Reigning champions Banbury Central A opened the defence of their Oxford & District League title with a 5-1 victory at Headington A.

Headington, many people’s favourites for the Yarnton Nurseries Garden Centre-sponsored competition this year, battled hard.

But despite a win for Paul Mabbutt’s rink and a strong show from Mark Charlett’s three, Central prevailed with good wins from captain Mark Sykes and Les Campion.

A superb last bowl from skip Ray Gaskins secured a one-shot victory for Oxford City & County A over Carterton.

In Division 2, Banbury Chestnuts brushed aside Cotswold 6-0, with Dave Munslow winning 38-14.

Kidlington captain Dave Snell clinched a 4.5-1.5 win at Charlbury in Division 3.

Bob Gilkes’s 19-shot win was not enough for Watlington as a great last wood from Charlie Fisher gave Witney Mills a 5-1 victory.

Witney Town beat Oxford University Press 5-1 in Division 4, boasting the day’s highest winning skip in Mike Jones, whose rink won 34-5.

RESULTS

Division 1

Headington A 63.25 (1pt), Banbury Central A 98 (5) (Headington skips first): H Watts 15, L Campion 31; P Mabbutt 22, P Norton 19; I Snowdon 9, M Sykes 24; M Charlett 23.25 (25% deducted), J Tee 24.

Bicester 78 (4), West Witney 74 (2) (Bicester skips first): L Lewis 19, M Hitchcox 23; A Hall 22; T Prew 17; M Workman 22, H Williams 14; K Taylor 15, K Alder 20.

Oxford City & County A 71 (4), Carterton 70 (2) (City & County skips first): A Ley 10, G Walker 21; R Gaskins 28, R Clanfield 11; M Petersen 13, P Sharman 21; P Comley 20, D Clanfield 17.

Division 2

Banbury Chestnuts 106 (6), Cotswold 54 (0) (Banbury Chestnuts skips first): A Northcote 27, M East 15; B Neal 17, J Stowie 11; D Munslow 38, T Cox 14; D Bryant 24, S Cooper 14.

Blackbird Leys 63 (1.5), Oxford City & County B 75 (4.5) (Blackbird Leys skips first): R Brain 21, G Kerr 16; G Roper 11, N Satchell 20; H Payne 13, O Sharif 21; S O’Keefe 18, B Slatter 18.

Thame 60 (0.5), South Oxford 91 (5.5) (Thame skips first): G Lazaruk 20, L Buckett 20; A Jeffrey 16, M Holland 20; L Canfield 16, M Keen 28; R Slater 8, J Hall 23.

Division 3

Banbury Central B 74 (2), Bloxham 74 (4) (Banbury Central skips first): R Cox 13, R Hopkins 22; R Havard 17, J Viggers 21; B Collins 26, A Round 8; T Mold 18, A Jones 23.

Charlbury 73 (1.5), Kidlington 92 (4.5) (Charlbury skips first): J Gray 21, J O’Shea 21; CR Skidmore 12, D Snell 32; CI Skidmore 18, P McGrath 19; J Stevens 22, P Watts 20.

Rover 88 (5), Chipping Norton 57 (1) (Rover skips first): K Hall 20, J Benfield 16; M Bracewell 14, B Jarvisw 19; A Peters 26; T Sealey 12; P Barker 28, P Rathbone 10.

Witney Mills 79 (5), Watlington 77 (1) (Witney Mills skips first): C Fisher 22, S Gilkes 20; K Dunsby 22, C Evans 11; A Auger 26, H Franklin 18; R Barnett 9, R Gilkes 28.

Division 4

Chadlington 71 (1), West Oxford 76 (5) (Chadlington skips first): A Hobbs 17, M Alderson 21; C Smart 11, P Moffat 22; R Arthur 27, B Stone 14; P Radbone 16, F Buck 19.

Florence Park 62 (1.5), Headington B 85 (4.5) (Florence Park skips first): T Thomas 10, T Murphy 30; I Gray 21, P Sargeant 21; M Ford 19, M Kershaw 14; J Simmons 12, R Edwards 20.

Oxford University Press 55 (1), Witney Town 93 (5) (OUP skips first): J Butler 17, V Comley 24; J Taylor 5, M Jones 34; P Tweddle 11, B Buckingham 17; P Cornish 16, F Dawson 24.