OXFORDSHIRE name an unchanged side as they bid to finish the job and qualify for the last eight of the Middleton Cup.

Two wins out of two sees them top of South Group A.

They host basement side Isle of Wight at Kidlington on Saturday (2pm), knowing victory will secure a quarter-final place against the Group B winners – either Surrey or Kent – later this month.

Oxfordshire: B Squires, A McIntyre, S Cooper & P Sharman; J Abercrombie, K Holloway, M Sykes & AJ Docherty; J Justin, P Skidmore, K Alder & B Sparks; J Bland, L Young, P Comley & R Gaskins; S Watts, J Gaskins, R Clanfield & C Gilkes; A Kemish, O Bennett, W Campion & D Leighfield.

Some of Oxon’s team warmed up for their big match with a 129-107 victory over Surrey in the Home Counties League.

After a slow start, particularly by Shane Cooper’s rink, Oxfordshire trailed by nine shots after five ends.

But they gradually turned this around to win by 22 shots, Cooper’s four hitting back for an impressive success.

A haul of 11 shots in the final six ends saw Chris Gilkes lead his side to the highest winning margin.

Oxfordshire 129 (18pts), Surrey 107 (4).

Rink 1: M Jelfs, B Bloomfield, C Charles & A J Docherty lost 15-20.

Rink 2: R Green, A Ley, C Weller & R Gaskins won 23-12.

Rink 3: S Witombe, H Beall, W Campion & D Leighfield lost 19-23.

Rink 4: P Demczak, S Aldren, T Eley & S Cooper won 22-18.

Rink 5: B May, B Clarke, S Watts & C Gilkes won 31-16.

Rink 6: C Lewis, J MacDonough, P Gladden & P Sharman won 19-18.

Oxfordshire went down 42-30 to Buckinghamshire in the regional finals of the Balcomb Trophy.

Despite leading after both ten and 15 ends, Oxon struggled in the remaining ends and slipped to defeat, even though their four of Joe Abercrombie, Keith Holloway, Mark Sykes and AJ Docherty won their rink.

Oxfordshire 30, Buckinghamshire 42

Rink 1: S Watts, S Cooper, C Gilkes & P Sharman lost 12-26

Rink 2: J Abercrombie, K Holloway, M Sykes & AJ Docherty won 18-16.

Oxfordshire beat Surrey 110-103 in a friendly clash at South Oxford BC.

Oxfordshire 110, Surrey 103

Rink 1: R Radband, B Ealey, G Hooker & M Andrew lost 16-25.

Rink 2: P Demczak, J Hurren, M Morris & B Bloomfield won 28-8.

Rink 3: B Jarvie, D Lafford, J Hicks & I Whelpton lost 16-19.

Rink 4: D Byers, J McGeough, K Williams & B Clarke won 17-16.

Rink 5: C Lewis, C Haley, P Warner & L Days drew 19-19.

Rink 6: T Gripe, J Stephens, C Cox & A Ley lost 14-16.

  • TWO West Witney pairs remain on course to meet in the final of the Oxfordshire Championships.

In the quarter-finals, held at Chipping Norton, Nigel Siford and Paul Skidmore made it through the last four alongside Andy McIntyre and David Leighfield.

The former saw off Headington’s Sam Watts and Nick Rae-Welsh 18-10, while McIntyre and Leighfield defeated Paul Comley and Colin Whitehead, also of Headington, 20-15.

There was success for Headington, however, when Ian Henwood and Mark Charlett beat West Witney’s Bradley Squires and Kevin Alder 19-10.

Watlington’s Will Soden and Chris Gilkes complete the semi-final line-up after a 23-14 win over Witney Mills’ Steve Witcombe and Paul Robbins.

The last four matches will take place at Carterton BC a week on Sunday.

  • OXFORDSHIRE’S ladies suffered a resounding defeat against Sussex in the Johns Trophy at Reading BC.

They lost 154-69, with their sole victory coming from Jeanette Berry’s rink.

The defeat ended Oxon’s interest in the competition, with their final scheduled match against the Isle of Wight cancelled as a result.

Oxon 69, Sussex 154

(Oxon skips first)

J Berry 24, A Truran 19; D Jacob 9, P Escott 21; D Knight 14, L Kuhler 24; C Gaskins 10, D Hoon 30; B Havard 7, R Mackriel 32; W Cross 5, B Davies 28.

There was better news, however, when Oxon’s women beat Surrey 53-32 at Banbury Chestnuts BC.

The rink of Caroline Campion, Carole Galletly, Caroline Bloomfield and Helen Young led by eight shots after two ends and never looked back, winning 34-18.

The other four of Katherine Hawes, Karen Galloway, Carol Gaskins and Donna Knight were 12-3 up after eight ends, eventually triumphing 19-14.

  • THE ladies senior fours final will be played tonight at South Oxford BC.

The Oxford City & County team of Jacky Gray, Sue Mayo, Gaskins and Berry will take on Long Hanborough’s Margaret Haley, Anne Hale, Val Wakefield and Pauline Williams.