Mark Charlett’s rink chalked up a 22-shot success to spearhead Oxfordshire’s charge to a resounding 142-98 victory over Gloucestershire in their second Middleton Cup Trial match.

With Charlett’s four of Sam Watts, Shaun Claridge and Jason King making a strong start in the clash at Oxford City & County, well supported across all rinks, Oxon led by 14 shots after five ends.

Steady progress saw them double their advantage by end 15, and from that point they were never threatened.

Charlett’s side, who recorded two fives and two fours in their thumping 35-13 victory against skip Colin Dixon, were one of five winning Oxfordshire rinks.

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Keith Holloway joined Paul Sharman’s side of Shane Cooper and Barry Lambourne and they reversed last week’s defeat in the victory over Northants to win 21-11 against Chris Davies.

Playing their first trial, Alan Ley and Remy Clanfield gelled well with Jon Philpott and Paul Mabbutt to defeat Mat Cuthbert 26-17.

With AJ Docherty joining Mark Sykes’ rink of George Schwab and Richard Redford, the game was dominated by control of the jack as they held off Steve Knight 23-17.

Baden Sparkes’s side of Dean May, Andy Martin and Ian Henwood edged home 18-15 against Ross Mellerup.

Oxon missed out on a clean sweep when Colin Whitehead’s four of Mike Nash, Paul Comley and Kevin Alder lost the last two ends against Paul Bryant to go down 25-20.

Having won both trial matches, Oxon can look forward with confidence to their Middleton Cup opener against Buckinghamshire at Waddesdon on Saturday, May 30.

This Saturday, Oxfordshire face Berkshire in their Home Counties League opener at Three Mile Cross, Reading.

Oxfordshire 142, Gloucestershire 98

(Oxfordshire rinks first)

Rink 1: D May, A Martin, I Henwood, B Sparkes 18, B Burleigh, M Prosser, D Smith, R Mellerup 15.

Rink 2: M Nash, P Comley, K Alder, C Whitehead 20, J Smallwood, A Locke, N Cansdale, P Bryant 25.

Rink 3: K Holloway, S Cooper, B Lambourne, P Sharman 21, J Hibbard, G Baldwin, C Roach, C Davies 11.

Rink 4: S Watts, S Claridge, J King, M Charlett 35, L Elliott, T Griffiths, N Holliday, C Dixon 13.

Rink 5: J Philpott, R Clanfield, P Mabbutt, A Ley 26, B Williams, R Browett, P Stinchcombe, M Cuthbert 17.

Rink 6: AJ Docherty, G Schwab, R Redford, M Sykes 23, S Morris, A Lloyd, J Speller, S Knight 17.

ALLAN Hall’s rink posted a 25-shot victory to lead Oxfordshire to a 124-106 victory over Northants in a friendly at Bicester.

Oxfordshire 124, Northants 106 (Oxon rink scores): P Demczak, B Jarvie, P Strange, J Lucas lost 16-14; J Stephens, J Hurley, P Latter, A Ley lost 24-13; S Tolhurst, J Timms, M Morris, I Whelpton won 27-14; B Willoughby, E Dorling, B Bloomfield, H Williams lost 28-10; M Cameron, L Eltringham, J McGeough, M Brain won 25-14; A Hunt, M Jones, T Gripe, A Hall won 35-10.

OXFORDSHIRE ladies were pipped 106-101 by Gloucestershire in the Middle England League at Fairford.

Oxon shared the rinks wins with success for skips Carol Gaskins, Jeanette Berry and Angela Ives, but Gloucestershire just had the edge on shots.

Gloucestershire 106 (11pts), Oxfordshire 101 (6) (Gloucs skips first): L Hamer 16, C Gaskins 19; J Howes 19, C Penson 12; S Osborne 19, S Rogers 14; J Shewad 18, J Berry 21; R Hughes 19, W Cross 16; P Gunn 15, A Ives 19.