BURFORD secured the Shaw Gibbs Oxfordshire Foursomes League Section 1 title after a dramatic final day.

Their 2-1 victory at Tadmarton Heath, coupled with Frilford Heath’s 3-0 defeat to The Oxfordshire meant Burford finished top.

Burford’s hopes looked all over after they lost their penultimate match to Frilford to trail their title rivals by two points, but Frilford blew it as The Oxfordshire stayed up.

Victories in the first two matches at Tadmarton, who were relegated, ultimately proved enough for Burford.

John Wilks and Donny Henderson-Sowerby saw off Spencer Hallam and Jon Burman, while Bret Gaertner and Adam Salter beat Tadmarton’s Ian Manning and Chris Lowe, both matches finishing 2&1.

Guy Sambrook and Owen King earned a point for the hosts, defeating Burford’s Simon Hopkins and Dave Summers 4&3.

Needing a victory at The Oxfordshire to be sure of finishing top, Frilford suffered a whitewash, which saw their opponents avoid relegation by a point.

With rivals Burford beating Tadmarton 2-1, this meant Frilford would have needed just a draw to be crowned champions.

However, these hopes were blown out of the water when The Oxfordshire’s Jordan Garnish and Pete Green hammered Paul Richardson and Paul Dalton 6&5 in the opening match.

England international Craig Hinton and Andy Stubbs then went one better, battering Frilford’s Joe Richardson and Harry Collins 7&6.

Mark Shimmin and Dan Knight sealed a home cleansweep with a 2&1 victory over Sandy Bolton and Ben Patterson.

Studley Wood’s relegation to Section 2 was confirmed by their 2-1 defeat to Chipping Norton.

Drayton Park secured the third and final promotion spot from Section 2 following their 2-1 defeat of already-relegated Carswell.

Martin Roberts and Graham Shirley, plus Darren Morton and Andy Elmey secured the vital wins for Drayton Park.

Bicester, Drayton’s rivals for third spot, lost 2-1 at second-placed Buckingham.

Hadden Hill joined champions Oxford City in securing promotion from Section 3.

With Feldon Valley only able to defeat North Oxford 2-1, this meant they can no longer overhaul Hadden with one match to play.

Next season’s league will comprise three sections with up to seven teams in each.