Oxfordshire League Cup Final Report
Banbury Central A successfully defended the Oxfordshire League Cup with an impressive victory over first-time finalists Chipping Norton under the floodlights at Kidlington. Having earned their place in the final with a standout semi-final win over league champions Headington A, Banbury Central A entered the showpiece as clear favourites. Chipping Norton, meanwhile, arrived full of confidence after edging past Carterton by a single shot in a dramatic semi-final encounter to secure their maiden appearance in the competition's final.
From the opening ends, Banbury Central A demonstrated the form that had carried them through the tournament. Mark Sykes' rink once again made a flying start, establishing early control of the contest in much the same fashion as they had against Headington A in the previous round. While the other three rinks remained closely contested at the halfway stage, Sykes and his quartet had already built a commanding advantage of 22 shots. Chipping Norton battled admirably throughout the evening, with Paul Robbins' rink ensuring a fiercely competitive contest against their Central counterparts.
However, Banbury's overall strength and depth proved decisive. Rinks led by Will Campion and Shane Cooper gradually took control of their matches, extending Central's advantage and adding further weight to an increasingly dominant scoreline. The result secured back-to-back League Cup triumphs for Banbury Central A, capping another successful campaign for one of Oxfordshire's leading sides. Following the presentation, winning captain Will Campion paid tribute to both the opposition and the hosts.
"I'd like to congratulate Chipping Norton on reaching their first League Cup Final," said Campion. "I'd also like to thank Kidlington for being terrific hosts once again this evening and raise a toast to Chris Quainton, former sponsor of the Oxfordshire Bowls League, who sadly passed away earlier this year."
Banbury Central A, 85 - Chipping Norton 47
M Sykes 33, T Wright 16; W Campion 20, P Hickman 9; S Cooper 16, N Hancock 7; A Docherty 16, P Robbins 15.
