Headington A powered back to the top of the table with a comprehensive victory over Witney Mills in Division 1 of the Oxford & District Bowls League, sponsored by Yarnton Nurseries.

The champions recorded not only the highest score in the league this year, 129, but the highest rink score and winning margin too as captain Nick Rae-Welsh chalked up a huge 46-7 victory.

That bettered Carl Smart’s 43-6 score earlier in the season for Chadlington.

Previous leaders Carterton slipped up against City & County A with Paul Sharman’s four the only ones to score for the West Oxon side.

Chris Earl, Alan Ley and Paul Comley all gained points for C&C, who move away from the drop zone as a result of their win.

Given Banbury Central’s recent form, Kidlington’s 5-1 victory over them has to be seen as an upset, but the Exeter Close team won’t mind that as they too open up some distance between them and the bottom two.

Shiplake got back to winning ways in Division 2 with a solid home performance against City & County B, but still remain a couple of points behind Chestnuts, who did not play.

West Witney could not match Headington’s score but none-theless equalled the 72-shot winning margin as they trounced South Oxford A by 115-43.

Big wins for veterans Mike Hitchcox and Harry Williams, along with the slightly more youthful Kevin Alder, secured five points with Keith Clarke hitting back against Trevor Prew for a consolation.

Woodstock remain bottom after losing at Central B.

Watlington’s good season continues as they now top Division 3, winning on three out four rinks against Headington B, for whom captain Martin Kershaw recorded the only success.

Thame slip to second following their visit to in-form Rover and Blackbird Leys, with a home win over West Oxford, keep up the pressure in third.

Things are spreading out a little at the top of Division 4 as the leaders beat third and second beat fourth.

Witney Town stay a point ahead by virtue of reversing their opening-day result aga-inst Chadlington, while Charlbury enjoyed a ten-shot victory over Chipping Norton to stay second.

Results Division 1 Headington A 129 (6pts) Witney Mills 57 (0): N Rae-Welsh 46, K Dunsby 7; M Charlett 28, L Days 12; C Nicoll 22, R Barnett 20; P Mabbutt 33, C Oliver 18.

Kidlington 76 (5) Banbury Central A 68 (1): M Brain 20, W Campion 13; D Snell 16, L Campion 24; B Horseman 23, M Andrew 17; J Hardie 17, J Tee 14.

Oxford C&C A 84 (5) Carterton 71 (1) C Earl 26, R Clanfield 15; M Petersen 12, P Sharman 26; P Comley 18, A Martin 16; A Ley 28, G Walker 14.

Division 2 Banbury Central B 73 (4) Woodstock 66 (2): B Joiner 14, R Collett 19; R Cox 26, G Owen 11; R Havard 13, W Major 20; T McKenna 20, B Clarke 16.

Shiplake 95 (4) Oxford C&C 77 (2): J Bland 17, B Slatter 28; T Beaumont 25, N Satchell 15; B Evans 22, G Kerr 23; B Lambourne 31, K Croxon 11.

West Witney 115 (5), South Oxford 43 (1): M Hithcox 32, M Keen 4; H Williams 31, R Claridge 7; T Prew 15, K Clarke 21; K Alder 37, P Simpson 11.

Division 3 Blackbird Leys 83 (4) West Oxford 74 (2): S O’Keefe 28, F Buck 14; G Roper 14, A Rowe 21; M Major 20, M Alderson 21; R Brain 21, M Bostock 18.

Rover 87 (4) Thame 75 (2): J Warland 15, R Slater 19; M Bracewell 32, J Timms 14; A Peters 23, L Canfield 13; P Ilott 17, L Westcott 29.

Watlington 90 (5), Headington B 61 (1) G Hooker 13, M Kershaw 21; H Franklin 24, T Murphy 17;R Gilkes 29, S Gould 11; S Gilkes 24, R Edwards 12.

Division 4 Charlbury 75 (5) Chipping Norton 65 (1): D Dix 22, D Barnes 21; R Smith 16, P Rathbone 15; J Stevens 14, K Field 16; D Cooper 23, S Davis 13.

OUP 60 (1), Florence Park 88 (5): P Tweddle 26, P Booth 13; J Giles 9, F Dawson 30; P Cornish 6, A Thomas 20; G Cooper 19, I Gray 25.

South Oxford B 71 (1) Hanborough 78 (5): V DePaauw 14, G Haynes 24; T Hookham 16, G Thompson 17; P Woodville 23, P Brittin 13; K Bull 18, J Edwards 24.

Witney Town 82 (5), Chadlington 60 (1): B Buckingham 14, P Radbone 19; M Jones 27, C Smart 13; B Smith 23, A Hobbs 11; B Bloomfield 18, R Arthur 17.