Oxfordshire were able to take some positives from a 125-106 defeat against Northamptonshire in their Middleton Cup trial match at Kingsthorpe.

Various previously untried player combinations were selected, which on the whole proved to be a worthwhile exercise with some strong individual performances.

The highlight of the game played in variable sunshine, wind, rain and hail was the seventh end ‘hot-shot’ from Mark Sykes and his rink of AJ Docherty, Andy McIntyre and Kevin Alder.

Those eight shots ended up being the Oxon four’s winning margin as they triumphed 25-17 against skip Phil Exley.

Captain Alan Prew, who formed a back-end partnership with newcomer Mark Hancock following on from Keith Holloway and George Schwab, was involved in a tight battle throughout before losing 20-18 to Jonathan Brown.

Paul Sharman’s rink of Rob Pink, Mike Petersen and Andy Martin edged home 21-20 against Vernon Gearey.

Mark Charlett’s four of Ade Kemish, Remy Clanfield and Shaun Clardige made the most of a great start to beat Andrew Manton 21-18.

However, Calvin Carpenter’s side of Sam Watts, Will Campion and John Hardie struggled in the changing conditions and went down 30-8 to John Haines.

On the end rink, Barry Lambourne’s team of Lee Young, Paul Comley and David Clanfield were beaten 20-13 by Jamie Walker.

Oxon face Gloucestershire in their second trial at Oxford City & County on Saturday (2pm).

Northamptonshire 125, Oxfordshire 106

(Northants rinks first)

Rink 1: C Cinato, M Wordingham, R Lemon, P Exley 17, AJ Docherty, A McIntyre, K Alder, M Sykes 25.

Rink 2: R White, M Malins, D Kovacs, J Brown 20, K Holloway, G Schwab, M Hancock, A Prew 18.

Rink 3: N Rolfe, J Freeman, D Flippance, V Gearey 20, R Pink, M Petersen, A Martin, P Sharman 21.

Rink 4: J Hall, M Cinato, I Walker, A Manton 18, A Kemish, Re Clanfield, S Claridge, M Charlett 21.

Rink 5: D Lowe, P Ward, M Pownall, J Haines 30, S Watts, W Campion, J Hardie, C Carpenter 8.

Rink 6: K Height, M Walker, A Ashby, J Walker 20, L Young, P Comley, D Clanfield, B Lambourne 13.

Oxfordshire (v Gloucestershire, Sat, Oxford City & County, 2): D May, I Henwood, C Carpenter, A Prew; J Holloway, G May, R Redford, M Sykes; R Pink, S Timms, Ro Clanfield, B Sparkes; J Philpott, C Weller, J King, M Charlett; S Cooper, W Campion, G Walker, P Sharman; M Nash, C Earl, N Lewis, I Snowdon.