Skipper Rupert Evans returned superb figures of 7-42 to clock up a half-century of wickets for the season and set Oxford & Horspath on the way to a comfortable five-wicket win at bottom club Wolverton Town in the Home Counties Premier League - Division 2 West on Saturday.

But his splendid haul, which took his tally for the campaign to 51, failed to keep Oxford's title hopes alive as leaders Henley beat Bletchley to be crowned champions.

After inserting Wolverton on a bowler-friendly wicket, Oxford had to wait to make the breakthrough until Ian Evans came on as first change and enticed opener Colin Kightley to hole out to his twin Philip at deep mid-off.

Wickets then fell at regular intervals as Rupert and Ian Evans (3-34) mesmerised the Wolverton batsmen with their off-spinners to bowl the basement boys out for 121 in 52 overs.

They were supported by some fine work in the field. Keith Mustow pouched two catches at forward short leg, and Philip Evans and debutant Chris Gray held skiers on the boundary.

But the pick was by former Oxfordshire star Simon Porter, playing his first league game for seven years, as he dived low to his left at slip to take a brialliant one-handed catch off Rupert Evans to dismiss Jake Yeo.

Mustow then set Oxford on the way to victory with a fluent 47 off 57 balls before he was caught at extra cover by Tasir Hussain off Mark Goldsmith with the score on 68.

His opening partner, Robbie Eason, brought up his 500 runs for the season when he reached 13 but it was left to Adam Krol and Gray to see Oxford home.

WOLVERTON TOWN

C Kightley c P Evans b I Evans: 9

S Pichowski c Mustow b R Evans: 17

A Hussain c Mustow b I Evans: 1

M Hayaat c Gray b R Evans: 26

J Yeo c Porter b R Evans: 17

T Murtaza lbw R Evans: 0

M Baker c I Evans b R Evans: 4

A Gosling not out: 23

M Goldsmith c P Evans b R Evans: 3

T Hussain lbw R Evans: 4

S Brandom lbw I Evans: 3

Extras: 14

Total (all out, 52 ovs): 121

Fall: 1-19, 2-21, 3-33, 4-76, 5-76, 6-77, 7-102, 8-108, 9-114.

Bowling: R Evans 26-6-42-7, P Evans 6-1-12-0, I Evans 13-4-34-3, Krol 7-1-22-0.

OXFORD & HORSPATH

K Mustow c Hussain b Goldsmith: 47

R Eason c Yeo b Murtaza: 27

I Evans lbw Hayaat: 0

P Jobson c Brandom b Hayaat: 11

A Krol not out: 23

S Porter lbw Murtaza: 0

C Gray not out: 10

Extras: 7

Total (5 wkts, 30.3 ovs): 125

Fall: 1-68, 2-69, 3-87, 4-103, 5-103.

Bowling: Goldsmith 12-2-37-1, Brandom 6-1-26-0, Hayaat 6.1-1-28-2, Hussain 3.3-0-24-0, Murtaza 2.5-1-5-2.

**Wolverton 6pts, Oxford & Horspath 25