KARL Bushell’s absence from the RAL A side could not stop them from cementing their place at the top of Didcot & District League Division 1 with an imperious 10-0 win over Upton B.

The victory maintained the leaders’ three-point gap over second-placed Marlborough C, who maintained their own title aspirations with a comfortable 9-1 win over RAL B.

Julie Lawrence and Sam Ricks both scored maximums as the title challengers eased to victory.

Marlborough A’s title hopes appear to be fading, however, following their disappointing 9-1 loss to Marlborough B, with James Lovelock and Neil Cartwright both taking maximums to help their side to victory.

Moreton A edged past Drayton A 6-4, with a maximum for Charlie Lane, although several other matches went to five games.

Division 2 leaders Marlborough E were narrow 6-4 victors over Moreton B thanks to a maximum from Rob F Jones.

Stuart Pringle also claimed a maximum to help Abingdon A to a 6-4 win over RAL C.

Fifth-placed Sutton B kept touch with the division’s pacesetters, keeping the gap to the top down to just six points with a 6-4 win over Drayton D, Lucian Danaila’s maximum proving decisive.

Division 3’s runaway leaders, Wallingford A, suffered a shock 8-2 defeat to Drayton D.

Richard Giblin’s three proved the rock on which the victory was founded.

RESULTS

Div 1: Letcombe A 3, Marlborough B 7 (P Haycock 3, J Lovelock 3); Drayton A 4, Moreton A 6 (C Lane 3); Marlborough B 9 (N Cartwright 3, J Lovelock 3), Marlborough A 1; RAL B 1, Marlborough C 9 (S Ricks 3, J Lawrence 3); RAL A 10 (C Lansley 3, N Hurford 3, C Smith 3), Upton B 0; Upton A 3, Letcombe A 7 (M Haddrell 3, R Taylor 3).

Div 2: Moreton B 4, Marlborough E 6 (R Jones 3); Drayton B 4, Sutton B 6 (L Danaila 3); Abingdon A 6 (S Pringle 3), RAL C 4.

Div 3: Drayton D 8 (R Giblin 3), Wallingford A 2; Abingdon B 8 (R Cowan 3, R Vethanayagam 3), RAL D 2; Letcombe B 3 (G Batt-Rawden 3), Moreton C 7.

Div 4: Abingdon C 8 (A Rolfe 3, J Shearer 3), Drayton E 2; Moreton D 4, Abingdon C 6 (A Rolfe 3).

Div 5: Grove B 2, Drayton F 8 (G Stephenson 3); Drayton G 3, Sandford 7.