OXFORDSHIRE ladies have had a mixed start to their Middle England League programme.

They opened up with a 118-108 victory over Warwickshire at Welford on Avon, before being pipped 113-112 by Leicestershire at St Margaret’s, Birstall.

Oxon’s game against Leicestershire came down to the last end played by Angie Ives’s rink, who narrowly missed out on claiming victory.

Hazel Woodward’s team of Ann Spearman, Yvonne Hodkinson and Maggie Alderson recorded Oxon’s best victory with a 25-15 success.

Jody Flitter, a member of the Oxfordshire’s Under 31 team, picked up her county badge after helping the rink skipped by Donna Knight to a 17-13 victory.

Leicestershire 113 (11pts), Oxfordshire 112 (6) (Leics skips first): J Breham 15, H Woodward 25; L Green 13, D Knight 17; N Elmer 15, A Ives 22; E Barrett 18, D Jacob 17; D Hurst 32, P Ostler 14; S Sharpe 20, W Cross 17.

Carol Penson’s rink of Margaret Morris, Carol Morgan and Pat Taylor led Oxon to victory against Warwickshire with a 25-13 success.

Warwickshire 108 (4pts), Oxfordshire 118 (13) (Warwicks skips first): E Taylor 13, C Campion 23; M Parsons 13, C Penson 25; J Scott 26, J Lovegrove 15; M Edwards 29, S Rogers 14; J Tims 17, K Hawes 20; J Carn 10, J Berry 21.