Oxfordshire got their Middleton Cup campaign off to a dream start with a handsome 127-101 victory away to Hampshire at Atherley, Southampton.

Victory on five of the six rinks saw them pick up 20 points to Hampshire's two, and sets them up nicely for the next cup outing on June 21 away to the Isle of Wight.

Greg Moon, called up by England for the Home Internationals last week, led the way with a 28-12 triumph on rink two.

Alan Ley (23-20), Alan Prew (19-17), Calvin Carpenter (28-18) and skipper Baden Sparkes (19-15) were Oxon's other winners, while the only reverse was Mark Charlett's 19-14 defeat on rink three.

Charlett, skipping for the first time in the cup, was up against national outdoor singles champion Martin Sekjer, and his young rink did well to hold their opponents until the final end.

Team manager Bob Gilkes was delighted by the performance.

He said: "It was an excellent show all-round. We have got a super team spirit and everyone, old and new, wants to win.

"Hampshire had individual stars, but we performed as a team, and that was the difference."

Oxon make one change for their next Middleton Cup game at Cowes. On Greg Moon's rink, Ryan Buckett is unavailable, so Barry Lambourne moves up to No 3and Chris Earl will make his debut in the No 2 spot.

Oxon 127 (20pts), Hants 101 (2) Oxon skips first: A Ley 23, N Jones 20; G Moon 28, P Ward 12; M Charlett 14, M Sekjer 19; A Prew 19, J Haines 17; C Carpenter 28, P May 18; B Sparkes 19, L May 15.