BOWLS: Whitehead leads the way in victory charge

At one point the winning margin looked as if it would be greater, as Oxon led by 24 shots.

But Berkshire closed to within eight shots, before Oxon dug in to secure a 17-5 points victory.

Oxon won on three rinks, with Colin Whitehead, playing his first game in the competition for two years, leading the way as he skipped Mick Nash, Chris Weller and Alan Ley to a 26-16 win over Neil Gauld’s side.

Oxfordshire 133 (17pts), Berkshire 122 (5)

(Oxfordshire rinks first)

Rink 1: A Kemish, J Bland, S Cooper, J King 29, A Douglas, R Goodchild, A Symondson, T Searle 24.

Rink 2: S Watts, Re Clanfield, G Schwab, M Charlett 20, K Biles, P Jewkes, D Miles, D Hall 20.

Rink 3: R Green, M Hancock, Ge Moon, C Carpenter 19, S Fraser, E Orme, G Crisp, R Pyniger 21.

Rink 4: D Taylor, P Comley, M Andrew, A Prew 15, B Williams, R Kozlowski, D Parsonson, G Ballantyne 21.

Rink 5: M Nash, C Weller, A Ley, C Whitehead 26, M Linn, J Snook, D Holder, N Gauld 16.

Rink 6: R Pink, P Skidmore, K Alder, P Sharman 24, M Duggan, C Tarran, M Thornton, C Holliday 20.

OXFORDSHIRE Under 25s earned a place in the regional finals of the White Rose Trophy national double rink competition with a 38-32 win over Middlesex at Kidlington.

Oxon now face Surrey at Iver Heath on Sunday, June 15.

Oxfordshire U25 38, Middlesex U25 32

(Oxfordshire U25 rinks first)

Rink 1: Darren Wakeman, J Woodward, S Cooper, G Schwab 19, J Fisher, A Hill, P Wilsher, R Southgate 14.

Rink 2: S Watts, C Gilkes, D May, G May 19, R Hill, S Attridge, L Mascerenhas, C Cleaver 18.

Oxon Under 25s take on Berkshire in their Junior Home Counties League opener at Thatcham on Sunday (10.30am).

Oxfordshire Under 25s: D May (Headington), J Woodward (Kidlington), C Gilkes (Watlington), G May (Headington); S Watts (Watlington), D Swanson (Bicester), L Wilkinson (Banbury Central), G Schwab (Banbury Borough); Darren Wakeman (Carterton), R Full (Carterton), Dan Wakeman (Carterton), S Cooper (Banbury Central).