CAPTAIN Luke Ryan admits it was good for Oxfordshire to end on a high, but it does not hide the disappointment of their 2016 season.

After winning the Western Division 12 months ago, Oxon headed into the Unicorns Counties Championship with similar expectations.

But, having failed to win a game in the 50-over Unicorns Counties Trophy, they were unable to buck the trend in the three-day competition, losing three of their first four games.

Wins over Devon and Cheshire saw them finish above Wales.

Although unavailability hampered their bid, Ryan, who said he would stand again as captain, pointed out other reasons for his side’s decline.

“We won the last two games, but overall we are quite disappointed with where we ended up,” he said.

“It was the old adage of availability and continuity through the six three-day games, it is very difficult.

“It has not helped with a few of the senior guys not being available through all the games, myself included, due to studying, injury and work commitments.

“Last year we were helped by Will Beer, from Sussex.

"We were not able to do that this year with them running a smaller squad – that damaged the strength of our team a little bit.”

Ryan added: “We are a strong enough squad to come back from it.

“If you look back we did not bat well enough and score enough hundreds."

Like 2015, the blooding of youngsters proved to be a major positive, with Abingdon Vale’s Ben Charlesworth, Banbury’s Olly Clarke and Cumnor’s Jamie Curtis making their debuts.

Ryan said: “There are loads of opportunities for young players.

“We want them to keep progressing.”