Phil Collier and Ben Patterson both made winning debuts as defending champions Frilford Heath closed the gap on Oxford City in Section 1.

Frilford's 2-1 home victory over City took them above Burford to second in the table and gives them a realistic title chance.

An Oxford win on Saturday would have left the leaders firmly in the driving seat, but a loss to either Ellesborough or The Oxfordshire could scupper their hopes.

Playing with Alex Gavrilovic, Collier helped Frilford to a 5 & 4 win against Adam Wootton and Mark Hall in match one.

The hosts then matched their fine start when Patterson and Ashley Walton beat Larry Holder and Andy Ellias by the same score.

Dave Summers and John Payne avoided a whitewash with a 2 & 1 victory over Ian Disney and Graham Hart.

The other match in the division saw hosts The Oxfordshire edged out Ellesborough 2-1.

Studley Wood won 2-1 at Magnolia Park to steal a march in the race for second spot in Section 2.

Magnolia began well when Rob Travis and Sean Borrett beat Nick Adby and Nigel Lawton 3 & 2.

But Studley hit back with Darren Drew and Simon Bullman easing past Lee French and Rob Purvey 5 & 3.

The decider saw Darren's brother Craig and Andy Sutton take the match with a 3 & 2 victory over Mark Stokes and Steve Cotter.

Bicester's hopes of promotion from Section 3 were dented when they lost 2-1 at Mentmore.

Matthew Bransby and James Futter picked up the visitors' only point with a 2 & 1 success against Alan Boswell and Paul Carter.

Witney Lakes moved up to third in Section 4 after a 2- home win against Carswell.

Gareth Woodward and Lloyd Allmond got Witney off to a flier with a 7 & 6 win over Eddie Campbell and Joe Hewer.

Michael Henderson and Dale Clack sealed the match with a one-hole win against Tom Lightfoot and Nigel Hunt in a much tighter contest.

RESULTS

Section 1

Frilford Heath 2 (3pts), Oxford City 1 (1): (Frilford Heath first) A Gavrilovic & P Collier bt A Wootton & M Hall 5 & 4, A Walton & B Patterson bt L Holder & A Ellias 5 & 4, I Disney & G Hart lost to D Summers & J Payne 2 & 1.

The Oxfordshire 2 (3), Ellesborough 1 (1): (The Oxfordshire first) A Stubbs & N Lucas bt S Invest & T Lawson 1 hole, C Hinton & J Archer bt R Crisp & J Mortimer 2 & 1, R Graham & R Longshaw lost to N Purdy & S Copley 3 & 1.

Section 2

Magnolia Park 1 (1), Studley Wood 2 (3): (Magnolia Park first) R Travis & S Borrett bt N Adby & N Lawton 3 & 2, L French & R Purvey lost to D Drew & S Bullman 5 & 3, M Stokes & S Cotter lost to C Drew & A Sutton 3 & 2.

Section 3

Mentmore 2 (3), Bicester 1 (1): (Mentmore first) S Lee & A Fairfield bt T Horn & S Hickman 7 & 5, C Tigg & B Harnett bt D Cronin & P Hickman 5 & 4, A Boswell & P Carter lost to M Bransby & J Futter 2 & 1.

Section 4

Witney Lakes 2 (3), Carswell (): (Witney Lakes first) G Woodward & L Allmond bt E Campbell & J Hewer 7 & 6, M Henderson & D Clack bt T Lightfoot & N Hunt 1 hole, R Brooks & J Stubbings halved with N Hoof & J Leeson.