Oxford City took a giant stride towards maintaining their Ladies' Division 1 3-Pair title with a convincing 7-2 win over North Oxford.

Both sides went into the match with a 100 per cent record, but the reigning champions proved too strong in all departments for North.

City had the game won before the final round of rubbers - and merely used the last matches to drill home their superiority.

Oxford Sports are now the chief rivals to City's crown after they thumped sorry Abingdon 8 - .

Sports entertain City in the final match of the season on September 4 in what looks like being a title decider.

Esther Symmonds and Barbara Gibbins led the way for City, winning all three rubbers at first pair.

Joan Smith and Karen Last claimed two-and-a-half at No 2, while Tamsin Langrishe and Jo Love collected one-and-a-half.

For North Oxford, third pair Mary Joyner and Julia Brown claimed one-and-a-half rubbers, their sole victory coming with a tight three-set triumph over Langrishe and Love in the final match of the afternoon.

Oxford Sports showed no mercy to Abingdon, winning six sets 6-0.

Alex and Beth Simmons dropped just four games at No 1 pair, with Cressida Henderson and Karey Coltart losing ten at second couple.

Dawn Torgersen and Katheryn Schutterlin claimed the only half for Abingdon, winning the opening set of their match against Jane Westell and Cara Hogben.

Cholsey and Woodstock fought out an exciting 4 -4 draw.

All three Woodstock pairs beat Cholsey's third couple, but the home side's top two pairs salvaged a point.

Gina Liverton and Charlotte Turner won two-and-a-half, with second pair Carmella Liverton and Anne Stanley winning two.

In Division 2, Oxford Sports B ensured a good day for the club with a 5 -3 victory over Thame.

This despite two-and-a-half wins for Thame's first pair of Fiona Pidgeon and Ros Suter.

Bicester were too strong for Witney, winning their match 7-2.

Nicki Bracewell and Kim Buffham completed a clean sweep at top pair, with Carol Roughton and Julia Murnaghan the sole Witney pair to win a rubber.

RESULTS

Ladies' Div 1: Oxford City v North Oxford, Cholsey 4 , Woodstock 4 ; Oxford Sports 8 , Abingdon . Div 2: Thame 3 , Oxford Sports B 5 ; Bicester 7, Witney 2; Cholsey B 2 , Goring 6 . Div 3: Banbury 7, North Oxford D 2, Wychwood 4, Woodstock C 5.

Men's Div 1: North Oxford B , North Oxford 8 . Div 3: Woodstock B 5, Witney B 4.