; K Fawdrey 16, J Benfield 17; J Grey 21, A Martin 22.

Division 4

Witney Town 73 (4), OUP 68 (2): V Comley 16, A Rately 15; C Sparrowhawk 17, J Masters 23; B Buckingham 24, J Trinder 11; M King 16, J Butler 19.

Morris Motors 84 (6) Begbroke 49 (0): T Ward 18, G Phillips 10; P Gibson 21, F Cato 16; B Adams 26, T Lee 8; B Tucker 19, E Woodmore 15.

Hanborough 87 (4), Florence Park 65 (2): B Lynch 17, B Bonham 26; J Edwards 28, I Gray 9; G Busby 17, J Simmons 19; C Oliver 25, A Thomas 11.

*Oxfordshire went down 121-110 to Bedfordshire in their first away friendly of the season at Bedford Borough BC. Oxon were leading until the last two or three ends.

The visitors' top winning rink was Jim Goatham (skip), John Rees, Keith Clayton and Kevin Prior.