OXFORD Health & Racquets slipped to a 3-2 defeat at home to unbeaten Group A leaders Benz-Bavarian Duffield in the Premier League.
Despite the last-minute withdrawal of the Derbyshire club’s new world No 1, Nick Matthew, Oxford saw their opponents take a 2-0 lead with Victoria Bell and Mark Cairns suffering straight games defeats by Laura Hill and Laurence Delasaux respectively.
Oxford’s fate was sealed when long-serving Scott Handley was beaten in five games by Andy Whipp.
Spaniard Borja Golan, Oxford’s top-ranked player, swept aside Duffield’s newly-appointed No 1, Joel Hinds, in straight games, before Andrew Birks fought back from two games down to beat Chris Fuller 3-2.
With Nottingham beating University of Birmingham 3-2, Oxford slip to third place in the table.
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