THE Oxford representative team retained the Inter League Shield in a repeat of last year’s final.

They beat the Wychwood League 2-0 at the General Food Sports Club in Banbury to hold on to the title.

Oxford did not have it all their own way and had to fight hard to get past Yarnton in the first round.

After taking the opening leg 20-16, they were pegged back in the next 22-25.

Yarnton set 23 in the deciding leg, but Oxford rose to the occasion and Kevin Baker’s six took them to 28 with a man to spare.

It set up a semi-final against Kidlington, who set 24 after losing the first leg.

Oxford’s top half contributed 14 dolls, but their charge then stuttered.

Brian Reidy blobbed and although Kevin Giles hit back with five dolls, Baker could only add one.

It left anchor man Kevin Stuart, whose four tied the scores and sent the leg to three sticks.

Kidlington set 11 in the

shoot-out, which proved a straightforward total to overhaul after Oxford’s first two players Billy Trinder (2) and Andy Beal (3) made inroads.

Wychwood’s team had overcome Bampton in the first round.

Mark Revill clanged off a six in a 27-19 opening leg success.

Bampton hit back with 27, but Wychwood eased to victory in the second leg, with anchor man Keith Powell needing just one doll to win the tie.

That set up a tight clash in the last four with Banbury, who were edged out 2-1.

It led to a repeat of the final 12 months ago, but there was no revenge for Wychwood.

Stuart needed just one throw to seal a 26-25 victory in the first leg.

And Oxford’s total of 27 in the next leg was enough to secure the shield for a second successive year.