Oxfordshire A crashed out of the English Short Mat Association Inter County Competition with a 33-7 drubbing by defending champions West Sussex in the first knockout round.

The tie was played at a neutral venue in Croydon, and Oxon lost 235-141 on shots.

Oxon lost all four games in the opening session, before Margaret Strang, Eric Hasker and Carol Robbins stopped the rot by taking their triples 10-9.

However, with West Sussex winning the three other matches in this session, Oxon trailed 14-2 on points.

Despite John Cole then taking his singles 16-8, and Roger Belson and Chic Iles drawing their pairs 11-11, defeats in the two other matches in the third session meant Oxon were out.

Strang, Hasker and Robbins had the consolation of posting their second with with an 11-5 success in the final session.

Oxon A 141 (7pts), West Sussex 235 (33)

(Oxfordshire details)

Singles: J Cole lost 17-11 & won 16-8; N Cottrell lost 20-11 & 21-8.

Pairs: E Knight & R Knight lost 18-5 & 23-7; R Belson & C Iles lost 19-13 & drew 11-11.

Triples: M Strang, E Hasker & C Robbins won 10-9 & 11-5; M Edwards, A Foster & B Evans lost 11-6 & 15-11.

Fours: L Gray, M Davies, C Williams & N Pratley won 18-4 & 15-6; B Dibley, P Collett, M Cole & B Smith lost 16-5 & 9-6.