DESPITE making a promising start, Oxfordshire crashed to a 22-14 defeat at home to Essex on Division 1 of the BDO Inter-Counties Championship.

The ladies’ B team established an early 4-2 lead for the hosts at Bicester thanks to wins from Irene Richardson, lady-of-the-match Kim Ledbury, Carol Smith and Laura Ross.

But Essex, who were relegated from the Premier Division last season, hit back to win the men’s B match 9-3, although eight of the games went the full distance.

Debutant Shane Turner picked up one of those points, followed by Keith Bedding and man-of-the-match Kevin Lowe.

Trailing 11-7 overnight, Oxon fell further behind when their ladies’ A team lost 4-2, their victories coming from Leanne Jennings and Sandra Cox.

In the men’s A match, young Stephen Wright won, before Geordie Grant, Lee Russell, man-of-the-match Ade Larner and Pete Hall added to the Oxon tally.

But it wasn’t enough to seal a victory over a strong Essex side.