Oxfordshire's EBA Middleton Cup hopes were dented when they went down 114-111 to Berkshire in their Group 3A clash at Banbury Central.

With a win over Isle Of Wight in their opening game under their belts, Oxon looked to be on course for another victory when they led 62-46 after ten ends.

But Berkshire hit back to lead 85-83 after 15 ends, and held on over the last six ends to avenge last year's three-shot defeat by the same margin.

Oxon won on three of the six rinks, but skip Alan Prew's nine-shot defeat ultimately proved crucial.

Prew's four of Remy Clanfield, Les Campion and Ryan Buckett were just two shots down after 15 ends against skip Ian Snowdon.

But they were unable to live with their Berkshire rivals over the last six ends.

Mark Charlett's four of John Philpott, Sammy Timms and Colin Whitehead provided Oxon's best win with a 22-16 victory over skip Gary Stacey.

Calvin Carpenter's side of Nick Welsh, George Moon and Mark Sykes kept their nerve to pip skip Mike Newman 17-15 in a tight contest.

And Howard Watts' quartet of Jim Gamage, Nathan Lewis and Ian Henwood staved off a fightback from skip Jon Stradling to win 19-17.

Greg Moon's rink of Keith Holloway, Barry Lambourne and Gary Lucas saw a four-shot lead after ten ends wiped out as they went down 19-17 to skip Robert Newman.

Baden Sparkes's Carterton four of Andy Wise, Stuart Richens and Robert Clanfield also met with defeat as they went down 21-19 to skip Adrian Collins in another close contest.

Oxfordshire make one change as they bid to bounce back against Hampshire at Atherley on Saturday.

Banbury Borough's Richard Redford comes into the side in place of Campion on Prew's rink.

In a positional switch on another rink, Lucas takes over as skip from Banbury Borough clubmate Greg Moon, who will bowl at No 3.

Oxfordshire 111 (6pts), Berkshire 114 (16)

(Oxon rinks first)

Rink 1: A Wise, S Richens, Ro Clanfield, B Sparkes 19; D Emberson, G Baker, B Cannings, A Collins 21.

Rink 2: Re Clanfield, L Campion, R Buckett, A Prew 17; J Heapy, M Edney, A Kanpper, I Snowdon 26.

Rink 3: J Philpott, S Timms, C Whitehead, M Charlett 22; M Knight, J Smith, G Ballantyne, G Stacey 16.

Rink 4: N Welsh, Ge Moon, M Sykes, C Carpenter 17; C Brooks, P Cadman, D Christie, M Newman 15.

Rink 5: K Holloway, B Lambourne, G Lucas, Gr Moon 17; N Davies, S Ford, S Jones, R Newman 19.

Rink 6: J Gamage, N Lewis, I Henwood, H Watts 19; D Holder, D Parsonson, D Hall, J Stradling 17.