Following their de-merger with Horspath, Oxford Cricket Club's 2nd XI will play in Division 2 of the Oxford Times Cherwell League this summer.

A league executive committee meeting last night also unanimously ruled that Oxford's 3rd XI will compete in Division 7 and agreed to the club's request to play a fourth team in Division 9.

The decision will come as a big disappointment to Horspath, who had been hoping that their first XI would get the vacant Division 2 berth.

Instead, their two teams must settle for life in Divisions 5 and 9. So both clubs will now have sides in the bottom division.

Oxford & Horspath CC finished last season with teams in Divisions 2, 5, 7 and 9.

Before the merger, Horspath had attained Division 3 and 7 status, while Oxford's 2nd and 3rd XIs were due to play in Divisions 6 and 9.