Oxfordshire slipped to a 115-110 defeat in their Home Counties League opener against Surrey at Croydon.

A closely-fought contest saw Oxon trail by five shots after ten ends, before rallying to take an 82-80 lead after 15.

However, Surrey had the edge in the finishing straight to take victory.

Oxon won on two of the six rinks, with Nick Rae-Welsh's side of Paul Boffin, Trevor Beaumont and George Moon thrashing skip Alistair Howick 28-11.

The damage was done early on as the visitors raced 17-2 ahead after five ends.

Skip Baden Sparkes, Andy McIntyre, Kevin Alder and Chris Weller provided Oxon's other successful rink with a 19-17 win over skip Norman Ross.

Having fallen 7-1 behind after five ends, Sparkes's side fought back to lead 14-9 after 15, before holding on for victory.

However, defeats on the four other rinks proved costly for Oxon.

Mark Charlett's side of Darren St John, David Wedge and Sammy Timms suffered the heaviest reverse with a 25-15 loss to skip Ian Honour.

Charlett had the consolation of being awarded his 100-game badge by president John O'Shea after the match.

Martin Timms's rink of Keith Holloway, Glyn Coggon and Richard Redford were overpowered 27-18 by skip Martin Sampson.

A poor start proved crucial for Gary Lucas's side of Paul McGrath, Richard Claridge and Mike Petersen as they succumbed 18-16 to skip Dennis Hennessey.

Lucas's men were 9-1 down after five ends, and although they rallied in determined fashion, the leeway was too much to make up.

It was a similar story for Colin Whitehead's rink of Lee Young, George Schwab and Ian Whelpton as they were slow out off the blocks on the way to a 17-14 defeat by skip David Clark.

The Oxon quartet were always toiling after their opponents raced 7-0 ahead over the first five ends.

Surrey 115 (18pts), Oxfordshire 110 (4) (Surrey rinks first) Rink 1: D Spittles, M Reed, M Signamoney, I Honour 25; D St John, D Wedge, S Timms, M Charlett 15.

Rink 2: B Pedersen, P Foley, I Ross, N Ross 17; A McIntyre, K Alder, C Weller, B Sparkes 19.

Rink 3: A Gladwell, S Jellis, G McDonald, D Clark 17; L Young, G Schwab, I Whelpton, C Whitehead 14.

Rink 4: D Homes, G Morgan, A Dawkins, M Sampson 27; K Holloway, G Coggon, R Redford, M Timms 18.

Rink 5: T Barlow, J Roll, T Orr, A Howick 11; P Boffin, T Beaumont, Ge Moon, N Rae-Welsh 28.

Rink 6: C Sewell, A Barclay, P Chuter, D Hennessey 18; P McGrath, R Claridge, M Petersen, G Lucas 16.