Richard May and Rob Derbyshire were in top form to help last year's runners-up Cholsey A tearn a 5-3 win at promoted Woodstock A in Men's Division 1 of the Wilson OLTA 3-Pair League.

May and Derbyshire, playing at second pair, won all their rubbers, although Woodstock's Manoj and Sunil Gujral took them to a tie-break in one match.

Cholsey, pipped to the title by Banbury in 2007, are back in that same familiar position again, having dropped just one more point than their main rivals.

After their 8.5-0.5 trouncing by Cholsey at the start of the season, when they fielded a very youthful side, North Oxford bounced back with a 6.5-2.5 triumph against Oxford City.

The visitors had no answer to North Oxford's first pair, Jay Sexton and Christian Peterson, who won all six sets comfortably.

With Oxford Sports B scratching, Division 2 now has seven teams, including three from North Oxford.

North Oxford B overwhelmed Woodstock B 8-1, with the visitors forced to play with only two pairs.

North Oxford D were on the end of a similarly heavy 8-1 beating at Banbury B, where Marc Gilkes and Philip Field were unbeaten Earl table-toppers Portcullis were held for the first time this season in Ladies Division 1 of the 2-Pair League when they drew 2-2 at Kingston Bagpuize last weekend.

The Wallingford-based club had been the only team with a 100 per cent record, but Bagpuize's first pair, Liz Dixon and Gillian Pearson, rattled off four sets out of four to end that.

Cholsey, runners-up to Wantage in 2007, continued to make a strong start this summer. They eased to a comprehensive 3.5-0.5 win at Faringdon, with Tina and Sandra Stickland unbeaten, and dropping just one game to Faringdon's first pair, Carolyn Murphy and Alison Scott.

There was an exciting Division 1 battle between Bicester and Banbury West End, with both final matches going to a deciding third set.

In the end, Bicester's Cherry Ingram and Becki Garrett edged past Sue Jelfs and Nicky Scott 6-0, 4-6, 6-2, and that proved decisive as Bicester sneaked home 2.5-1.5.

Second pair Jackie Hummell and Joy Browning were the heroines for Abingdon as they drew 2-2 at Banbury A in Division 2, winning all four sets.

WILSON OLTA 3-PAIR LEAGUE.

Men's Division 1: North Oxford 6.5, Oxford City 2.5; Woodstock 3.5, Cholsey 5.5. Div 2: North Oxford B 8, Woodstock B 1; Banbury B 8, North Oxford D 1; North Oxford C 0, Witney 9. Div 3: Witney C 3.5, Banbury C 5.5.

2-PAIR LEAGUE.

Ladies' Div 1: Faringdon 0.5, Cholsey 3.5; K Bagpuize 2, Portcullis 2; Bicester 2.5, Banbury WE 1.5. Div 2: Banbury 2, Abingdon 2. Div 3: Mapledurham B 4, Cholsey B 0; Charlbury 0.5, Woodstock 3.5; Banbury B 1.5, Witney 2.5; Thame 3.5, Faringdon B 0.5. Div 4: Abingdon B 1.5, Kings Sutton B 2.5; David Lloyd 4, Benson B 0; Portcullis B 1, Southfield 3; Nor Gardens 1, Mapledurham C 3. Div 5: Southfield B 3, Goring B 1; Ox City B 1.5, David Lloyd B 2.5. Div 6: Ox Sports B 2, Appleton 2; Shiplake 2, Hanney 2; Blewbury 3, Charlbury B 1; Abingdon C 1, Thame B 3. Div 7: Hambleden 4, North Ox 0; K Bagpuize C 0, Woodstock B 4; Bicester C 1.5, Wantage C 2.5.

Men's Div 3: Banbury 2, Phyl Court 2. Div 4: Banbury 0.5, Nor Gardens 3.5. Div 5: Southf'd 2, Appleton 2. Div 6: Brackley B 1.5, Colston 2.5. Div 8: Thame C 2, Ox Sports C 2.