Oxfordshire's new Middleton Cup campaign got off to a disappointing start as they went down 110-94 away to Berkshire at Suttons BC.

It meant Oxon picked up only four points from the opener, while Berkshire pocketed 18.

Oxon won on only two of the six rinks, Alan Prew by three shots on rink four, and Baden Sparkes by five on rink five.

Glenn Allen, Greg Moon and Calvin Carpenter all missed out by a few shots, but Alan Ley's men went down by 14 to Robert Newman on rink six.

Oxon, quarter-finalists last season, now have it all to do in their next two group matches, both at home at Banbury Central, against Hampshire on June 22 and the Isle of Wight on July 6.

Manager Bob Gilkes said: "I'm disappointed but not dismayed, because it was an excellent performance from Oxfordshire which was not reflected in the rink scores."

Gilkes has named an unchanged line-up for the game against Hampshire.

Oxfordshire: S Richens, A Wise, R Clanfield, B Sparkes (all Carterton); K Holloway, George Moon, G Lucas, Greg Moon (All Banbury Borough); C Whitehead (Summertown), P Comley (Rover), R Hewson (Summertown), A Ley (Summertown); S Hall (West Witney), C Barrett (Stuarts), R Buckett (Stuarts), A Prew (Banbury Borough); N Wallace (Summertown), P Justin (Carterton), M Charlett (Summertown), C Carpenter (Banbury Borough); D Clanfield (Carterton), A Martin (Chipping Norton), C Allen (Summertown), G Allen (Summertown).

Reserves: L Campion (B Central), R Foster (Headington), C Nicoll (Bicester), M Sykes (B Central).