Oxfordshire had to give second best to Berkshire again as they went down 118-112 in their Home Counties League clash at Oxford City & County.

Beaten 114-111 by their local rivals in the EBA Middleton Cup at Banbury Central last month, Oxon once more came out on the wrong end of a tight encounter.

Oxfordshire led 61-55 after ten ends, and the two counties were still locked together at 83-83 after 15, but Berkshire finished the stronger to take victory.

Oxon won on three of the six rinks with Howard Watts's four of Gordon Hooker, Steve Gibson and Nick Welsh posting a thumping 30-6 victory over skip Nick Rackham.

Baden Sparkes's side of Andy McIntyre, Kevin Alder and Andy Wise finished with a flourish to beat skip Ian Snowdon 23-14 after being just two shots ahead after 15 ends.

Mark Sykes's quartet of Remy Calnfield, Ian Whelpton and Gordon Roper provided Oxon's third win with a 24-18 victory over skip Paul Cadman.

But Oxon also suffered three resounding defeats.

Les Campion's rink of Spencer Townsend, Keith Holloway and Paul Comley crashed 30-11 to skip Bob Cannings.

Barry Lambourne's four of Steve Tolhurst, Jim Gow and Mike Petersen let slip a two-shot lead after ten ends to go down 25-13 to skip Gordon Ballantyne.

And Robin Hewson's side of Mick Nash, Glyn Coggon and Steve Jones were always fighting a losing battle as Berkshire skip Simon Jones triumphed 25-11.

Oxfordshire 112 (6pts), Berkshire 118 (16) (Oxon rinks first)

Rink 1: A McIntyre, K Alder, A Wise, B Sparkes 23; A Chipper, M Teagle, D Phare, I Snowdon 14.

Rink 2: G Hooker, S Gibson, N Welsh, H Watts 30; M Knight, D Carrick, G Baker, N Rackham 6.

Rink 3: S Townsend, K Holloway, P Comley, L Campion 11; C Hitt, T Searle, R Hing, B Cannings 30.

Rink 4: M Nash, G Coggon, S Jones, R Hewson 11; S Giles, D Miles, C Brooks, S Jones 25.

Rink 5: S Tolhurst, J Gow, M Petersen, B Lambourne 13; T Moore, J Osbourn, C Holliday, G Ballantyne 25.

Rink 6: Re Clanfield, I Whelpton, G Roper, M Sykes 24; M Iremonger, P Miles, B Greenough, P Cadman 18.