Oxfordshire's hopes of progressing in the Middleton Cup are over after they suffered a crushing 146-97 defeat by Surrey at Croydon.

Oxon went into the game knowing a win would put them right back in contention to top South Group Section B.

But things could hardly have gone worse as they lost on five rinks and now face a battle to avoid finishing bottom of the table.

Oxon were 11 shots adrift after five ends, and trailed by 23 shots at 18.

But then they capitulated as Surrey stormed home by 49 shots to boost their chances of overtaking leaders Berkshire in the final games on July 4.

Mark Sykes and his Banbury Borough team of AJ Docherty, George Schwab and Richard Redford battled well to provide Oxon’s only winning rink with a 24-21 victory over skip Mark Bishopp.

Paul Sharman’s four of Sam Watts, Shane Cooper and Barry Lambourne were only one shot adrift after 18 ends against Dennis Hennessy, but were swept away on the home straight to lose 25-15.

Baden Sparkes’s side of Mick Nash, Paul Comley and Colin Whitehead were always struggling to contain Nathan Beeson as they went down 26-15.

Mark Charlett’s four of Dean May, Shaun Claridge and Jason King trailed Phil McDonnell by just two shots after 15 ends, but failed to win another end as they were hammered 29-13.

In a new set-up, Ray Gaskins skipped his rink of Keith Holloway, Andy Martin and Ian Henwood to wins on eight ends in a 22-14 defeat by Simon Clarke.

Ian Snowdon’s four of Jon Philpott, Nathan Lewis and Gary May had to replay several ends and were still on the green half an hour after the first rink finished as they went down 23-16 to Mick Sigamoney.

Surrey 146 (20pts), Oxfordshire 97 (2)

(Surrey rinks first)

Rink 1: J Farrell, J O’Leary, T Orr, D Hennessy 25, S Watts, S Cooper, B Lambourne, P Sharman 15.

Rink 2: S Gingell, R Cushen, J Graham, N Beeson 26, M Nash, P Comley, C Whitehead, B Sparkes 15.

Rink 3: C Jones, A Barclay, E O’Flynn, M Bishopp 21, A J Docherty, G Schwab, R Redford, M Sykes 24.

Rink 4: M Porter, D Heard, F Morton, P McDonnell 29, D May, S Claridge, J King, M Charlett 13.

Rink 5: A Vadher, P Bennett, D Morris, S Clarke 22, K Holloway, A Martin, I Henwood, R Gaskins 14.

Rink 6: A Clarke, S Fishlock, L Dickson, M Sigamoney 23, J Philpott, N Lewis, G May, I Snowdon 16.

OXFORDSHIRE crashed out of the Balcomb Trophy with a 53-24 defeat by Middlesex in the regional semi-final at Croydon.

Howard Watts’s rink of Jon Philpott, Nick Rae-Welsh and Mark Charlett lost 23-13 to skip Ton Waller.

Mark Sykes’s four of A J Docherty, Keith Holloway, Paul Sharman conceded after 19 ends when they were trailing 30-11 to Perry Cook.

Oxfordshire 24, Middlesex 53

(Oxon rinks first)

Rink 1: J Philpott, N Rae-Welsh, M Charlett, H Watts 13, G Adams, N Worley, J Sweeny, T Waller 23.

Rink 2: A J Docherty, K Holloway, P Sharman, M Sykes 11, R Fortune, P Reynolds, R Leleux, P Cook 30.

KIDLINGTON’S Barry Willoughby celebrated being awarded a 50-game badge by helping Oxfordshire to a 125-86 win over Herefordshire in a friendly at Banbury Chestnuts.

Oxfordshire 125, Herefordshire 86 (Oxon rink scores): A Wase, N Satchel, H Franklin, M Morris won 18-16; A Hunt, M Jones, J McGeough, A Ley won 31-4; S Tolhurst, J Stephens, M Oliver, A Hall won 21-20; B Willoughby, P Brittin, B Bloomfield, C Weller won 20-8; M Cameron, B Allin, T Gripe, I Whelpton lost 19-16; M Cranstoun, P Demczak, J Timms, J Lucas drew 19-19.