Oxford City were forced to pull out all the stops to beat Cholsey 5-4 in Ladies Division 1 of the OLTA Wilson Inter-Club 3-Pair League.

There was nothing between the sides going into the final round of matches, but City, title winners in 2000 and possible outsiders for this season's crown, won two of the last three tense rubbers to claim the match.

However, the victors, despite fielding an under-strength team, know they are going to have to improve dramatically if they are to threaten Oxford Sports and North Oxford at the top of the league.

Cholsey led 2-1 after the first round, but City hit back to level at 3-3 with the final three rubbers to play.

Joan Smith and Andi Padbury put City into a narrow lead after beating Nicky Brown and Heather Harrison 6-4, 7-6, but the match could have gone either way with the other two rubbers both going to three sets.

Charlotte Turner and Tricia Diggle levelled the scores with a 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 triumph over Linda Wastie and Lynn Roberts.

But City's first pair of Liz Sim and Jess Stacey beat Tracey Hipkin and Lizzi Vernon 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 to complete their clean sweep and give their side the points.

North Oxford once again showed off their title credentials with a comprehensive 8- victory over Bicester, who could field only two pairs.

North's top two pairs of Gina Liverton and Artis Kakonge, as well as Maddy Mitchell and Mary Joyner, easily won their two rubbers, with Bicester's solitary half coming when Kim Hartley and Cherry Ingram took the first set against Kate Calnan and Emma Tolson.

In Division 2, Abingdon were grateful to their third pair of Liz Burns and Helen Asbury as they beat Woodstock B 5-4.

In a match which saw four of the six possible rubbers halved, Abingdon held a 4-2 advantage going into the final round.

However, Woodstock levelled matters when Nicola Casey and Jane Thomson beat Jackie Hummel and Alison Haynes 6-1, 6-2, and Jo Corfield and Mary Smith beat Dawn Torgersen and Pam Gordon by the same score- line.

But Burns and Asbury beat Pam Selby and Linda Molyneaux 6-2, 1-6, 6-0 to give Abingdon the victory they threatened.