North Oxford took a giant step towards the Ladies Division 1 3-Pair title in the Wilson OLTA League with a 5.5-3.5 victory over Oxford City.

It maintains their 100 per cent record at the top, but with only three sides in with a realistic chance of claiming the crown - Oxford Sports are the other - North are now firm favourites.

Kate Calnan and Louise Purton starred with three wins at first pair, while Mary Joyner and Julia Brown collected two-and-a-half at No 2.

Sports are also unbeaten, but have failed to play either of their two main rivals.

The beat Cholsey 6.5-2.5 to make it three wins from three.

Ciara Kelly and Millie Milsom, as well as Cressida Henderson and Jane Westell each won two-and-a-half rubbers.

Wychwood came close to pulling off a remarkable recovery at Banbury West End, but lost 5.5-3.5.

Trailing 4.5-1.5 before the final round, Wychwood won two of the three rubbers, but fell just short in the other.

In Men's Division 1, North Oxford have now lost two of their three matches after going down 5-4 to Abingdon.

Despite the presence of Rob Lossemore and Christian Peterson at top pair - they won all three rubbers - North did not have enough strength in depth.

With the scores level going into the last round, Martin Stern and Anders Markvadson put Abingdon ahead by beating Ben Donnelly and Christian Isbe.

Loosemore and Peterson drew North level with a 7-6, 3-6, 6-1 win over Jeremy Wood and David Soanes, but Ben Soanes and Pete Drewett saw off John Brewster and Glenn Hooton 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to clinch an exciting victory.

In the 2-Pair League, Tina Stirling and Sandra Stickland won a tense final-set tie-break to give Cholsey a 2.5-1.5 win over Esporta in Ladies Division 1.

Both final-round rubbers went to three sets, with Esporta's Lynda Sutton and Louise Ashby seeing off Tracy Hipkin and Jane Farquharson 6-2, 0-6, 6-4.

But Stirling and Strickford triumphed 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 to seal a narrow victory.

Portcullis and Wanatge drew 2-2.

Louisa Marshall and Carole Smythe rescued a point for Wantage with a 6-7, 6-2, 6-2 win over Doris Norman and Penny Lloyd in the deciding clash.

In Men's Division 1, Wantage were a class above Oxford City, romping to a 4-0 victory with Dave Saunders, Steve Pugh, Paul Homersham and Tim Ramikee in fine form.

3-PAIR RESULTS.

Ladies' Div 1: Banbury West End 5.5, Wychwood 3,5; North Oxford A 5.5, Oxford City 3.5; Oxford Sports 6.5, Cholsey 2.5.

Men's Div 1: Banbury 9, Woodstock 0; North Oxford 4, Abingdon 5.

Men's Div 2: Witney 9, Woodstock B 0; Goring 6, North Oxford B 3.

Men's Div 3: Wychwood 9, Witney B 0 (con).

2-PAIR RESULTS.

Ladies' Div 1: Kings Sutton 3.5, Oxford Sports 0.5; Watlington 4, Goring 0; Portcullis 2, Wantage 2; Faringdon 2.5, Kingston Bagpuize 1.5; Cholsey 2.5, Esporta 1.5. Div 2: Mapledurham B 4, Faringdon B 0; Abingdon 2, Benson 2; Banbury 0, Mapledurham 4. Div 3: Witney 1.5, Woodstock 2.5; Oxford City 1, Thame 3. Div 4: Northam Gardens 2, Benson B 2; Mapledurham C 1, Portcullis B 3. Div 5: Oxford City B 1.5, Deddington 2.5; Bicester B 4, Southfield B 0; Goring B 3.5, Witney B 0.5. Div 6: Hanney 4, Blewbury 0; Appleton 1.5, Thame B 2.5. Div 7: Woodstock B 1.5, Kingston Bagpuize B 2.5; Kingston Bagpuize C 0, Hambleden 4; North Oxford 0, Bicester 4; Wantage C 0, Goring C 4.

Men's Div 1: Wantage 5, Oxford City 0. Men's Div 2: Kingston Bagpuize 4, Banbury West End 0; Cholsey B 0, Esporta 4 (con). Men's Div 5: Farington B 0, Wheatley 4.

Oxford City moved to an unassailable position at the top of the Crossflight Oxfordshire National Club League Ladies Division with a 2-1 win over Thame.

Julie Wakefield beat Maria Lawton 6-4, 1-6, 10-5 (tie-break), with Jo Love seeing off Jo Kelly 7-5, 6-4.