OXFORDSHIRE warmed up for this weekend's Middleton Cup quarter-final against Kent with victory over their rivals in the Home Counties League.

The two teams will lock horns at Egham BC on Saturday for a place in the last four at Leamington Spa next month.

And it is Oxon who will head into the match full of confidence after a convincing 142-88 victory over their rivals at Kidlington BC.

Only three shots separated the sides after ten ends, before the hosts surged into a lead of 34 just five ends later.

They finished a superb 54 shots clear after winning on five of the six rinks.

Skips Paul Skidmore, Les Days, Shane Cooper, Chris Gilkes and Kevin Alder all led their fours to victory.

The success sees Oxfordshire fifth in the table, but with matches in hand on all of their rivals.

Oxfordshire 142 (20pts), Kent 88 (2)

Rink 1: J Abercrombie, G Hooker, T Eley & P Skidmore won 28-17.

Rink 2: P Hickman, A Ley, P Robbins & L Days won 32-8.

Rink 3: P Demczak, C Cox, O Bennett & S Cooper won 26-14.

Rink 4: J Justin, J MacDonough, S Timms & P Sharman lost 21-12

Rink 5: C Lewis, H Beall, C Weller & C Gilkes won 20-16

Rink 6: R Green, T Prew, B Clarke & K Alder won 24-12

  • HEADINGTON’S Bernie May, Paul Comley, Ray Gaskins and Howard Watts have been crowned senior fours champions.

The quartet saw off the Watlington team of David Byers, David Auger, Adie Twinn and Gordon Hooker 19-13 at Banbury Chestnuts BC.

They now go on to the national finals at Leamington Spa at the start of next month.

The Headington side were given a real scare in their semi-final clash against Bicester’s Martin Workman, Alan Wagner, Paul Hooley and Kevin Taylor.

They trailed 10-6 after ten ends, but edged in front and managed to cling on for a thrilling 15-14 success.

Watlington's four saw off Kidlington’s Jim Feeley, Bob Foster, Chris Cox and Paul McGrath 18-14 in their last four clash, despite the victors leading 15-5 after 12 ends.

In the final, there was nothing between the sides at 16 ends with the score at 13-13.

But Watts produced a superb wood to claim five shots on the 17th, which ultimately decided the outcome.

  • BANBURY Central's Lee Young and Will Campion both made it through to the semi-finals of the county men's singles competition.

Young beat West Witney’s Andy McIntyre 21-11 and will face Headington's Nick Rae-Welsh in the last four, after he saw off teammate Mark Charlett 21-10.

Campion defeated Headington’s Colin Whitehead 21-13 to set up a clash against Banbury Borough’s Keith Holloway, who had earlier got the better of Carterton’s Remy Clanfield 21-9.

  • CARTERTON'S young guns stole the show at the county under 25 singles finals.

Orren Bennett and Joe Justin, both members of the west Oxfordshire club, won through to Leamington after a thrilling day at Chipping Norton BC.

Bennett saw off Headington’s Sam Watts 21-15 in the first semi-final.

He was then joined in the national finals by his teammate, who defeated West Witney’s Bradley Squires 21-16.

  • OXFORDSHIRE'S ladies have qualified for the Walker Cup finals day at Leamington Spa next month.

Convincing wins over both Kent and Sussex saw Oxon cruise into the final stages of the competition, played by two rinks of four, on Sunday, August 18.

Against Kent, Carole Galletly, Caroline Bloomfield, Helen Young and Caroline Campion triumphed by just two shots.

But things were much easier for Karen Galloway, Carol Gaskins, Donna Knight and Katherine Hawes, who won their match by 16 for a 46-28 overall victory.

Oxon dominated against Sussex, running out 50-14 victors.

Campion and Galletly secured another appearance at Leamington when they won through in the singles competition.

Campion beat Mo Cox 21-16 in their semi-final of the county competition, while Galletly saw off Hawes 21-12.

  • OXFORDSHIRE lost 110-97 to Berkshire in a friendly at South Oxford BC.

Rink 1: J Fountain, Chris Purnell, Pam Faulkner, Wendy Cross won 24-15

Rink 2: J Gore, M Alderson, R Phelps & B Havard won 20-13

Rink 3: K Galloway, G Muir, P Williams & C Thornhill lost 27-12.

Rink 4: M Stacey, P Willoughby, D Lynch & M Osborne lost 19-16.

Rink 5: J Stafford, S Wase, E Brown & J Berry lost 16-14.

Rink 6: M Bullock, E Robinson, D Penn & C Penson lost 20-11.