Oxfordshire's hopes of a fourth successive win in the Home Counties League were dashed with a 130-108 defeat by Kent at Maidstone.

With standing water on the green half-an-hour before the start, it looked like the match may have to be called off.

But it was cleared for the game to go-ahead and the hosts took full advantage.

Oxon won on one rink and drew on three others, but heavy defeats for their two remaining fours proved crucial as they went down to a 17-5 points defeat.

Calvin Carpenter’s side of AJ Docherty, Steve Witcombe and Richard Barnett provided their lone success with a 26-15 victory over skip Steve Savage.

The defeat leaves Oxfordshire third in the table.

Kent 130 (17pts), Oxfordshire 108 (5)

(Kent rinks first)

Rink 1: J Abercrombie, M Stark, M Milgate, P Barnicott 19, R Pink, L Lacey, P Comley, A Ley 19.

Rink 2: P Simmons, G Allen, E Allen, D Hanmore 27, R Green, L Days, A McIntyre, K Alder 13.

Rink 3: S Johnson, T Stewart, D King, S Savage 15, AJ Docherty, S Witcombe, R Barnett, C Carpenter 26.

Rink 4: S Green, M Fisher, G Horton, R Kendrick 19, B Bloomfield, R Slater, S Jones, M Petersen 19.

Rink 5: M Goldacre, A Cutterham, J Evenden, B Shields 30, S Tolhurst, R Jackson, M Andrew, C Earl 11.

Rink 6: D McNeeley, S Coyle, A Evans, A Morton 20, S Hastings, N Galletly, C Weller, J Hardie 20.

  • WITNEY Town president Brian Bloomfield received his 50-game badge as Oxfordshire ran out 137-100 winners over Cambridgeshire in a friendly at Kidlington.

Oxfordshire 137, Cambridgeshire 100 (Oxon rink scores): B Willoughby, J Stephens, D Wedge, M Andrew won 36-7; R Green, B Allin, B Bloomfield, M Brain lost 20-19; R Jackson, B Flitter, L Lewis , D Allin lost 23-16; T Backer-Holst, B Jarvie, D Snell, S Hall won 25-10; S Tolhurst, J Timms, H Winstone, A Ley won 23-22; K Keen, M Jones, J Eatwell, J O’Shea drew 18-18.