WITNEY Swifts continued their perfect start to the season and stole a march on their rivals as they eased to a seven-wicket victory at home to Wootton & Boars Hill on Saturday.

With much of the league programme badly affected by the heavy rain, Swifts were too strong for Wootton after restricting them to 158-6 in a game reduced to 33 overs per side.

George Seacole took 3-25, before top-scoring with 55 as Swifts cruised in at 160-3.

Chipping Norton lost by nine runs at home to Westcott in a game of 35 overs a side.

Tanveer Hussain (60no) and Najam Ur Rehman (41) helped Westcott to 176-3.

Chippy got close, thanks largely to 77 from Dave Brassett, but Rehman finished with figures of 4-28 as the hosts finished just short on 167-9.

Chadlington fell to a five-wicket defeat to Wantage on the target score method.

Chadlington posted 172-6, James Stoddart hitting 58 and Matthew North 51.

Wantage’s target was set at 121 off a reduced 25 overs, which they reached in the 18th over, Barry Martin hitting 73 not out.

Eynsham’s match at Clifton Hampden was abandoned after the visitors had reduced Clifton to 51-4 chasing a target of 169 for victory.

Hanborough went top of Division 3 following a seven-wicket win over visitors Kidlington.

After restricting Kidlington to 127-4 in 27 overs, Matthew Neilsen (40no) and Aston Leach (36no) led Hanborough to 130-3.

Just one game reached a conclusion in Division 4, where Bampton were beaten by six wickets on the target score method at Dorchester.

JJ Cooper took 3-36 as Bampton were restricted to 179-9, Adrian Harris top-scoring with 68.

The heavens opened at tea, meaning Dorchester were set a revised target of 121 off 25 overs.

And thanks to Adrian Redhead’s 58 not out and 35 not out from Ali Line, they reached 121-4 for victory.

In Division 5, Robbie Nicholson was at it again as he led Combe to a nine-wicket win at Hailey & West Witney.

The home side were restricted to 103-8 as Dave Gardner took 4-38 and Julian Chaundy 3-20.

Nicholson, who smashed a double ton last week, struck 72 not out to lead Combe to 104-1.

In Division 7, Eynsham 2nd picked up their first win as they dodged the heavy showers.

Star of the show in their home clash with Yarnton & Cowley was Stephen Cooper, who took 6-26 as Yarnton were bowled out for just 85 chasing Eynsham’s 131-7.

In Division 8 North, Chadlington 2nd ran out seven-wicket winners at home to Hook Norton 2nd.

Veteran Glenn McCallum took 3-15 to help restrict Hooky to 111-7, before Liam Gilbert struck 43 not out as Chadlington eased in at 112-3.

l THE OCA were in mourning over the weekend following the news of the death of Stonesfield chairman Andy Crawford.