RUTHERFORD opened up a four-point lead at the top of Oxford & District League Division 1 with a 10-0 thumping of Brookes.

Second-placed British Rail lost ground on their rivals, despite a 7-3 triumph at Forum D.

James Lovelock’s maximum helped the title challengers to victory, but Kiarash Shaddel, Richard Taylor and Ross Henderson secured a crucial consolation point.

Meanwhile, two-man Forum B brushed aside Bicester A 7-3 with full houses for Pascal Larousse and Pawel Zukowski.

In Division 2, Simon Cox bagged a treble as runaway leaders Vikings A beat Gladiators 7-3.

Forum F are 15 points behind, despite David Moulton’s maximum inspiring a 6-4 victory at bottom side Holton A.

Forum I extended their lead at the top of Division 3 with a convincing 10-0 win over Bicester D.

They are six points ahead of Forum H, who managed a 7-3 triumph over Vikings B thanks to John Duncalfe and Maurice Chambers.

RESULTS

Div 1: RAL A 10 (L Waddup 3, C Lansley 3, M Davies 3), Brookes 0; Forum D 3, British Rail 7 (J Lovelock 3); Bicester A 3, Forum B 7 (P Larousse 3, P Zukowski 3).

Div 2: Holton A 4, Forum F 6 (D Moulton 3);

Gladiators 3, Vikings A 7 (S Cox 3); Begbroke 5, Forum E 5 (R Hambridge 3); Witney A 6 (G Plowman 3), RAL B 4.

Div 3: Forum I 10 (M Spragg 3, D Fishman 3, A Fairbairn 3), Bicester D 0; Holton B 8 (P Guest 3), Holton D 2; Bicester C 3, Witney B 7 (R Zdziech 3, A Reeve 3); Vikings B 3, Forum H 7 (J Duncalfe 3, M Chambers 3); Community A 3, Holton C 7 (P Nicholson 3).