Jeff Rigby, who missed last year through injury, made a stunning return with a maximum to help Bicester A to a 5-5 draw against British Rail in Division 1.

Nigel Taylor and John Barclay bagged two wins each for British Rail, the old Lord Nuffield A.

Gladiators A and Vikings B, who were promoted to the top flight last season, were given a rude awakening with thumping 9-1 defeats.

Vikings A brushed aside Gladiators, while St James A crushed Vikings B.

Begbroke A, who were also promoted last season, put up a better show, but still lost 6-4 to Forum B.

Rutherford got off to a flying start with a 7-3 victory over Forum A 7-3. Chris Lansley recorded a maximum and there was a brace of wins for Neil Hurford.

In Division 2, Vikings C battled past a spirited Bicester B 7-3, thanks to a maximum for Tony Wheeler.

Vikings E drew 5-5 against Haddenham A.

Mark Scott was the main force for Haddenham with a maximum, but Horatio Boedhiardjo and Michael Loizou for Vikings won two apiece and combined to take the doubles.

Vikings D lost 8-2 to Witney A, with new recruit Chris Wood doing most of the damage.

Simon Cox led the way with a maximum as Vikings G beat Gladiators C 8-2 in Division 3.

Robin Whitehouse and Paul Creasey were unbeaten for Begbroke B as they swept aside St James B 8-2. Laurel Christer notched a maximum to help Forum F overcome Bicester C 7-3. In Division 4, Holton crushed Bicester D 9-1. There were three wins each for Ewan Shearer and Brian Dobson, and two for Don Crawford.

RESULTS Div 1: Bicester A 5 (J Rigby 3), British Rail 5; Vikings B 1, St James A 9 (J Tustain 3, M Wilkins 3); Vikings A 9 (G Hayward 3, J Lovelock 3), Gladiators A 1; Forum B 6, Begbroke A 4; Forum A 3, RAL 7 (C Lansley 3).

Div 2: Vikings C 7 (T Wheeler 3), Bicester B 3; Witney A 8 (C Wood 3), Vikings D 2; Haddenham A 5 (M Scott 3), Vikings E 5.

Div 3: Bicester C 3, Forum F 7 (L Christer 3); Begbroke B 8 (R Whitehouse 3, P Creasey 3), St James B 2; Gladiators C 2, Vikings G 8 (S Cox 3).

Div 4: Holton 9 (E Shearer 3, B Dobson 3), Bicester D 1.