OXFORDSHIRE made a nightmare start to their Middleton Cup campaign as they were hammered by visitors Kent.

The home side collected just three points as they lost the clash at Oxford City & County 141-77.

Kent held a 22-shot advantage after five ends – and the lead stretched to 56 after ten ends.

Nick Rae-Welsh’s quartet won the last end to edge their rink 23-22 to provide Oxon’s only victory, while Mark Charlett led his team to a draw after taking the last three ends.

But the other four contests ended in heavy defeats, with Baden Sparkes and Mark Sykes both finishing 19 shots adrift.

Oxfordshire 77 (3pts), Kent 141 (19)

(Oxon rink scores)

Rink 1: S Watts, P Skidmore, J King & M Charlett drew 17-17.

Rink 2: M Nash, P Comley, I Henwood & N Rae-Welsh won 23-22.

Rink 3: J Bland, P Mabbutt, N Lewis & P Sharman lost 26-10.

Rink 4: L Young, K Alder, R Gaskins & B Sparkes lost 31-12.

Rink 5: A Kemish, D Leighfield, A J Docherty & I Snowdon lost 18-7.

Rink 6: K Holloway, W Campion, S Cooper & M Sykes lost 27-8.

  • THERE will be three changes to the Oxfordshire squad for Saturday’s second Middleton Cup tie, at Sussex.

Steve Witcombe (Witney Mills), Gary May (Headington) and Alan Carter (Banbury Central) are called up for the clash at Popes Mead BC, Crawley.

Keith Holloway, who is named as a reserve, Jason King and Lee Young drop out.

  • OXFORDSHIRE begin their Balcomb Cup campaign on Sunday, when they host Isle of Wight.

The match at Headington starts at 12 noon.

OXFORDSHIRE TEAM

Rink 1: R Gaskins (Headington), S Cooper (Watlington), I Henwood (Headington), N Rae-Welsh (Headington).

Rink 2: P Sharman (Carterton), N Lewis (Headington), AJ Docherty (Banbury Borough), Mark Charlett (Headington).

  • IAN Whelpton’s 16-shot success helped Oxfordshire cruise to a comfortable victory against Somerset in a friendly at Bath.

Oxon 128, Somerset 94

(Oxon rink scores)

Rink 1: V Webb, C Haley, P Warner & M Morris won 28-14.

Rink 2: S Tolhurst, B Jarvie, J McGeough & K Williams drew 19-19.

Rink 3: M Jones, E Dorling, M Oliver & J Lucas lost 14-23.

Rink 4: A French, T Gripe, J Hurren & B Bloomfield won 24-14.

Rink 5: C Lewis, A Fleming, D Wedge & I Whelpton won 25-9.

Rink 6: A Hunt, B Ealey, J Benfield & A Ley won 18-15