Oxfordshire continued their winning build-up to their Middleton Cup campaign when they beat Northamptonshire 118-110 in a friendly at Banbury Central.

In a tight contest, Oxon won only two of the six rinks, but skips Greg Moon and Calvin Carpenter won so well both 25-13 that the visitors emerged trumphant.

Colin Whitehead led his Oxon rink to a draw, while Howard Watts went down to defeat by just one shot.

Northants 110, Oxfordshire 118 (Northants rinks first) Rink 1: D Graham, D Wildes, A Ashby, V Gearey 13; K Holloway, I Henwood, B Lambourne, G Moon 25.

Rink 2: T O'Leary, C Haines, T James, J McKee 20; S Townsend, R Redford, L Campion, A Prew 16.

Rink 3: N Rees, C Fowkes, A Hunter, P Reeve 13; R Clanfield, S Timms, M Sykes, C Carpenter 25.

Rink 4: R Lemon, S Norman, M Diggin, J Freeman 18; J Philpott, A Wise, S Richens, C Whitehead 18.

Rink 5: M Chester, R Mann, C Bland, J Haines 25, M Nash, N Lewis, R Clanfield, B Sparkes 14.

Rink 6: M Paul, M Malins, P Letts, R Tansley 21; R Clanfield, A Ley, R Hewson, H Watts 20.