Oxfordshire got their Middleton Cup campaign off to a flying start with a 122-114 victory over Hampshire at Banbury Central.

The much-changed Oxon side, under new manager Bob Gilkes, turned in a solid team performance against the county who topped their group last year.

Oxon built a solid foundation by running up a lead of 37-20 at five ends and consolidating over the next five to be leading 68-47.

However, Hampshire fought back and at 15 ends, were only three shots adrift at 85-88. They continued their roll to go four shots clear before Oxon held their nerve to pull away over the last few ends and triumph by eight shots.

On rink one, Alan Ley's four were 17-0 up after seven ends and went on to win 26-16, while Gary Lucas's rink did well to lose by only six against against a rink skipped by Julian Haines, last year's national triples winner.

Rink three saw Howard Watts lead his side to a convincing 23-13 victory, but on rink four, Oxon captain Baden Sparkes went down 22-16 after being 16-13 to the good at 16 ends.

Greg Moon enjoyed a hard tussle with Graham Stanley on rink five before coming out on top 20-17, while Oxon's sixth rink of Paul Mabbutt, George Moon, Mike Hitchcox and Les Gillett found themselves 23-7 down at 12 ends but fought back magnificently to lose by only three shots, 23-26.

Oxon now turn their attention to this Saturday's next game against Bucks at Chesham.

Oxfordshire 122 (16 pts), Hampshire 114 (6) (Oxon skips first): A Ley 26, R Morgan 16; G Lucas 14, J Haines 20; H Watts 23, C Hayward 13; B Sparkes 16, P Pull 22; G Moon 20, G Standley 17; L Gillett 23, P Ward 26.

Oxfordshire (Buckinghamshire, at Chesham BC, Sat): P Mabbutt (Summertown), Geo Moon (Banbury Borough), M Hitchcox (West Witney), L Gillett (W Witney); A Martin (C Norton), L Campion (Banbury Cent), M Charlett (Summertown), Gr Moon (Banbury Borough); N Wallace (Summertown), B Lambourne (Shiplake), A Prew (Banbury Boro), A Ley (Summertown); M Petersen (City and County), S Richens (Carterton), R Buckett (Stuarts), B Sparkes (Carterton); R Hewson (Summertown), C Carpenter (Banbury Borough), R Sampson (Summertown), G Lucas (Banbury Borough); R Beesley (Summertown), D Sharpe (Banbury Borough), G Allen (Summertown), H Watts (Summer- town).

Res: D Clanfield (Carterton), D Hall (W Witney), R Redford (Banbury Boro).