Chipping Norton had a double reason to celebrate in the Shaw Gibbs Oxfordshire Foursomes League – despite losing their unbeaten record.

A 2-1 defeat at Shrivenham Park was enough to hand Chippy the Section 2 title and an immediate return to the top flight.

A day later they reached the Knockout Cup final with a 2-1 victory over Oxford City on Frilford Heath’s Red Course.

Chippy fielded a weaker team at Shrivenham where they needed only a point to clinch the title – and it paid off.

Debutant George Kay, 15, and 64-year-old Neil Thornton secured the vital victory with a 5&4 success over Lee Shurmer and Simon Fernandes.

Chippy will face either Frilford or Brailes in the knockout final at Mentmore on November 7 after beating City.

Andy Johnson and Stu Allen romped to a 7&6 victory over Craig Marriott and John Payne in match three.

The other two matches looked in City’s favour at the turn as they led by thee and two holes respectively.

But Matt Johnson and Danny Hicks turned their match around from two down with seven to play for a 3&1 win that sealed the spoils.

The Oxfordshire kept alive their hopes of pipping Tadmarton Heath for the Section 1 title after dominating Burford 3-0.

Burford battled well, but could not secure a point against a side whose combined handicaps totalled plus seven.

Tadmarton Heath still top the pile thanks to a 2-1 victory over Oxford City.

The crucial match saw Tadmarton’s Spencer Hallam and Chris Lowe battle back from one down with four holes to play to defeat Andy Hooker and Mark Hall 2&1.

Witney Lakes maintained their hopes of promotion from Section 4 after seeing off Kirtlington 2½-½.

Only a par five at the ninth hole gave Kirtlington’s Sam Chick and Lewis Fraser a vital half to stop Witney’s Ollie Tite and Richard Connor from completing the perfect 10&8 victory!

RESULTS

Knockout semi-final

Oxford City 1, Chipping Norton 2 (Oxford City first): A Hooker & M Hall lost to M Johnson & D Hicks 3&1, J Stone & J Humes bt S Kench & C Denton 1 hole, C Marriott & J Payne lost to A Johnson & S Allen 7&6.

Section 1

Burford 0 (0pts), The Oxfordshire 3 (4) (Burford first): S Hopkins & D Henderson-Sowerby lost to A Stubbs & B Cotton 2&1, J Wilks & T Dexter lost to C Hinton & M Foster 2&1, A Salter & B Gaertner lost to S Warren & P Green 2&1.

Tadmarton Heath 2 (3), Oxford City 1 (1) (Tadmarton Heath first): I Manning & L Robinson bt J Stone & J Humes 4&2, O King & G Sambrook lost to A Wootton & C Marriot 2&1, S Hallam & C Lowe bt A Hooker & M Hall 2&1.

Section 2

Shrivenham Park 2 (3), Chipping Norton 1 (1) (Shrivenham Park first): L Shurmer & S Fernandes lost to N Thornton & G Kay 5&4, T White & P Harris bt A Johnson & S Allen 5&4, T Chester & A Prestoe bt M Stanton & K Fisher 5&4.

Bicester 2½ (3½), North Oxford ½ (½) (Bicester first): S Hickman & D Smith bt Sh Smith & St Smith 3&2, M Horseman & S Curtis bt M Booth & J Tasker 1 hole, J Cooper & A McKeran halved with N Jones & C Powell.

Section 3

Buckingham 3 (4), Brailes 0 (0) (Buckingham first): S Clarke & P Skinner bt R Holmes & J Spenlee 1 hole, D Robertson & B Howell bt J Rose & M Abbotts 4&2, J Wyatt & D Thompson bt N Suckling & J Ashcroft 3&2.

Waterstock 1 (1), Drayton Park 2 (3) (Waterstock first): G Hazeldine & I Faruq bt A Elmey & G Shirley 1 hole, R Unwin & M Tordoff lost to B James & E Pepperell 5&3, D Hill & S Dawkins lost to A Griffiths & M Roberts 4&2.

Section 4

Witney Lakes 2½ (3½), Kirtlington ½ (½) (Witney Lakes first): A Aston & D Thomson halved with D Thomas & L Kennedy, S Putt & R Drummond bt T Bolton & L Davis 3&2, O Tite & R Connor bt S Chick & L Fraser 9&8.