Bicester got back to Div-ision 2 action with a 5-1 home victory against Charlbury in the Oxford and District Bowls League, sponsored by Yarnton Nurseries.

Jim Stevens win by a single shot against Bicester’s Rob Pink took the visitors’ point.

Bicester 77 (5), Charlbury 63 (1) (Bicester skips first): A Hall 24, M Fraser 19; R Pink 15, D Cooper 12; P Hooley 19, J Stevens 20; K Taylor 19, D Dix 12.

Bicester’s Rob Pink was unable to prevent Oxfordshire losing their opening Middleton Cup match 115-109 at home to Middlesex at Oxford City & County.

Pink’s rink of Remy Clanfield, Baden Sparkes and Colin Whitehead went down 19-18 to their Middlesex counterparts in the in the South Group Section B clash.