Reigning champions Banbury Central A opened the defence of their Oxford & District League title, sponsored by Yarnton Nurseries Garden Centre, with a 79-70 victory at last year's runners-up Headington.

Central's consistency across the rinks saw them edge out the hosts for a 4-1 triumph points.

Elsewhere in Division 1, promoted Banbury Chestnuts started their season with a good 90-74 victory over Oxford City & County A, while Carterton pipped Thame 82-76.

In Division 4, the two new teams started with victories.

Watlington ran out 89-61 winners at Morris Motors, with Henry Franklin and Bob Gilkes picking up good wins.

Headington B also made an excellent debut with an 88-63 success at OUP.

Russell Edwards skipped the highest win of the day with a 33-8 victory.

RESULTS Division 1 Headington A 70 (1.5), Banbury Central A 79 (4.5): N Rae-Welsh 19, L Campion 27; H Watts 16, M Sykes 16; C Nicoll 18, J Tee 22; M Charlett 17, J McGeough 14.

Banbury Chestnuts 90 (4.5), Oxford City & County A 74 (1.5): D Munslow 20, R Gaskins 16; A Northcote 21, P Comley 21; D Bryant 19, C Earl 22; B Neal 30, M Petersen 15.

Carterton 82 (3.5), Thame 76 (2.5): D Clanfield 26, J Timms 13; P Sharman 23, G Penn 23; R Clanfield 12, R Slater 18; G Walker 21, M Dale 22.

Division 2 West Witney 74 (1.5), Cotswold 80 (4.5): H Williams 19, M East 19; G Coggon 18, M Brain 22; K Alder 13, T Cox 16; M Hitchcox 24, N Pearman 23.

Blackbird Leys 70 (2), Bicester 80 (4): H Payne 23, K Taylor 16; S O'Keefe 14, M Workman 24; G Brown 19, A Hall 16; R Brain 14, P Hooley 24.

Kidlington 87 (5), South Oxford 71 (1): B Horseman 33, G Young 20; P Fitzgerald 21, L Buckett 16; D Snell 18, M Keen 16; J O'Shea 15, A Simpson 19.

Division 3 Banbury Central B 71 (1.5), Witney Mills 81 (4.5): R Cox 24, K Dunsby 20; B Collins 12, R Barnett 19; T Mould 20, J Mott 20; R Havard 15, C Fisher 22.

Hanborough 65 (0), Bloxham 89 (6): C Oliver 13, J Lucas 19; I Stallwood 18, J Crawley 24; G Thompson 15, A Round 24; B Lynch 19, J Hay 22.

Witney Town 61 (1), Woodstock 76 (5): F Dawson 15, C Williams 18; M Jones 14, B Clarke 19; B Buckingham 17, R Collett 16; V Comley 15, T Summers 23.

Oxford City & County B 79 (4.5), Rover 65 (1.5): R Hammond 18, K Hall 22; N Satchell 23, A Louch 17; M Charlett 22, M Bracewell 10; G Swan 16, J Warland 16.

Division 4 OUP 63 (1), Headington B 88 (5): G Cooper 31, C Woodhouse 14; J Butler 10, P Sargeant 23; K Whitehead 8, R Edwards 33; P Tweddle 14, T Murphy 18.

Charlbury 79 (4.5), Chadlington 69 (1.5): M Smith 21, C Smart 21; B Tomlins 16, R Burden 18; D Dix 20, R Arthur 19; J Stevens 22, P Heath 11.

West Oxford 113 (6), Florence Park 47 (0): P Moffat 25, M Ford 16; D Claridge 24, I Gray 10; M Alderson 33, M Mansell 10; F Buck 31, A Thomas 11.

Morris Motors 61 (1), Watlington 89 (5): B Tucker 9, B Gilkes 22; B Harris 20, S Gilkes 21; P Booth 20, K Lane 18; C Thatcher 12, H Franklin 28.