OPENING skirmishes in the newly formed North Cotswold Primary Schools Football League have left Bourton-on-the-Water and Shipston at the head of the standings.

The idea to form the league came from Graeme Davidson, head teacher at Mickleton in an attempt to offer young players a more structured and competitive environment to show off their soccer skills.

There's now a great deal more purpose to the matches and members schools are all guaranteed eight games when some were only able to arrange a couple during previous years.

This, and the obvious incentive to be crowned champions, has mean the league has been warmly greeted by players, parents and teachers.

P W D L F A Pts

Bourton 5 5 0 0 37 9 15

Shipston 6 5 0 1 34 11 15

Temple Guiting 5 4 0 1 22 17 12

St David's 5 3 0 2 17 27 9

Mickleton 6 1 1 4 8 15 4

St James 4 1 1 2 5 3 4

St Catharine's 5 1 0 4 11 25 3

Blockley 4 0 1 3 1 9 1

Stow 4 0 1 3 1 12 1