Oxfordshire team manager Steve Gilkes has backed his Middleton Cup side to keep their hopes alive by bouncing back from their opening defeat when they face the Isle of Wight at Shanklin on Saturday (1pm).

Gilkes has named an unchanged line-up following Oxon’s 115-109 loss to Middlesex in South Group Section B at Oxford City & County two weeks ago.

He said: “I backed the team to beat Middlesex and I do so again against the Isle of Wight.

“One bad result and below-par performance does not make a bad team.

“However, the players know that nothing less than a win will realistically keep us in the competition, so I expect a much-improved performance, both individually and collectively, from them.”

Isle of Wight were thrashed 140-78 at home by Kent last Saturday.

Oxfordshire: K Holloway (Banbury Borough), I Henwood (Headington), C Carpenter (Banbury Borough), A Prew (Carterton, capt); S Watts (Watlington), G May (Headington), J King (Headington), M Charlett (Headington); L Young (Banbury Central), S Cooper (Banbury Central), B Lambourne (Shiplake Village), P Sharman (Carterton); D May (Headington), K Alder (West Witney), N Lewis (Headington), I Snowdon (Headington); R Pink (Bicester), R Clanfield (Headington), C Whitehead (Headington), B Sparkes (Carterton); AJ Docherty (Banbury Borough), G Schwab (Banbury Borough), R Redford (Banbury Borough), M Sykes (Banbury Borough).

OXFORDSHIRE BA finished strongly on all rinks to snatch a 108-107 victory over Leicestershire in their friendly at Bicester.

Oxfordshire 108, Leicestershire 107 (Oxon rinks scores): A Melville, J Wase, J McGeough, J Lucas won 21-15; S Tolhurst, N Satchell, A Hall, P Hooley lost 22-19; A Fleming, L Eltringham, J O’Shea, I Whelpton lost 20-13; B Bloomfield, P Brittin, D Wedge, M Andrew lost 21-14; P Demczack, M Jones, S Jones, B Gilkes won 19-16; M Cameron, T Backer-Holst, M Brain, A Ley won 22-13.

BANBURY Borough’s George Schwab and Watlington’s Sam Watts have won their way through to the National Junior Singles Championship at Leamington in August.

Reigning county champion Schwab defeated Headington’s Dean May 21-16 in the Oxfordshire semi-finals at Banbury Chestnuts.

Watts, meanwhile, overcame Banbury Central’s Shane Cooper 21-20 in a gripping tussle.

CAPTAIN Lee Wilkinson (Banbury Central) and Dan Wakeman (Carterton) ret-urn for Oxfordshire Under 25s clash with Surrey in the White Rose Trophy national double rink regional semi-final at Iver Heath on Sunday.

Oxfordshire Under 25s: S Watts (Watlington), L Wilkinson (capt, Banbury Central), S Cooper (Banbury Central), G Schwab (Banbury Borough); D May (Headington), C Gilkes (Watlington), Dan Wakeman (Carterton), G May (Headington).