North Oxford continued their relentless march towards a fifth consecutive OLTA Wilson Inter-Club League Men's Division 1 3-Pair title with an 8- demolition of Oxford City.

It maintains their 100 per cent record, and makes them red-hot favourites to claim a tenth crown in the last 12 years.

Jon Maskens and Joe Cartledge led the way at No 1 pair, with Paul Butcher and Christian Petersen also returning a clean sweep at second pair.

Robin Ashby and Julian Pollard dropped the only points, halving their match with Eamonn Deeley and Shozeb Halder.

City played former Banbury West End duo Russell Boulton and John Spratt at first pair, but to no avail.

Witney are the only other top-flight team not to have lost a match so far this season as they edged to a 5-3 win over Cholsey.

Dave Hilliard and Pete Kemp won two-and-a-half rubbers at second pair, with No 1 pair Chris Gregory and Bruce Jobson winning two.

Cholsey remain in relegation trouble, despite fielding a strong side.

Tom Greenland and Ross Stickland won two rubbers at third pair, Pat Clayphan and Geoffrey Deeley claimed one-and-a-half at No 2, but their top pair of Matthew Watkins and Angus Watson lost all three.

In Ladies Division 1, Oxford City stayed top with a comfortable 8-1 win over Banbury West End.

West End's first pair of Katie Shires and Clare Abbot picked up two halves, but their team- mates had no answer to the City line-up of Karen Last, Jo Love, Barbara Gibbins, Joan Smith, Esther Symmonds and Tamsin Langrish.

In Division 2, Bicester beat Oxford Sports B 5-3, with their first pair of Nicki Bracewell and Kim Buffham unbeaten.

In the 2-Pair League, Abingdon were knocked off the top of Ladies' Division 1 after suffering a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Faringdon A.

Benson take over at the top after a 2-1 win over Thame, but Wantage are just a point behind with a match in hand after they beat Kingston Bagpuize 2-1, with Frances Wassell and Carole Smythe in top form.

RESULTS

3-PAIR LEAGUE

Ladies' Div 1: Oxford City 8, Banbury West End 1. Div 2: Oxford Sports B 3, Bicester 5.

Men's Div 1: Oxford City , North Oxford 8; Cholsey 3, Witney 5. Div 2: Goring 7, Oxford City B 2; North Oxford C 1, Woodstock 7. Div 3: Woodstock B 8, North Oxford E . Div 4: Brackley 3, Witney C 6.

2-PAIR LEAGUE

Ladies' Div 1: Banbury West End 2, Faringdon B 1; Abingdon 1, Faringdon 2; Thame 1, Benson 2; Kingston Bagpuize 1, Wantage 2. Div 2: Cholsey 3, Wantage B 1; Witney 4, Benson B 0. Div 3: Charlbury 3, Banbury 1; Kings Sutton 3, Watlington B . Div 4: Deddington 1, Oxford City B 3; Benson C 4, Abingdon B 0 (con); Norham Gardens 0, Banbury B 4. Div 5: Colston 1, Southfield B 3; Oxford Sports B 2, Witney B 1. Div 6: Appleton 2, Kingston Bagpuize B 2; Abingdon C 2, Henley 2.

Men's Div 1: Norham Gardens 1, Kingston Bagpuize 3. Div 2: Cholsey B 1, Benson B 2. Div 3: Southfield 4, Colston B 0. Div 5: Portcullis B 2, Bicester 2.