Oxfordshire clinched their place in the last eight with a 116-105 victory over Middlesex at Ladygate BC, Ruislip.

It means Oxon finish top of Group 3A with a 100 per cent record following wins over Berkshire, Hampshire and Isle of Wight.

Now they can look forward to a quarter-final clash against Kent or Surrey, who meet this weekend, at a venue to be arranged on Saturday, July 23.

Oxon's win over Middlesex was a hard-fought affair.

There was just one shot in it at five and ten ends, and only three at 15, but Oxfordshire finished the better, winning on four of the six rinks to take victory by 11 shots.

Calvin Carpenter's in-form four of Nick Welsh, George Moon and Mark Sykes provided their strongest finish, picking up nine shots over the last six ends to trounce skip Phil Sutcliffe 24-12.

It was the second week running they had recorded Oxon's biggest winning rink following their 27-12 win against Isle of Wight.

Colin Whitehead's side of Mick Nash, Sammy Timms and Andy Wise also finished with a flourish to turn a 16-12 deficit after 15 ends against skip Tony Waller into a 20-17 win.

Greg Moon's four of Keith Holloway, Les Campion and Gary Lucas were another Oxon side to finish in style, racking up seven shots in the last six ends to beat Steve Marrett 25-22.

By contrast, Alan Prew's four of Spencer Townsend, Richard Redford and Ryan Buckett did the damage over the first five ends as they raced into an 11-0 lead on the way to a 20-15 victory over skip Paul Cater.

It was nip and tuck between Oxon captain Baden Sparkes's four of Lee Young, Stuart Richens and Robert Clanfield and skip Pat Briscoe, before the Middlesex side edged home 17-16.

But Robin Hewon's side of Jim Gamage, Paul Comley and Barry Lambourne were blown away 22-11 by skip Perry Cook.

Middlesex 105 (4pts), Oxfordshire 116 (18)

(Middlesex rinks first)

Rink 1: T Doe, T Howard, M Edgecock, P Sutcliffe 12; N Welsh, Geo Moon, M Sykes, C Carpenter 24.

Rink 2: K Ward, T Lawford, S Stockley, P Cook 22; J Gamage, P Comley, B Lambourne, R Hewson 11.

Rink 3: R Ingram, R Clarke, L Mulligan, P Briscoe 17; L Young, S Richens, R Clanfield, B Sparkes 16.

Rink 4: J Goddard, A Law, C Harris, T Waller 17; M Nash, S Timms, A Wise, C Whitehead 20.

Rink 5: G Dear, W Woods, R LeLeux, P Cater 15; S Townsend, R Redford, R Buckett, A Prew 20.

Rink 6: J Gibbs, D King, T Brooks, S Marrett 22; K Holloway, L Campion, G Lucas, Gr Moon 25.

Oxfordshire bowed out of the EBA Inter-County Top Four competition with a 21-12 defeat by Surrey in the regional semi-final at Wealdstone.

Nick Welsh, Mark Sykes, Gary Lucas and Alan Prew were alway toiling against their Surrey opponents, who went on to beat Sussex 18-16 in the final.

Oxfordshire bagged a brace of wins in their friendlies against Herefordshire and Leicestershire.

They swept aside Herefordshire 153-106 at Hanborough, with skip Mervyn Gleeson, Richard Jackson, Ian Stallwood and David Bullock posting their biggest victory with a 34-10 success.

Hanborough's Colin Oliver received his colts badge at the match.

Oxfordshire continued their winning ways with a 130-94 victory over Leicestershire at Hart of Fleckney BC.

Gleeson once more skipped Oxon's top rink, this time assisted by Simon Hastings, Terry Martin and Mike Collison, with a 31-12 victory.

A six-game badge was awarded to Brian Elkins (Stuart, Henley).