BICESTER’S exciting run in the Oxford & District's Aubrey Hughes Handicap Shield competition finally came to an end with a narrow quarter-final defeat at home to Vikings B.

Conceding a start of 260 points, Vikings’ trio of Peter Dasher, Julian Lawton Smith and James Lovelock had to restrict Bicester’s John Chalcraft, John Benford and Stan Harding to single figures.

Division 4 strugglers Bicester were still in contention late on, but Vikings sealed their place in the semi-finals by seven points in the doubles.

Forum A were without Jeremy Flint, but still progressed to the next round, edging out Witney A by eight points.

Karl Bushell, Fraser Harris and substitute Lorne Lonie had to concede Witney a start of 200 points.

But Lonie rose to the occasion and beat Witney's Brian Jermyn, Glenn Bishop and Maurice Chambers.

This gave Bushell and Harris a chance of making up the 200 deficit between them.

They somehow got to the doubles, still needing 16 points but did just enough.

Forum J also made use of a super-sub against Vikings as regulars Darren Hunt and Tak-Wa Yau were joined by Marko Zhang.

Vikings’s team of Roel Dullens, Gareth Hayward and Mark Scott had to overcome a start of 240 points and were on course, until they came up against with Zhang.

Once Zhang defeated Hayward 21-10, 15-21, then Dullens 21-17, 18-21, it was game over and Forum romped home by 59 points.

Gladiators A’s team of David Ralls and Paul Reynolds and John Blanchard used their 105-point start and produced some inspired play to beat an out-of-form Forum B by 60 points.

4th round results: Bicester D (+260) 413, Vikings B 420; Gladiators A (+105) 453, Forum B 393; Forum J (+240) 463, Vikings A 404; Witney A (+200) 412, Forum A 420.

Div 1: K Bushell (Forum A) 34 wins out of 39; T Gorman (Bicester A) 34, 42; E Bicknell (Forum B) 29, 36; A Flint (Forum B) 28, 45; N Hurford (RAL) 27, 33; J Tustain (Saints) 27, 35; G Hayward (Vikings A) 26, 36; M Scott (Vikings A) 26, 39; J Sun (Vikings C) 25, 30; G Boone (Forum B) 24, 33.

Div 2: E Deeley (Vikings D) 36, 39; P Borrowdale (Vikings D) 31, 39; S Cox (Vikings E) 28, 33; K Giles (Gladiators B) 28, 39; R Henderson (Forum C) 26, 36; P Knight (Glad-iators B) 25, 39; M Aistrop (Vikings E) 23, 33; C Smith (Forum D) 23, 36; J Brown (Begbroke A) 19, 30; P Humphrey (Begbroke A) 19, 30; D Gardner (Gladiators B) 19, 30.

Div 3: L Lonie (Forum E) 34, 36; B Jermyn (Witney A) 31, 39; J Duncalfe (Forum E) 30, 39; J Marrs (Bicester C) 26, 36; K Rae (Vikings F) 25, 30; M Jobling (Bicester C) 24, 33; M Chambers (Witney A) 24, 36; A McPherson (Forum E) 20, 36; B Hallett (Forum G) 18, 21; M Jackson (Vikings F) 18, 39.

Div 4: R Whiteaway (Nielsens) 37, 39; P Guest (St James) 30, 39; B Ford (St James) 29, 39; D Hunt (Forum J) 26, 30; S Li (Forum J) 26, 30; R Mott (Haddenham B) 26, 36; L Fisher (Vikings H) 26, 42; J Allsworth (Witney B) 23, 27; J Joyce (Vikings H) 21, 39; P Juiwong (Forum H) 21, 39.