Oxfordshire were pushed all the way before recording an exciting 8-7 victory over Gloucestershire in their Inter-Counties Championship Division 1B match at Radley College.

Having trounced Gloucs 11-4 away already this season, Oxon must have anticipated another easy success.

But that was far from the case as the match was decided in the final rubber after Oxon, who had led 7-5, were caught at 7-7.

Oxford University's left-hander, Phil Linnard, then combined with Julie Bradbury to win 15-13, 15-7, both players completing the match with an unbeaten four wins each.

Oxon 2nd travelled to Lincoln, but lost 11-4 to a team they had beaten 9-6 in the opening match in Division 2B in October.

Chris Gibbins and Liz Burns had a hand in all four Oxon victories.

Oxon Over 50s reversed an early season 10-2 loss to Cheshire with a 7-5 home win at Radley College.

Judy McCairns remained unbeaten in four doubles - the women's doubles with Banbury's Sue Jelfs and the mixed with Bicester's Doug Wells.

Abingdon A have stepped up the pace in Division 2 of the Five Disciplines League and look set for a quick return to Division 1.

Their round 4 victory, by a maximum 150-65 over Banbury, puts them 66 points ahead of nearest rivals Feathers B (Banbury).

Dave Stepney, Callum Blair, Lisa Burden and Nicola Torgersen were Abingdon's quartet and they showed no mercy.

Evenlode B remain third despite being held to a rare low-scoring 96-96 draw by Magdalen Eynsham.

Eynshamtook the men's events with the loss of only 13 points in four games, Evenlode the women's by dropping just 11 points, including the fifth and deciding discipline 15-4, 15-1 through Beryl Richardson and Stella Bradshaw. Gosford Hill B lie fourth, their 137-94 win over Cramic Demag (Banbury) just enough to keep their noses in front.

Round 4 order: Abingdon A 589, Feather B 523, Evenlode B 474, Gosford Hill B 420, Redefield B 417, Magdalen Eynsham 397, Cramic Demag 351, Banbury 302.

Calum Blair and Judy McCairns were unstoppable as Abingdon A picked up a 7-2 win over Thame in Division 1 of the Oxford and District Mixed League.

Jeremy Carder and Linda Barton won Thame's points.

In Men's Division 2, North Abingdon's first two pairs, Dave Macklay and Mark Newman and Richard King and Martin Stacey, were unbeaten as Didcot Power Station were humbled 6-3.

Women's action saw Wantage's Caz Boorman and Wendy Ellis lead their team to an 8-1 win over North Abingdon in Division 1.

Park's Amy Gilder and Judith Ponsford and Rachel Tavener and Jackie Yeulet picked up their three as the team flew past Abingdon B 7-2.

OTHER RESULT

Women's Division 3: Didcot Power Station 8, Evenlode 1.