Carterton gained a 3.5-2.5 points win at Headington after their Division 1 top-of-the-table clash in the Oxford & District League, sponsored by Yarnton Nurseries, finished level on shots.

Howard Watts’s four, which included Oxon’s newest Middleton Cup recruit Dean May, got reigning champions Headington off to a great start with a 39-14 victory.

But Carterton battled hard for a win and a draw on the next rinks, leaving Robbie Clanfield and Headington captain Nick Rae-Welsh doing battle for the overall honours.

In a thrilling climax, Rae-Welsh, needing to run the jack back with the game’s final bowl, narrowly failed, leaving Clanfield a 22-11 winner and the shots all-square, which gave Carterton a points win.

Brian Horseman’s four led the way with a 31-13 success as Kidlington won 5-1 at Bicester.

Witney Mills went down 5.5-0.5 to Banbury Central A, for whom Mike Andrew, John Tee and Will Campion enjoyed wins.

Banbury Chestnuts chalked up their second full house of the season with a 6-0 win over local rivals Banbury Central B to go top of Division 2.

South Oxford A notched up a ton by thrashing early season strugglers Woodstock 100-58 for a 5.5-0.5 win.

Leaders Thame slipped to a 4-2 defeat at home to Bloxham in Division 3.

Headington B posted their first win with a 4-2 victory at West Oxford.

Terry Murphy’s four starred with a 34-8 success.

Witney Town recorded the second century of the evening by hammered Oxford University Press 101-53 for a 6-0 win in Division 4.

South Oxford B powered to a 4-2 home victory over leaders Charlbury, with Ken Bull skipping the highest rink score of the night with a 41-7 win.

RESULTS

Division 1

Bicester 76 (1), Kidlington 88 (5) (Bicester skips first): A Hall 22, J Hardie 23; P Hooley 13, B Horseman 31; K Taylor 15, M Brain 18; M Workman 26, D Snell 16.

Banbury Central A 88 (5.5), Witney Mills 54 (0.5) (Banbury Central skips first): W Campion 20, K Dunsby 14; M Andrew 27, A Auger 12; J Tee 26, C Oliver 13; L Campion 15, R Barnett 15.

Headington A 82 (2.5), Carterton 82 (3.5) (Headington skips first): H Watts 39, A Martin 14; C Nicoll 21, G Walker 21; M Charlett 11, B Sparkes 25; N Rae-Welsh 11, R Clanfield 22.

Division 2

Banbury Chestnuts 97 (6), Banbury Central B 72 (0) (Banbury Chestnuts skips first): B Neal 29, J Pickering 18; D Bryant 27, T McKenna 16; A Northcote 23, R Cox 21; D Munslow 18, R Havard 17.

West Witney 66 (1), Oxford City & County B 79 (5) (West Witney skips first): T Prew 17, B Slatter 20; H Williams 19, G Gray 18; M Hitchcox 17, G Kerr 18; K Alder 13, N Satchell 23.

Woodstock 58 (0.5), South Oxford A 100 (5.5) (Woodstock skips first): B Clarke 13, K Clarke 19; G Owen 15, P Simpson 27; M Morgan 12, M Keen 36; R Collett 18, R Claridge 18.

Division 3

Thame 76 (2), Bloxham 82 (4) (Thame skips first): L Canfield 15, D Molse 25; R Slater 24, A Jones 16; J Lester 12, T Gardner 23; L Westcott 25, J Crawley 18.

Watlington 80 (5), Rover 67 (1) (Watlington skips first): R Gilkes 19, P Ilott 24; G Hooker 19, M Bracewell 16; S Gilkes 24, R Plested 14; H Franklin 18, K Hall 13.

West Oxford 71 (2), Headington B 94 (4) (West Oxford skips first): F Buck 23, M Kershaw 22; M Alderson 8 T Murphy 34; A Rowe 21, R Edwards 18; M Bostock 19, S Gould 20.

Division 4

Chipping Norton 75 (5), Chadlington 58 (1) (Chipping Norton skips first): J King 24, R Arthur 8; D Barnes 16, P Radbone 12; P Robbins 18, A Hobbs 23; K Field 17, C Smart 15.

Florence Park 72 (3), Hanborough 72 (3) (Florence Park skips first): A Thomas 13, M Oliver 27; C Dawson 25, G Thompson 5; I Gray 21, J Edwards 17; A Barnet 13, G Haynes 23.

South Oxford B 87 (4), Charlbury 67 (2) (South Oxford skips first): B Edmundson 19, D Cooper 18; V De Paauw 15, D Dix 19; D Walker 12, R Smith 23; K Bull 41, J Stevens 7.

Witney Town 101 (6), Oxford University Press 53 (0) (Witney Town skips first): B Buckingham 26, J Taylor 17; B Bloomfield 23, J Stone 15; B Smith 27, P Cornish 10; M Jones 25, G Cooper 11.