Vikings E booked their place in the second round of the Aubrey Hughes Handicap Shield as they edged past Bicester D.

Bicester’s Lewis Sumner, Keith Holliday and Stan Harding were awarded a head-start of 185 points, but Eamonn Deeley and Anne and Paul Borrowdale stuck to their task to emerge winners by 11 points.

Forum I’s match against clubmates Forum E was almost as close.

The E team’s Paul Whitford, Lorne Lone and Thomas Bowden had to make up 175 points and were on course to do that.

But a 21-20, 21-11 victory by Paul Wood over Whitford, and good support from John Benford and Brian Sandison, saw the I team turn the tie in their favour to win by 16 points.

Gladiators B eased past Forum G by 22 points.

Gladiator’s Kevin Giles, Paul Knight and Dave Gardner proved too strong for John Duncalfe, Alasdair McPherson and Anthony Howgego.

Forum F used their 105 point head-start and some exceptional performances to beat Forum D by 27 points.

Paul Woodward, Matthew Simmonds and Laurel Christer played well to defeat Terry Ruane, Bob Hallett and Chris Smith.

RESULTS 1st round: Vikings C 386, Begbroke (+85) 434; Forum G (+105) 390, Gladiators B 412; Bicester A 414, Bicester C (+175) 368; Forum D 384, Forum F (+105) 411; Forum E 402, Forum I (+175) 418; Bicester D (+185) 399, Vikings E 410; Bicester B w/o Vikings B; Forum J w/o Forum A.