Oxfordshire enjoyed a confidence-boosting start to the season with a 121-108 win over Northamptonshire in a Middleton Cup Trial at Kingsthorpe.

Oxon made a strong start with Ian Snowdon’s rink picking up a six on the first end.

But losses of four, five and six shots on the top three rinks saw the match swing back towards the home side.

After ten ends, Oxfordshire trailed by ten shots.

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But by the 15th they had reduced the deficit to one, after Baden Sparkes’s rink had chalked up a six.

Oxon were ahead by the 18th end, before going on to secure a 13-shot victory.

The rinks were shared three each.

Paul Sharman’s four of Sam Watts, Shane Cooper and Barry Lambourne struggled to contain Northants skip Roger Tansley, losing 20-15.

Mark Charlett’s rink of Paul Lopez, Andy Martin and Jason King finished well to record a 21-15 victory over a rink, skipped by Jamie Walker, last year's junior bowler of the year.

Despite winning 12 ends, Colin Whitehead’s side of Mike Nash, Kevin Alder and Nick Welsh went down 19-17 to skip Matt Pownall.

Snowdon’s rink of Jon Philpott, Keith Holloway and Gary May recorded Oxon's biggest win with a 28-19 victory over Andrew Manton.

Sparkes’ side of Dean May, Paul Skidmore and Barry Lambourne came out on top 26-19 against Martin Geary.

Mark Sykes’ rink of Paul Comley, Paul Mabbutt and Shane Cooper lost 16-14 to John Haines.

Northants 108, Oxfordshire 121

(Northants rinks first)

Rink 1: A Brown, D Flippane, R Lemod, R Tansley 20, S Watts, S Cooper, B Lambourne, P Sharman 15.

Rink 2: D Love, W Walker, D Walker, J Walker 15, P Lopez, A Martin, J King, M Charlett 21.

Rink 3: C Johnson, M Cattell, C Cinato, M Pownall 19, M Nash, K Alder, N Welsh, C Whitehead 17.

Rink 4: T O’Learey, J Bryan, C Bland, A Manton 19, J Philpott, K Holloway, G May, I Snowdon 28.

Rink 5: I Walker, J Brown, A Ashby, M Gearey 19, D May, P Skidmore, B Lambourne, B Sparkes 26.

Rink 6: K Height, J Freeman, P Ward, J Haines 16, P Comley, P Mabbutt, S Cooper, M Sykes 14.

Oxfordshire take on Gloucestershire in their second and final Middleton Cup Trial game at Oxford City & County on Saturday (2).

Oxfordshire: J Philpott, P Mabbutt, G May, I Snowdon; AJ Docherty, G Schwab, R Redford, M Sykes; D May, A Martin, I Henwood, B Sparkes; S Watts, S Claridge, J King, M Charlett; K Holloway, S Cooper, B Lambourne, P Sharman; M Nash, P Comley, K Alder, C Whitehead.

OXFORDSHIRE ran out comfortable 134-95 winners over Essex Tourists in a friendly at Banbury Chestnuts.

Oxfordshire 134, Essex Tourists 95 (Oxon rink scores): B Ray, T Backer-Holst, B Bloomfield, I Whelpton won 27-13; A Hunt, J Timms, H Williams, A Ley won 24-18; S Tolhurst, J Wells, P Latter, B Gilkes lost 21-15; M Cameron, M Oliver, J McGeough, A Hall lost 23-13; P Demczack, T Gripe, R Barnett, J Lucas won 27-11; C Lewis, A Wase, P Strange M Brain won 28-9.