OXFORDSHIRE went down 117-105 to Northamptonshire in their opening Middleton Cup Trial match at Oxford City & County.

Oxon lost on four of the six rinks, and it was only Paul Sharman’s crushing 35-12 win over Chris Bland that kept the margin of defeat to 12 shots.

Calvin Carpenter was Oxon’s other winning skip, defeating Phil Reeve 18-15.

Oxfordshire 105, Northants 117 (Oxon skips first): C Carpenter 18, P Reeve 15; M Sykes 15, V Geary 17; C Nicoll 13, J McKee 19; I Snowdon 13, N Corbyn 27; P Sharman 35, C Bland 12; M Charlett 11, J Haines 27.

Oxon will be hoping for better fortune when they take on Gloucestershire in their second trial match at Barnwood BC, Gloucester on Saturday.

Oxon: S Cooper, S Claridge, N Lewis, M Charlett; G Schwab, C Weller, R Redford, M Sykes; L Young, A Martin, K Alder, A Prew; M Petersen, I Henwood, D Clanfield, B Lambourne; R Pink, W Campion, Ro Clanfield, B Sparkes; K Holloway, C Earl, C Carpenter, C Nicoll. Res: Ge Moon.

OXFORDSHIRE Under 25s slipped to an 81-25 against Berkshire in the Junior Home Counties League at Thatcham.

Skips Dan Wakeman and George Schwab chalked up narrow wins on their rinks.

But heavier defeats for Gary May and Shane Cooper swung the match in Berkshire’s favour.

Berkshire Under 25 81 (10pts), Oxfordshire Under 25 58 (4) (Berkshire skips first): D Miles 14, D Wakeman 15; M Cooper 25, G May 10; BJ Byles 19, G Schwab 21; M Iremonger 21, S Cooper 12.

Oxfordshire Ladies were beaten 96-79 by Worcestershire at Oxford City & County in a friendly match reduced to 15 ends by rain.

Jenny Gleeson and Jeanette Berry were Oxon’s only winners.

Oxfordshire 79, Worcestershire 96 (Oxon skips first): S Rogers 11, W Aldred 22; C Campion 11, S Davies 17; P Wilson 12, B Cresswell 12; J Berry 16, V Hall 13; B Pearce 8, S Heming 20; J Gleeson 21, M Boatwick 12.