Oxfordshire A were pipped 21-19 by Cornwall in their English Short Mat Association Inter County Competition semi-final at Merchant’s Academy, Bristol.

Oxon went down 185-164 on shots after staging a late rally.

Despite a brace of fours wins in the final session, Oxfordshire fell just short.

Oxon A 164 (19pts), Cornwall 185 (21)

(Oxon A details)

Singles: P Skidmore won 20-10 & drew 12-12; J Cole lost 13-11 & 15-9.

Pairs: C Iles & H Skidmore won 14-9 & lost 20-8; C Williams & N Cole lost 17-7 & 14-11.

Triples: C Robbins, M Weller & M Strang lost 13-6 & won 12-7; B Evans, D Sirett & R Belson won 18-4 & 13-10.

Fours: R Knight, M Evans, E Knight & B Dibley lost 17-4 & won 10-7; L Gray, M Belson, R Howarth & P Keevil lost 12-0 & won 9-5.

A week earlier Oxfordshire’s Premier side lost 21-19 to West Sussex in their quarter-final at Caroline Chisholm School, Northants.

Oxon 168 (19pts), West Sussex 185 (21)

(Oxon details)

Singles: D Wiggins won 18-8 & 16-7; AJ Brown won 14-13 & 20-13.

Pairs: J Bradbury & L Woodward lost 22-5 & 18-12; M Keevil & A Dickson won 14-10 & lost 13-9.

Triples: M Davies, G Davies & B Barnard lost 11-8 & won 13-7; A Sirett, N Pratley & C Hasker won 11-7 & lost 12-5.

Fours: P Collett, G Smith, T Cross & M Hancock won 7-4 & lost 20-5; E Hasker, B James, D Hancock & R Wiggins lost 12-4 & 8-7.