CAPTAIN Annie Gowing hailed Oxfordshire ladies’ “fantastic” performance in Midlands South Division County Match Week at The Worcestershire.

Oxfordshire had to settle for joint third with Warwickshire, a point behind winners Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire.

But Gowing said: “I feel that the actual result does not do the team justice as, for the first time, Oxon had played themselves into a position to contend for an overall win on the last day.

“It was a fantastic week, the team played with spirit and determination and I’m proud of them all.”

Oxon opened up with a 6-3 victory against Berkshire, with Abi Laker (Burford), who achieved her county colours, and Tilly Magill (Woburn) winning their foursomes clash.

Five singles wins came from Magill (4&3), Laura Watkins (Bicester, 2 holes), Laker (6&4), Lydia Fox (Studley Wood, 3&2) and Kate Evans (Frilford Heath, 1 hole).

Northants hammered Oxon 7-2 on the Tuesday, with only Laker (3&2) and Magill (2&1) victorious.

Oxfordshire bounced back to defeat Worcestershire & Herefordshire 6-3 on day three.

Magill and Sam Round (Cotswold Hills) won 4&3 in their foursomes clash, while Frilford duo Gowing and Evans were 2&1 victors Katherine O’Connor (Tadmarton Heath, 6&4), Watkins (6&5), Evans (4&3), and Laker (7&6) added singles victories.

Next up, Oxon edged out Warwickshire 5½-3½, with foursomes wins from O’Connor and Laker (2&1), plus Magill and Round (7&6).

Singles successes followed from Laker (6&4), O’Connor (3&2) and Gemma Clements (Studley Wood), with Round halving her match.

All this left Oxon in the hunt for a place at County Finals in September, but they closed with a 6½-2½ defeat to Buckinghamshire.

O’Connor and Round won a foursomes point (3&2), while only Round (7&6) and Clements, who halved, earned anything in the afternoon.

Oxon, for whom Justine Voss (Henley) also featured, finished on three points, with Northants, on four, pipping Bucks on countback.