LAST year’s champions British Rail suffered a shock loss in the first week of the Oxford & District League season.

Andy Misseldine recorded a superb maximum as Bicester A beat the defending champions 6-4 in the opening Division 1 match of the campaign.

Dave Ralls chipped in with two wins as British Rail slipped to defeat.

Forum D are the early pacesetters, Nick Langley winning all of his matches in a 7-3 victory over Vikings A.

Forum C also hit the ground running as they beat Rutherford 6-4.

Youngsters John Ho and Kiarash Shaddel both recorded maximums in a stunning win.

In Division 2, Forum F are the early front-runners after seeing off Gladiators B 8-2.

Three wins apiece from Ed Lush and Matt Isherwood sealed the success, while Sergio Castillo beat John Talbot for Gladiators’ only victory.

Joe Rolls inspired Holton A to a 7-3 win over Forum G, while Christelle Rajapaksa starred in Bicester B’s 7-3 triumph over Begbroke.

Rob Cleese, Huw Morgan and Serogo Tabuni gave Vikings B a 6-4 victory over Forum E.

Division 3 sees a three-way tie at the top after a trio of 8-2 successes.

Holton B beat Vikings C, thanks to a treble by substitute Charles Wallis.

Jack Smith starred as Forum I saw off Holton D, while Martin Taylor and Muriel Hooker helped Bicester E defeat two-man Bicester C.

Charles Wallis again won all three as his Holton C side beat Forum J 7-3.

Bicester D beat Vikings D 7-3 thanks to three for Tom Brennan.

RESULTS

Division 1: RAL 4, Forum C 6 (J Ho 3, K Shaddel 3); Bicester A 6 (A Misseldine 3), British Rail 4; Vikings A 3, Forum D 7 (N Langley 3).

Division 2: Forum G 3, Holton A 7 (J Rolls 3); Forum F 8 (E Lush 3, M Isherwood 3), Gladiators B 2; Vikings B 6, Forum E 4; Begbroke 3, Bicester B 7 (C Rajapaksa 3).

Division 3: Holton C 7 (C Wallis 3), Forum J 3; Bicester D 7 (T Brennan 3), Vikings D 3; Holton B 8 (C Wallis 3), Vikings C 2; Forum I 8 (J Smith 3), Holton D 2; Bicester E 8 (M Taylor 3, M Hooker 3), Bicester C 2.