OXFORDSHIRE crashed out of this year’s Middleton Cup after losing 124-99 in their final Group 3B game against Berkshire at Suttons BC.

Victories in their first two matches seemingly put Oxon on the brink of qualification.

But defeat against Middlesex left them having to win their closing match in Berkshire.

However, Oxon were always in arrears, and the final score included just one winning rink from the visitors.

Greg Moon was the only Oxfordshire skip to record victory, a 20-12 triumph over Andrew Knapper’s four.

Alan Prew’s side drew 19-19 with Robert Newman’s rink, but missed out on a good winning opportunity having led 15-13 after 15 ends.

But it was all downhill after that for Oxfordshire.

Mark Sykes’s side – which contained debutant Kevin Alder – lost 19-18 to Chris Holliday’s four.

But the other three rinks were far more one-sided.

Ian Snowdon’s side suffered the heaviest defeat of the day, losing 25-12 to Michael Newman’s four.

They failed to score a single shot in the opening five legs, and had managed just four by the 15th.

Baden Sparkes’s rink were always trailing against Alan Price’s side, and went down 26-16.

And to complete Oxfordshire’s miserable day, Howard Watts’s side, who were just 13-12 behind after 15 ends, ended up losing 23-14 following a late burst from Gary Stacey’s rink.

Berkshire 124 (29pts), Oxfordshire 99 (3) (Berkshire rinks first) Rink 1: A Chipper, G Knapper, D White & C Holliday 10; A Docherty, K Alder, J King & M Sykes 18.

Rink 2: D W-Emberson, S Giles, C Brooks & A Knapper 12, J Philpott, B Lambourne, R Redford & G Moon 20.

Rink 3: A Symondson, C Barrett, S Jones & A Price 26, C Whitehead, M Petersen, R Clanfield & B Sparkes 16.

Rink 4: B Byles, R Buckett, D Holder & M Newman 25; M Nash, S Timms, George Moon & I Snowdon 12.

Rink 5: M Linn, N Gauld, D Christie & G Stacey 23; K Holloway, N Lewis, N Rae-Walsh & H Watts 14.

Rink 6: M Bantock, D Parsonson, A Collins & R Newman 19; A Wise, P Sharman, S Richens & A Prew 19.