Oxfordshire's hopes of progressing from Group 3A in the EBA Middleton Cup were dashed as they suffered their second successive heavy defeat with a 139-92 thrashing by Hampshire at Banbury Central.

Oxon went into the tie knowing they had to win after their 125-92 battering by old rivals Berkshire in their opening game.

But it was a similar tale of woe as they trailed throughout the match, managing to win on just one rink.

Hampshire led 31-19 after five ends, and although Oxon reduced the deficit to 52-44 at the halfway point, the visitors forged 92-65 ahead over the next five ends.

A strong finish by the south coast county over the last six ends completed a resounding victory.

Mark Sykes's four of Lee Young, Robbie Clanfield and Ryan Buckett were Oxon's only winners, leading all the way to beat skip Charlie Bailey 18-14.

But Oxon's five other rinks were well beaten.

Greg Moon's side of John Philpott, Ian Henwood and Martin Timms let slip a seven-shot lead after ten ends as they went down 18-12 to skip Jim Marsland.

Gary Lucas's four of Keith Holloway, Richard Redford and Stuart Richens set the pace against skip Chris Daniels only to be blown away over the last six ends for a 27-18 loss.

Howard Watts's quartet of Shaun Claridge, who received his Middleton Cup flash for playing three games, Nathan Lewis and Nick Rae-Welsh crashed 25-17 to skip Russell Morgan in a topsy-turvy encounter.

Mark Charlett's rink of Mick Nash, Mike Petersen and Alan Prew were always trailing as they went down 25-13 to skip Leo May.

It means Oxon will just be playing for pride in their final group game against Isle of Wight back at Banbury Central on Saturday, July 5.

Bob Gilkes, who steps down as Oxon team manager this year, was perplexed by the county's showing.

"It's absolutely awful," he admitted. "It's the worst season in nine years I have been doing this.

"I think our standard was set in 2005 when we were runners-up in the competition and we don't seem to have either progressed or maintained that form.

"Whereas I see other counties, probably because of good players coming through, they have slightly altered things and dealt with it better.

"But in Oxfordshire we don't have many players of international standard and it shows. There is a lack of depth in the county at the moment."

Oxfordshire 92 (2pts), Hampshire 139 (20) (Oxon rinks first) Rink 1: S Claridge, N Lewis, N Rae-Welsh, H Watts 17; M Marchant, A Geary, P Cooke, R Morgan 25.

Rink 2: L Young, Ro Clanfield, R Buckett, M Sykes 18; I Rawlinson, C Martin, B Starks, C Bailey 14.

Rink 3: C Whitehead, Ge Moon, B Sparkes, C Carpenter 14; A Taylor, T Bailey, P May, L May 30.

Rink 4: M Nash, M Petersen, A Prew, M Charlett 13; J Keat, R Kemp, C Cranham, R Shelley 25.

Rink 5: J Philpott, I Henwood, M Timms, Gr Moon 12; K Phillips, A Anderson, D Dunford, J Marsland 18.

Rink 6: K Holloway, R Redford, S Richens, G Lucas 18; M Hutley, C Patterson, M Squires, C Daniels 27.

Oxfordshire fell to a late Northants rally as they went down 121-116 in their friendly at Brackley.

Oxon led by eight shots after 18 ends, but Northants reduced the deficit to three over the next two.

And with only one Oxfordshire rink winning on the last end, the hosts snatched a five-shot success.

Northants 121, Oxfordshire 116 (Oxon scores): D Lines, P Cross, T Backer-Holst, J O'Shea won 22-12; P McGrath, T Blackmore, D Bullock, J Lucas won 25-16; P Wilcock, S Steel, L Eltringham, H Franklin lost 23-21; D Wotherspoon, M Broome, O Brittin, M Ford lost 21-19; B Bloomfield, K Salt, D Jennings, G Roper lost 24-19; G Watts, B Allin, M Collison, I Whelpton lost 25-10.