FRIENDLIES

HENRY Franklin has made what is believed to be Oxfordshire history after becoming the first bowler to play over a 50-year period for the county when he lined up against Buckinghamshire.

And Franklin, who made his Oxfordshire debut in 1963, showed he still has bundles of talent by leading his rink to a 32-19 success in the county’s 157-90 victory.

The win at Thame BC was a one-sided affair, with the hosts triumphing in five of the six rinks.

Ian Whelpton’s four enjoyed the biggest victory margin, a 17-shot victory.

That winning rink contained Lionel Lewis, who received his 100-game badge.

Oxfordshire 157, Buckinghamshire 90 (Oxon rink scores): R Green, A Melville, M Andrew & M Brain lost 22-24; A Hunt, L Lewis, S Jones & I Whelpton won 28-11; V Webb, H Winstone, R Slater & M Petersen won 26-13; A Kernish, R Jackson, J O’Shea & A Ley won 26-15; S Tolhurst, P Brittin, J Timms & C Weller won 23-8; S Watts, G Hooker, B Gilkes & H Franklin won 32-19.

Oxfordshire’s success could not be repeated 24 hours later, however, when they went down 116-105 to Gloucestershire at Pineholt BC.

Unable to raise a full team, Oxon borrowed four bowlers from the opposition to complete the side.

Despite recording wins on three rinks, they went down.

Oxfordshire 105, Gloucestershire 116 (Oxon rink scores): M Jones, D Jennings, B Bloomfield & R Slater won 24-16; K Washington, J Stephens, J McGeough & R Barnett won 21-19; P Demczak, J Timms, T Gripe & A Hunt won 20-18, A Melville, E Dorling, L Lewis & A Ley lost 17-22; Glouc-estershire loanees lost 12-22; P Brittin, M Davis, G Weedon & D Wedge lost 11-19.