VICTORY in the deciding set earned Oxfordshire's men their first Group 6 success in County Week at Bude yesterday.

Captain Oliver Widdowson and Tom Greenland were the toast of the county squad, but it was the three wins by second pair Paul Butler and Iain MacDonald which ultimately proved the key factor.

Oxon face Bedfordshire today as they bid to avoid relegation for a fourth successive year.

Scores - Oxon 5, North Wales 4: O Widdowson and T Greenland won 7-5, 4-6, 6-4; won 7-6, 6-1; lost 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. P Butcher and I MacDonald won 7-6, 6-2; won 7-6, 6-1; won 7-6, 6-3. S Bamber and R Holliday lost 6-2, 6-4; lost 6-2, 6-4; lost 7-5, 2-6, 6-2. Oxfordshire women made it a hat-trick of wins in Group 3 by whitewashing Hampshire and Isle of Wight 9-0 at East Molesey, Surrey.

Caroline Billingham and Mandy Nall were again the county's star pairing as they maintained their record of not having dropped a set.

The pairings of Gillian Card and Imogen Wyatt, and Lucy Collinson and Cressida Henderson also won all three.

Oxon 9, Hampshire & Isle of Wight 0 (Oxon first): G Card & I Wyatt bt J Washington & C Aldridge 7-5, 0-6, 7-6; bt F Scott & J Wright 6-7, 6-2, 6-2; bt C Gunn & L Smith 6-3, 6-1. C Billingham & M Nall bt Washington & Aldridge 6-3, 6-2; bt Scott & Wright 6-3, 6-0; bt Gunn & Smith 6-2, 6-1. L Collinson & C Henderson bt Washington & Aldridge 7-6, 6-7, 6-3; bt Scott & Wright 3-6, 6-2, 6-1; bt Gunn & Smith 6-2, 6-3.

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