An Oxfordshire four finished runners-up to Shropshire in the English Short Mat Bowling Association national finals at Kempston IBC.

The side of Geoff Cross, Tim Cross, Gareth Davies and AJ Brown went down 10-5 in the decider.

They had beaten Hertfordshire 8-6 in the semi-finals, having defeated Hampshire 6-5 in the last eight.

In the earlier rounds, they recorded 11-2 wins over Essex and Surrey after finishing group runners-up, winning two of their three matches.

Oxfordshire’s other four of Norman Cottrell, Tom Clough, Denis Wilson and David Hancock were group runners-up, before losing in the last 32 to Hertfordshire.

Oxon’s Marilyn Davies, David Hancock and Roger Wiggins reached the triples quarter-finals before losing 11-3 to Dorset, while Anne Sirett, Eric Hasker and Chris Hasker bowed out 9-5 to Dorset in the last 16.

Oxfordshire’s Roger Wiggins was defeated 10-7 by Hampshire’s Jason McLean in the last 16 of the singles.

He had earlier beaten Humberside’s David Coultas 11-5, having qualified from the group stages.

In the pairs, Oxon’s Geoff Cross and AJ Brown won their group, but then fell 8-6 to West Sussex in the last 32, while Gloria Smith and Kay Dickson missed out on qualifying for the knockout stages by a single shot.

WITNEY Town BC are holding an open day at their Station Lane green on Saturday from 10.30am for anyone interested in taking up the game.

For more details, ring 01993 703433 or 01993 881368.