OXFORDSHIRE face a long wait before knowing if they have secured promotion, after their narrow win in Division 1 of the BDO Inter-Counties Championship at Bicester.

The hosts triumphed 19-17 over Dorset to go two points clear, having finished their league programme.

But they can still be overtaken for the two promotion spots.

The favourites are Essex, who need just 14 points from their final game against Surrey on May 19 & 20 to overtake Oxon.

If Northants beat Dorset on the same day, they will take the runners-up spot.

Oxon needed a big win over Dorset to put the pressure on their rivals, but scrambled home by only two points.

Oxon Ladies B lost 4-2, despite a fine display from Carol Smith, who averaged 19.69 in her victory.

The Men’s B team, led by Andrew Quinn, triumphed 7-5 to make the score 9-9 overnight.

On Sunday, Oxon Ladies lost 4-2 after trailing 3-0, Deta Hedman again leading the way with 21.57.

With Oxon now 13-11 behind, the Men’s A team stepped up to the mark and put in a great comeback.

Keith Bedding, man-of-the-match Preben Krabben (29.63) and Stephen Wright took the first three points.

Dorset hit back before Lee Russell, Neal Russell, Michael Kearns, Kevin Lowe and Geordie Grant recorded wins to seal an overall 19-17 triumph.

With three bonus points added for the victory, Oxon went top, but can now only sit and wait to see if they are returning to the top flight.