Oxfordshire 3rd missed out on promotion in Division 5D of the Inter-County Championships by the narrowest possible margin, despite beating the Isle of Wight 9-6 at Ventor.

Needing a 10-5 win to go up, Oxon lost three matches by agonising 21-19 scorelines.

They opened with four singles wins from Dave Andrew, Jonathan Campbell, Amber Wing and Alex Lewington.

Andy Purrott and Jon Campbell took their two men's doubles to halve this discipline, but just one women's doubles came their way.

Requiring all three mixed, they won two. Purrott was unbeaten with his three matches as was Andrew in his two.

Devon took the title by just one point.

Oxfordshire's first team suffered their third 8-7 defeat of the season when they met Hertfordshire 2nd in Division 1C of the Inter-County Championships.

Chris Raw and Chris Gibbins started with two men's singles wins, while Dave Soanes and Dave Buckingham took two men's doubles, but there was only one win from their women.

Trailing 7-5 at the start of the three mixed doubles, Oxon required one rubber for a bonus point.

Oxon gained two successes as Buckingham remained undefeated with a win with Sarah Torgersen, while Raw came through at No 3 with Emma Crammond, but overall victory just eluded them.

Hertfordshire 2nd have already won the division.

With Pete Browning and Lee Gerrard leading the way, Oxford continued their unbeaten run in Men's Division 2 of the Oxford and District League.

This time the score was a narrow 5-4 over Evenlode A, Oxford now firm favourites to make their first ever foray into Division 1. Simone Finkmann and Charlotte Moss led Oxford University to a 5-4 win over Evenlode in women's Division 2 while Fiona Nixey and Ian Weatherburn were the anchor pair as Long Crendon won the odd rubber in nine against Headington B in mixed Division 4.

OXFORD LEAGUE RESULTS.

Men's Division 1: 1North Abingdon A 5, Gosford Hill A 4. Division 2: Evenlode A B, Headington B 1; Evenlode A 4, Oxford A 5; Windrush B 4, Abingdon B 5; Windrush B 4, Headington B 5. Division 3: Oxford University 6, The Park B 3; The Park B 6, Windrush C 3; Oxford University 6, Didcot Power Station B 3; Leys B 3, Windrush B 6.

Women's Division 1: North Abingdon 7, Gosford Hill 2; Gosford Hill 7, Oxford Brookes 2; Leys 2, Windrush 7. Division 2: Oxford University 5, Evenlode 4; Evenlode 0, Headington 9; Headington 6, Didcot Power Station 3.

Mixed Division 1: Headington A 7, Gosford Hill A 2; North Abingdon 4, Windrush A 5; Windrush A 5, Headington A 4. Division 2: Evenlode B 0, Oxford Brookes 9; Leys A 4, Abingdon B 5; Evenlode A 4, Wantage 5; Oxford Brookes 5, Evenlode B 4; Didcot Power Station B 7. Division 4: Long Crendon 4, Berinsfield 5; Long Crendon 5, Headington B 4; Esporta 2, Long Crendon 7.

In a dramatic reversal of form, Evenlode A suffered their first loss of the season in Division 2 of the Wallingford Three Disciplines League.

Having won 180-43 at home to Windrush in January, Evenlode travelled to the Witney club and lost 180-42. Headington B and Harwell B were evenly matched until the final mixed doubles when Harwell's Brendan Bean and Claire Shepherd took two 15-9 games from Shay Kabone and Rachel Hill to emerge 154-147 winners.

The top two teams met in Division 1 of the Wallingford and District Mixed League. Didcot Power triumphed over Windrush when James Mignanelli and Jo Mellor won the decider.