DESPITE a storming comeback, Oxfordshire lost to Berkshire by seven shots in the second match of their Middleton Cup campaign at Suttons BC, Reading.

Oxon won on three rinks and tied on another, but a heavy defeat on rink five led to a 130-123 defeat

This was a disappointing result for the visitors, who had won their opening match against Bucks.

After 15 ends Oxfordshire were 24 shots adrift, but they battled back to give the hosts a fright.

Trailing 8-1, the rink of Paul Sharman fought back to win by six.

Ray Gaskins’ rink picked up a four on the last end to edge their match by two.

Will Parker’s rink had a great comeback to win by one shot on the last end.

The rink of Mark Sykes was not so fortunate. They conceded a shot to lose 23-22.

Mark Charlett’s rink was up against it from the start, and although they fought back, losing five on the last end resulted in a 15-shot defeat.

Berkshire 130 (15pts), Oxfordshire 123 (7)

(Oxfordshire rinks scores first)

Rink 1: I Kibble-White, K Alder, N Rae-Welsh, W Parker 22; B J Sykes, C Hill, N Jones, R Newman 21.

Rink 2: P Lopez, C Gilkes, A J Docherty, I Snowdon 22; A Piper, D Oakes, A Collins, L Sabatini 22.

Rink 3: H Beall, T Prew, I Henwood, R Gaskins 24; A Merry, G Ballantyne, S Jones, A Knapper 22.

Rink 4: J Abercrombie, P Mabbutt, G Schwab, M Sykes 22; A Synondson, G Knapper, N Gauld, M Hancock 23.

Rink 5: M Nash, K Holloway, S Cooper, M Charlett 12; T Moore, D Holder, R Buckett, G Stacey 27.

Rink 6: S Watts, M Brain, B Lambourne, P Sharman 21; J Heapy, M Cooper, T Broad, I Stradling 15.

FRIENDLY RESULT

Oxfordshire 136, Leicestershire 101 (Oxon rink scores): B Bloomfield, T Backer-Holst, M Morris, M Andrew lost 25-18; S Tolhurst, A Fleming, L Days, A Ley won 30-13; P Demczak, B Ealey, M Brain, P Latter won 23-13; A Carter, M Jones, A Hall, M Petersen won 33-13; P Lopez, J Timms, J McGeough, I Whelpton lost 19-13; J Woodward, P Strange, J O’Shea, B Gilkes won 19-18.