Richard Redford made a big impact on his first outing as an Oxfordshire skip with a crushing victory in the 118-114 win over Wiltshire in their first EBA Middleton Cup trial game at Banbury Central.

The Banbury Borough man’s rink of George Schwab, David Silvester and Jason King chalked up a 30-7 win –and that proved decisive as Oxon edged home by four shots after trailing by ten at the halfway stage.

Redford’s side provided just one of two winning rinks for Oxon, with Mark Charlett’s four of AJ Docherty, Sammy Timms and Colin Whitehead recording the other with a 21-13 success.

Alan Prew’s quartet of Andy Wise, Stuart Richens and Baden Sparkes staged a late rally, but it proved in vain as they went down 20-18.

Howard Watts’ side of Ian Whelpton, Timmy Warner and Paul Sharman fell 24-18, while Ian Snowdon’s four of Lee Young, Will Campion and Malcolm Edney lost 21-13.

Mark Sykes’ rink of John Philpott, George Moon and Nick Rae-Welsh suffered the heaviest loss with a 29-18 reverse.

Oxon have another trial game against Northants at PSL Roade on Saturday.

Oxfordshire 118, Wiltshire 114

(Oxon rinks first)

Rink 1: J Philpott, Ge Moon, N Rae-Welsh, M Sykes 18; W Simmonds, W Snook, K Hutchens, G Morphet 29.

Rink 2: I Whelpton, T Warner, P Sharman, H Watts 18; N Revell, R Jefferies, A Colebrooke, N Conner 24.

Rink 3: G Schwab, D Silvester, J King, R Redford 30; T Keating, K Anderson, M Crook, L Davis 7.

Rink 4: A Wise, S Richens, B Sparkes, A Prew 18; K Embling, B Gadd, K Bailey, D Snell 20.

Rink 5: L Young, W Campion, M Edney, I Snowdon 13; R Summers, P MacDonald, C Cheesley, M Jackson 21.

Rink 6: AJ Docherty, S Timms, C Whitehead, M Charlett 21; D Godwin, M Smamer, D Titcombe, M Dyer 13.

Oxfordshire (v Northamptonshire, PSL Roade, Sat): K Holloway, M Gleeson, B Lambourne, Gr Moon; S Gibson, P Comley, M Petersen, A Ley; M Nash, I Henwood, M Charlett, I Snowdon; S Claridge, N Lewis, R Clanfield, H Watts; A McIntyre, K Alder, R Barnett, R Redford; D Hall, G May, J King, M Sykes.

OXFORDSHIRE Under 25s found an Oxon Invitation side too strong in their clash at Kidlington, going down 126-72.

The under 25s competed well, but went down on all six rinks to a side, which contained many former under 25 team bowlers and six 2009 Middleton Cup triallists.

Liam Witcombe, Chris Gilkes and Dan Wakeman put up the best effort, coming back from 7-1 down after five ends to only lose by five shots.

The team start their Home Counties League season against Berkshire at Kidlington on Sunday (10.30am).

Oxon Under 25s 72, Oxon Invitation 126

(Oxon Under 25s rinks first)

Rink 1: J Hopkins, S White, S Muir 10; D Muir, M East, N Rae-Welsh 17.

Rink 2: J Foreman, R Full, C Hopkins 14; H Weedon, C Weedon, A Martin 20.

Rink 3: D Swanson, Darren Wakeman, C Miles 10; AJ Docherty, D Cooper, R Redford 18.

Rink 4: L Witcombe, C Gilkes, Dan Wakeman 13; H Campion, N Rae, W Campion 18.

Rink 5: C Hathaway, G Schwab, J Jordan 9; L Young, A Cross, C Nicoll 24.

Rink 6: W Soden, R Pink, S Cooper 16; S Claridge, T Wakeman, N Lewis 29.

MORE than 80 women bowlers from around Oxfordshire have signed up to take part in West Witney BC’s charity day in aid of breast cancer on Friday, May 15.