Oxfordshire set aside their Middleton Cup misery to hammer Sussex 141-115 in the Home Counties League at South Oxford.

Oxon, who crashed out of the sport's premier county competition following heavy group defeats by Berkshire and Hampshire, were always in charge against their south coast visitors.

With eight Middleton Cup players in the side, they won on five of the six rinks, and were only denied a clean sweep as they threw away a winning position on the other to lose by a shot.

Ryan Buckett's four of Chris Weller, Gordon Hooker and Barrie Evans led the way with ten shots over the last six ends to record a 26-15 victory over skip Aaron Sexton.

Mike Petersen's side of Andy Crawley, David Wedge and Gordon Roper brushed aside skip Alex Ackerman 21-12.

Colin Whitehead's quartet of Andy McIntyre, Kevin Alder and Ian Whelpton made the most of a flying start to pip skip Adrian Finnie 26-24.

Whitehead led 12-1 after five ends, but only just held on as Finnie picked up 14 shots over the last six ends.

Calvin Carpenter's rink of Shaun Claridge, Gary May and Sammy Timms staved off a late rally by skip Malcolm Hosking to triumph 24-21.

Mark Sykes's four of Keith Holloway, AJ Docherty and Mike Andrew edged out skip Jim Morley 21-19.

Oxon's only reverse came as Baden Sparkes's side of Andy Wise, Steve Gilkes and Alan Ley were stunned by skip Simon Pettingel's late fightback.

Leading 22-10 after 15 ends, Sparkes's men caved in to lose 24-23.

It gave Oxon their first league win this season, and lifted spirits ahead of this Saturday's clash with old rivals Berkshire at Oxford City & County.

Oxfordshire 141 (20pts), Sussex 115 (2) (Oxon rinks first) Rink 1: A Wise, S Gilkes, A Ley, B Sparkes 23; P Colbourne, P Soper, M Strong, S Pettingel 24.

Rink 2: A Crawley, D Wedge, G Roper, M Petersen 21; D Cornwell, T Loveless, B Crittle, A Ackerman 12.

Rink 3: C Weller, G Hooker, B Evans, R Buckett 26; S Flynn, G Bevan, D Anderson, A Sexton 15.

Rink 4: A McIntyre, K Alder, I Whelpton, C Whitehead 26; L Cooper, S Ireland, R Dray, A Finnie 24.

Rink 5: K Holloway, AJ Docherty, M Andrew, M Sykes 21; N Pierce, S Sands, J Smith, J Morley 19.

Rink 6: S Claridge, G May, S Timms, C Carpenter 24; D Richardson, P Ward, M Edgecock, M Hosking 21.