Oxfordshire ended their Middleton Cup campaign with a 111-111 draw against holders Hampshire at Oxford City & County – but took the match points on rink wins.

Oxon, who were already out of contention to qualify from South Group Section B, had established a lead of 15 shots after ten ends.

They still led by 12 after 18 ends, but with the two outside rinks finishing first and both going Hampshire’s way the visitors had a ten-point cushion.

Mark Sykes’s four of AJ Docherty, who received a 50-game badge, Richard Redford and George Schwab went down 21-18 to skip Leo May, while Baden Sparkes’s side of Mick Nash, Alan Ley and Gary May succumbed 22-15 to Peter Ward.

But Paul Sharman’s rink of Sam Watts, Keith Holloway and Barry Lambourne, who was awarded his 200-game badge, beat Russ Morgan 18-16.

Ian Snowdon’s side of Jon Philpott, Paul Comley and Colin Whitehead edged out Jim Marsland 18-17.

And Mark Charlett’s four of 17-year-old debutant Orren Bennett, from Chadlington, Nathan Lewis and Jason King defeated Richard Shelley 21-17.

That left Ray Gaskins four of Paul Lopez, who was awarded his Middleton Cup flash, Andy Martin and Ian Henwood to finish against Chris Daniels.

They went into the last end leading by five and Oxon overall by two.

But a two for Hampshire brought the shots level, with Gaskins taking the rink 21-18.

His triumph was one of four rink wins for Oxon, which saw them come out on top 13-9 on points.

Oxfordshire 111 (13pts), Hampshire 111 (9)

(Oxon rinks first)

Rink 1: AJ Docherty, R Redford, G Schwab, M Sykes 18, I McCubbin, M Smith, J Bright, L May 21.

Rink 2: J Philpott, P Comley, C Whitehead, I Snowdon 18, K Philip, C Taylor, C Bailey, J Marsland 17.

Rink 3: S Watts, K Holloway, B Lambourne, P Sharman 18, J McLean, D Payne, N Durman, R Morgan 16.

Rink 4: P Lopez, A Martin, I Henwood, R Gaskins 21, M Aldren, M Griffiths, C Cranham, C Daniels 18.

Rink 5: O Bennett, N Lewis, J King, M Charlett 21, T Bailey, S Doig, C Thresher, R Shelley 17.

Rink 6: M Nash, A Ley, G May, B Sparkes 15, J Leggett, A Nixon, J Biggs, P Ward 22.

OXFORDSHIRE recorded their tenth friendly win of the season with a 135-105 victory over Warwickshire at Stoke BC, Coventry.

Warwickshire 105, Oxfordshire 135 (Oxon rink scores): A Smith, T Backer-Holst, J McGeough, M Brain won 28-10; B Willoughby, M Oliver, R Bull, B Bloomfield won 23-22; S Tolhurst, M Jones, D Wedge, M Morris drew 18-18; M Cameron, R Jackson, T Gripe, P Latter lost 24-18; R Slater, P Brittin, P Strange, A Ley won 21-17; P Demczak, G Weedon, H Franklin, A Hall won 27-14.

OXFORDSHIRE Under 25s ran out 69-51 winners over Sussex at Kidlington to stay in contention for the Junior Home Counties League title.

Captain George Schwab led his four of Jamie Wilkinson, Harvey Alder and Joe Woodward to a 24-13 win over skip Sam Broomfield.

Shane Cooper’s side of Ben Dickson, Orren Bennett and Dan Wakeman excelled to crush Callum Phillimore 32-12.

Chris Gilkes’s rink of Dan Swanson, Brandon King and Sam Watts went down 26-13 to White Rose skip Jack Fairhall.

Oxfordshire 69 (8pts), Sussex 51 (2) (Oxon skips first): G Schwab 24, S Broomfield 13; S Cooper 32, C Phillimore 12; C Gilkes 13, J Fairhall 26.