Oxfordshire’s promotion hopes in Division 1 of the Rileys British Inter-Counties Championship suffered a setback at the weekend as they went down 23-13 away to Hampshire at Fareham.

The writing was on the wall after the first day, with the men’s B team suffering a heavy 10-2 defeat.

The ladies B gave Oxon a fair start by drawing 3-3, thanks to wins from wins lady- of-the-match Kelly Dutton (17.89 average), Jane Jenkins (16.92) on her debut and Nicola Curzon (17.38).

Joe Palmer got the men’s B side off to a flier by taking the opening game, but the visitors had to wait until the eighth game for their second success from man-of-the-match Kevin Wilkins (26.63).

Oxon then lost the remaining four games as missed doubles cost them dear.

It meant they ended the day 13-5 down with it all to do.

Linda Jones (20.70) took the first game for the ladies A on Sunday before Hampshire hit back to grab the next three.

Lady-of-the-match Deta Hedman (22.43) stopped the rot, but defeat in the final game saw Oxon move into the men’s A, trailing 17-7.

For a while, it seemed they might achieve the impossible as they reeled off four wins from the first five games thanks to man-of-the-match Dennis Smith (27.86), Mark Thomson (26.37), Kirk Shepherd (26.58) and Nick Cobb (26.08).

However, world under 21 champion Aaron Monk started Hampshire’s fightback, rec-ording a superb 33.40 average.

Preben Krabben, with no fewer than 12 ton-plus scores, and Stuart Dutton were Oxon’s other winners, which meant the A teams finished all square.

Oxon remain top of the table, but defeat leaves them with a lot to do in their next game away to Gwent if they are to achieve their dream of playing in the top flight.