BOWLS: Leaders Headington given big scare by Banbury Central

The defending Oxford & District League champions had dropped just half a point going into the match.

But a thrilling game went right down to the final end of the final game.

The rink of Headington skip Nick Rae-Walsh trailed by ten shots, but crucially reduced the deficit to give their side an aggregate victory after both teams triumphed on two rinks.

That saw the table-toppers extend their lead with second-placed Carterton held to a 3-3 draw by Witney Mills in an unusual result which saw both clubs score an identical amount of shots.

At the other end of the table, Witney Town already look doomed after losing 5-1 at fellow strugglers Watlington.

With Division 2 leaders City & County not in action, Adderbury had the chance to top the table at the midway point of the season.

However, they missed the opportunity when losing 4½-1½ at Headington B.

Despite leading on three rinks at the halfway mark and six shots to the good overall, Colin Whitehead's rink changed the course of the match for relegation-threatened Headington, picking up seven shots on the 15th end as they hit back for victory.

South Oxford moved back into the promotion race after a 5-1 victory over Charlbury.

Bicester lead the way in Division 3 after a 5-1 win at home to Banbury Central B.

Shiplake are second despite being on the end of a 6-0 whitewash at Hanborough, while Thame moved third after an impressive 6-0 thrashing of Chadlington.

Burford moved to within a point of the Division 4 summit following a 5-1 home win over Blackbird Leys.

They closed right in on Woodstock who were held to a 3-3 draw at Oxford University Press.

The final game saw West Oxford beat South Oxford B 4-2.

RESULTS

Division 1

Watlington 78 (5), Witney Town 57 (1) (Watlington skips first): A Kemish 25, A Scholan 12; A Twinn 13, P Warner 23; S Watts 16, P Demczak 13; G Hooker 24, B Bloomfield 9.

Witney Mills 62 (3), Carterton 62 (3) (Witney skips first): A Wiggins 11, T Jupp 15; C Weller 10, G Walker 11; L Days 23, P Sharman 20; P Robbins 18, Rob Clanfield 16.

Banbury Central A 65 (2), Headington A 69 (4) (Banbury skips first): K McNeil 12, M Charlett 21; M Andrew 10, H Watts 23; W Campion 23, J King 12; N Galletly 20, N Rae-Welsh 13.

Division 2

Headington B 73 (4½), Adderbury 71 (1½) (Headington skips first): P Arundel 17, T Ely 24; S Gould 17, P Gladden 15; C Whitehead 18, D Sharpe 18; R Edwards 21, T Clarke 14.

Kidlington 62 (4), Chipping Norton 59 (2) (Kidlington skips first): M Peterson 12, T Sealey 15; C Cox 11, A Fleming 21; J Feeley 20, P Hickman 11; P McGrath 19, K Field 12;

South Oxford A 82 (5), Charlbury 57 (1) (S Oxford skips first): D Tidball 18, M Smith 13; M Keen 27, E Abbey 17; V De Paauw 16, E Pitts 19; K Mobley 21, D Cooper 8.

Division 3

Hanborough 78 (6), Shiplake 52 (0) (Hanborough skips first): G Haynes 22, R Webb 14; N Williams 21, D Webb 10; M Oliver 19, J Bland 17; K Williams 16, G Kennedy 11.

Thame 103 (6), Chadlington 46 (0) (Thame skips first): R Jenner 30, P Madeley 11; B Giles 32, P Radbone 11; K Calcutt 17, J Horsey 11; C Shannon 24, C Smart 13.

Bicester 90 (5), Banbury Central B 52 (1) (Bicester skips first): K Taylor 25, R Cox 12; M Graves 17, E Trinder 18; P Hooley 23, T McKenna 10; P Sansome 25, E Creed 12.

Division 4

Oxford University Press 67 (3), Woodstock 67 (3) (Oxford skips first): D Barlow 27, B Clarke 13; G Jordan 15, T Stevens 20; P Tweddle 17, D Francis 11; R Cann 8, S Hopkins 23.

West Oxford 71 (4), South Oxford B 59 (2) (West skips first): G Richardson 15, D Lyne 16; A Blackburn 16, D Bye 20; M Bostock 25, J Cope 13; J Parker 15, K Clarke 10.

Burford 68 (5), Blackbird Leys 53¼ (1) (Burford skips first): D Lafford 19, D Buckwell 13; D Mustor 19, R Painton 11; S Gould 7, J Baldwin 34; B Parker 23, M Mansell 5¼.