A STRONG showing from the Ladies’ A side saw Oxfordshire make a winning start to the British Inter-Counties Championship.

The 5-1 triumph at Sussex set the visitors up for a 19-17 victory, which was boosted by three bonus points.

The Ladies’ B team got Oxon off to a good start when Sandra Cox and Karen Williams won the opening matches.

Gina Freshwater and Catherine Birch also came out on top as Oxon finished 4-2 ahead.

But their lead was quickly wiped out as Sussex took the opening four clashes in the Men’s B encounter.

Pete Smith stopped the rot, while Steve Dennett, Glenn West and Liam Gregor also struck in an 8-4 defeat.

The see-saw fixture swung back to Oxon at the start of day two.

Jaine Telling, Babs Manning, Kim Ledbury, Cali Birch and Deta Hedman were all on target to open up a 13-11 lead.

The Men’s A match was tight, with the two counties taking it in turns to record wins.

Lennon Cradock, Jon Jukes and Pete Hall – who came from 3-0 down to win 4-3 – kept the visitors’ noses just in front.

But the match swung on successive wins from Ade Larner, Sean Holley and Preben Krabben as Oxon edged to victory.

They next visit London on October 19-20.