OXFORDSHIRE’S Middleton Cup hopes lie in tatters after they crash-ed to a second successive defeat with a 130-119 loss against Middlesex at Banbury Central.

Having lost their opening Group 2 Section B (South) game away to Hampshire, Oxon were desperate for a victory.

But it wasn’t to be as Middlesex triumphed to take the points 18-4.

Oxon won on just one rink, drew on two, but lost the other three.

They trailed 66-46 after ten ends, but fought back to reduce the deficit to 108-106 after 18 ends.

However, Oxon’s fate was effectively sealed when Howard Watts’s rink of Dean May, Nathan Lewis and Nick Rae-Welsh conceded seven shots on the 20th end against skip Pat Briscoe to go down 26-18.

Baden Sparkes’s four of Mike Petersen, the recalled Will Campion and Robbie Clanfield provided the only bright spot for Oxon with a 25-12 win over Ron LeLeux.

Mark Sykes’s rink of AJ Docherty, George Moon and Richard Redford let slip an early 11-shot lead to draw 25-25 with Paul Cater.

And Ian Snowdon’s side of Keith Holloway, Ian Henwood and Shaun Claridge shared the spoils 19-19 against Phil Sutcliffe.

Alan Prew’s four of debutant Bob Turley, Paul Sharman and Stuart Richens were pipped 23-22 by Norman Worley in an exciting finish.

But Mark Charlett’s rink of Lee Young, Barry Lambourne, who was late a replacement when Craig Nicoll had to pull out, and Jason King were hammered 25-10 by Perry Cook.

Oxfordshire 119 (4pts), Middlesex 130 (18): (Oxon skips first): B Sparkes 25; R LeLeux 12; M Charlett 10; P Cook 25; I Snowdon 19; P Sutcliffe 19; M Sykes 25; P Cater 25; H Watts 18; P Briscoe 26; A Prew 22; N Worley 23.

Oxon makes three changes for the clash against Sussex at Worthing Pavilion on Saturday.

Banbury Borough duo Greg Moon and John Philpott, who were unavailable last weekend, and Headington’s Craig Nicoll return to the side.

They replace Ian Snowdon, Lee Young and Jason King.

Oxfordshire: M Petersen, W Campion, Ro Clanfield, B Sparkes; J Philpott, B Lambourne, N Lewis, Gr Moon; K Holloway, I Henwood, S Claridge, M Charlett; AJ Docherty, Ge Moon, R Redford, M Sykes; D May, N Rae-Welsh, C Nicoll, H Watts; B Turley, P Sharman, S Richens, A Prew.

l OXFORDSHIRE slid out of the Balcombe Trophy with a heavy 50-29 defeat by Berkshire in a preliminary round tie at Thame.

Howard Watts’s four of John Philpott, Nick Rae-Welsh and Ian Snowdon were edged out 23-21 in the national inter-county double rink competition.

And Mark Sykes’s side of Keith Holloway, Paul Sharman and Mark Charlett slumped to a 27-8 defeat.

l OxON ran out 122-112 winners against Leicestershire in their friendly at Blaby.

Leicestershire 112, Oxfordshire 122 (Oxon rink scores): A Melville, P Brittin, J Lucas, J O’Shea lost 34-15; A Fleming, G Syme, M Jones, A Ley won 23-11; M Clarke, J Stephens, T Backer-Holst, R Bull won 18-15; D Lines, B Willoughby, T Gripe, D Bullock lost 21-18; S Tolhurst, A Smith, H Franklin, A Hall won 33-13; M Cameron, J Edwards, B Buckingham, T Beaumont lost 18-15.