OXFORDSHIRE began their campaign on a high note when they defeated Northants 124-111 in their Middleton Cup trial at Kingsthorpe.

The rinks of skips Paul Sharman, David Leighfield, and Nick Rae-Welsh all won, while Ray Gaskins and Baden Sparkes – back after a year out with injury – both lost by one shot after being level after 20 ends.

The rink of Mark Sykes led by seven shots after ten ends, but collected only three more and went on to lose by seven.

This was a great start for Oxon, who fielded debutants Steve Witcombe, Jim Bland and Alan Carter.

Their second trial match is against Gloucestershire at Oxford City & County this Saturday.

Northants 111, Oxon 124

(Oxon rink scores)

S Witcombe, B Squires, P Comley, B Sparkes lost 25-24; S Watts, G Schwab, W Parker, P Sharman won 21-11; M Nash, K, Holloway, J King, N Rae-Welsh 20-19; J Bland, M Brain, K Alder, D Leighfield won 25-14; A Carter, T Prew, C Gilkes, R Gaskins lost 18-17; J Abercrombie, P Mabbutt, S Cooper, M Sykes lost 24-17.

OTHER RESULTS

BERKSHIRE KENNET LEAGUE

Island Bohemian 99 (12pts), Kingston Bagpuize & Southmoor 71 (2) (Island Bohemian skips first): P Cowen 15, S Fraser 24; J Widdows 27, G Prichard 17; T Bicknell 37, P Mortel 17; L Hillier 20, B Garside 13.

BERKSHIRE KENNET LV LEAGUE

Division 1

Kingston Bagpuize & Southmoor A 40 (0), Newbury A 50 (10) (KB&S skips first): C Le Tuffnell 14, T O’Neill 19; P Mortel 14, D Chivers 16; B Garside 12, J Brothers 15.

Division 3

Kingston Bagpuize & Southmoor B 55 (7), Abingdon B 51 (3) (KB&S skips first): A Holmes 18, R Daley 18; M Cox 20, M Tyrell 14; B Durrant 17, L Walman 19.

ASHLEY BAKER LEAGUE

Kingston Bagpuize & Southmoor 69 (10), Shrivenham 34 (0) (KB&S skips first): P Durrant 21, R Dixon 16; M Fuller 23, S Dudley 8; P Pearce 25, R Clarkson 10.

FRIENDLIES

Oxford University Press Mixed 89, Kingston Bagpuize & Southmoor 66 (OUP skips first): R Cann 14,M Fuller 16; G Lambourne 14, P Mortel 16; K Brown 16,P Pearce 12; S Cann 20, G Prichard 16; P Tweedle 25, B Garside 6.

Kingston Bagpuize & Southmoor Ladies 43 Didcot 58 (KB&S skips first): P Pearce 28, P Smith 16; L Garside 4, L Orlando 28; P Durrant 11, D Denton 14.

Harwell Mixed 74, Kingston Bagpuize & Southmoor 54 (KB&S skips first): M Fuller 15, K Saxel 16; P Pearce 11, P McKleary 26; B Durrant 17, J Ford 11; J Brown 11, P Peasons 21.