Oxford City and Bicester both enjoyed 9-0 whitewashes in Mixed Division 1 of the 3-Pair League.

City brushed aside the challenge of Woodstock B, while Bicester proved too strong for North Oxford B.

City's first pair of Nilay Hazell and Esther Symmonds looked like being in for a tough afternoon when their first set of the day against Woodstock's third pair of Paul Penney and June Lancefield was settled by a tie-break.

But it was very much plain sailing after that as they won four of the remaining five sets 6-0, dropping just two games in the other.

Eamonn Deeley and Jo Love had just one scare at second pair, winning a second-set tie-break against Roger Selby and Shirley Morley.

No 3 pair Nick Hughes and Karen Last produced a consistent performance, winning every set either 6-3 or 6-4.

Things were not quite so easy for Bicester, whose third pair of Rob Pink and Becky Garrett were made to battle hard to secure their side's maximum.

After the previous eight rubbers had all been one-sided affairs a 6-4, 6-4 win for Pink and Garrett over Dave Rooney and Jo Tolson the closest North Oxford came to picking up a point the ninth and final game was a thriller.

Rochelle Webster and Paul Wood took a narrow lead when they won the first set 7-5.

But Pink and Garrett fought back and levelled when they won a second-set tie-break.

And it was the same story in the deciding set, when the Bicester pair held their nerve to run out 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 win- ners.

Oxford City's first pair of Barbara Gibbins and Symmonds won all three rubbers as their side beat Banbury West End 6-3 in Ladies Division 1.

Something had to give in the final rubber of the day as Gibbins and Symmonds took on opposite numbers Karen Taylor and Claire Abbott.

Although City had already won the match, both pairs went into the clash with 100 per cent records on the day.

Gibbins and Symmonds took first blood when they won the opening set 6-4, but Taylor and Abbott hit back 6-2 to level.

However, the City duo came through 6-3 in the decider to finish with the unbeaten record.

Tamsin Langrishe and Jess Stacey won two rubbers for City at third pair to help their side to victory.