OXFORDSHIRE took a huge step towards qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Middleton Cup with victory over Hampshire.

Their thrilling 125-120 success secured a 16-6 points triumph and sees them top the South Group Section A table with two wins out of two.

Although the match was halved 3-3, Oxfordshire’s superior points tally saw them take victory.

They face Isle of Wight – who have been well beaten in both their matches – in their final group game at the start of July where victory will see them through to the last eight.

Meanwhile, Banbury Central fought back for a notable victory in the Oxford & District League.

With the eagerly-anticipated clash of the two dominant Division 1 sides, Carterton and Headington, washed out by the rain, it gave others the chance to gain the headlines.

After nine ends of their clash with West Witney, things looked in the balance for Central.

Kevin Alder’s rink were 16-0 ahead, with the other matches neck-and-neck.

But some superb final ends from the Banbury side saw them run out 5-1 winners.

RESULTS

Division 1

Witney Town 66 (2), Witney Mills 70 (4) (Witney skips first): P Warner 20, A Wiggins 21; P Demczak 10, P Robbins 18; B Bloomfield 20, C Weller 16; A Scholan 16, L Days 15.

West Witney 65 (1), Banbury Central A 71 (5) (West skips first): S Cooper 17, K McNeil 21; K Alder 21, M Andrew 8; D Leighfield 12, W Campion 19; P Skidmore 15, N Galletly 23.

Division 2

Chipping Norton 76 (6), Charlbury 58 (0) (Chipping Norton skips first): A Fleming 16, Mark East 15; T Sealey 19, E Abbey 12; M Acock 24, D Dix 15; K Field 17, E Pitts 16.

Adderbury 75 (5), Kidlington 51 (1) (Adderbury skips first): C Skidmore 16, P McGrath 13; P Gladden 13, J Feeley 17; T Clarke 18, C Cox 10; D Sharpe 28, M Peterson 11.

City & County A 68 (4), South Oxford A 63 (2) (City skips first): O Shariff 23, K Mobley 12; J Drage 13, D Tidball 20; A Ley 20, V De Paauw 16; C Lewis 12, M Keen 15.

Division 3

Banbury Central B 74 (5½), Hanborough 52 (½) (Banbury skips first): T McKenna 14, M Oliver 10; E Creed 14, N Williams 14; E Trinder 26, G Thompson 11; R Cox 20, G Haynes 17.

Bloxham 56 (2), Thame 64 (4) (Bloxham skips first): D Morse 12, R Jenner 13; T Gardner 22, K Calcutt 14; J Lucas 14, C Shannon 13; A Miles 8, B Giles 24.

Shiplake 74 (5), Chadlington 55¼ (1) (Shiplake skips first): J Bland 15, R Arthur 9; B Lambourne 22, P Radbone 17; G Kennedy 15, P Madeley 17¼; D Webb 22, C Smart 12.

Division 4

South Oxford B 52 (1), City & County B 87 (5) (S Oxford skips first): J Cope 9, M Plested 23; D Bye 10, B Heavens 27; D Lyne 10, K Buckingham 22; K Clarke 23, T Gripe 15.

Blackbird Leys 69 (4), Oxford University Press 53¾ (2) (B Leys skips first): D Buckwell 14, J Curtis 18; P Smith 16, D Barlow 12¾; M Mansell 12, G Jordan 16; J Baldwin 27, R Cann 7.

West Oxford 69 (4), Burford 51 (2) (West skips first): G Richardson 29, B Parker 6; M Bostock 21, J Hurren 8; J Parker 11, D Lafford 15; A Blackburn 8, T Stacey 22.