NEW boys South Oxford A almost shocked defending Division 1 champions Banbury Central A in the opening round of the Oxford & District League, sponsored by Yarnton Nurseries.

The promoted side came close to winning the match 5-1, but Banbury were saved with the final wood, which saw the visitors finish 79½-79 to snatch a draw.

Witney are the early leaders after taking five points from a 85-74 home win over Shiplake.

Headington A also got away to a good start with a 93-84 victory at home to Carterton as they looked determined to make up for a poor 2013 by their standards.

Division 2 saw Banbury Chestnuts and Charlbury take maximum points from their home matches.

Chestnuts were the only centurions of the night, coming out on top on all four rinks to hammer Chipping Norton 100-45.

Charlbury resumed their rivalry with Thame and came out comfortable 91-78 winners.

Bicester also enjoyed success on home soil, taking 4½ points as they beat Watlington 82-58.

Adderbury won the battle of the teams promoted into Division 3.

A 99-52 success at Banbury Central B suggested they could be a force to be reckoned with again this season.

Kidlington narrowly got the better of visitors Witney Town 80-76, while it was also tight at Blackbird Leys, who saw off Headington B 84-78.

The division’s other match went to Oxford Bowls Club, who recorded a 81-60 success at home to City & County B.

Oxford University Press were the highest scorers in Division 4, winning 94-69 at Florence Park.

The other three matches went to the home sides.

Hanborough won the closest contest 78-73 against West Oxford, while Chadlington saw off Bloxham 81¾-61 and Woodstock beat Oxford B 89-63.

RESULTS

Division 1

South Oxford A 79 (3pts), Banbury Central A 79½ (3) (South Oxford skips first): R Claridge 21, J Tee 13½; N Keen 23, W Campion 22; D Tiball 10, M Andrew 26; K Clarke 25, I Whelpton 18.

Headington A 93 (4½), Carterton 84 (1½) (Headington skips first): H Watts 25, S Richens 14; M Charlett 25, D Clanfield 18; N Rae-Welsh 17, R Clanfield 26; I Snowdon 26, P Sharman 26.

Witney Mills 85 (5), Shiplake 74 (1) (Witney skips first): J Mott 23, J Bland 16; A Wiggins 24, B Evans 16; R Barnett 25, G Kennedy 20; C Weller 14, T Beaumont 22.

Division 2

Bicester 82 (4½), Watlington 58½ (1½) (Bicester skips first): P Hooley 19, R Gilkes 19; K Taylor 21, S Gilkes 13½, A Hall 27, D Byers 10; A King 15, G Hooker 16.

Banbury Chestnuts 100 (6), Chipping Norton 45 (0) (Chestnuts skips first): A Northcote 31, D Barnes 8; J Denbow 19, K Field 13; K Buckle 22, P Rathbone 12; A Wase 28, S Davis 12.

Charlbury 91 (6), Thame 78 (0) (Charlbury skips first): M Fraser 25, R Slater 18; D Dix 19, L Westcott 17; J Stevens 22, A Twinn 19; D Cooper 25, C Billingham 24.

Division 3

Banbury Central B 52 (0), Adderbury 99 (6) (Banbury skips first): R Wilkins 12, J Dancer 23; J Pickering 14, P Gladden 21; R Cox 10, C Skidmore 33; G Gerry 16, T Ely 22.

Blackbird Leys 84 (5), Headington B 78 (1) (Blackbird Leys skips first): J Baldwin 21, A Peters 18; R Brain 29, S Gould 15; M Mansell 13, R Edwards 27; S O’Keefe 21, M Kershaw 18.

Kidlington 80 (4), Witney Town 76 (2) (Kidlington skips first): M Brain 16, V Comley 25; C Cox 29, T Ludlow 11; J O’Shea 12, P Demczak 26; J Hardie 23, B Bloomfield 14.

Oxford Bowls Club 81 (5), City & County B 60 (1) (Oxford skips first): G Watts 22, C Pollard 9; L Vaughan 13, T Gripe 16; P Ilott 19, N Wharton 18; M Bracewell 27, G Kerr 17.

Division 4

Chadlington 81¾ (4), Bloxham 61 (2) (Chadlington skips first): R Arthur 27, R Hopkins 6; P Madeley 14¼, T Gardner 19; M Brewster 13½, J Stephens 21; C Smart 27, D Morse 15.

Florence Park 69 (1), Oxford University Press 94 (5) (Florence Park skips first): C Dawson 13, H Hyde 30; P Booth 16, T Cox 24; I Gray 8, M Kirby 31; J Simmons 32, G Jordan 9.

Hanborough 78 (4), West Oxford 73 (2) (Hanborough skips first): K Williams 19, F Webster 19; G Haynes 18, E Fry 18; G Thompson 25, M Alderson 19; M Oliver 16, B Murphy 17.

Woodstock 89 (4), South Oxford B 63 (2) (Woodstock skips first): J Stone 27, E Lamb 3; R Wright 29, P Woodville 15; R Collett 15, V De Paauw 23; B Clarke 18, D Portman 22.