Oxfordshire threw away what seemed a certain victory as they were held to an 18-18 draw against Middlesex in Division 1 at South Harrow.

Oxon led 15-9 going into the men’s A clash at Tithe Farm Social Club, Rayners Lane – needing just four points from the remaining 12 games to secure the win.

But a 9-3 drubbing saw the match finish all square.

There was no sign of the collpase to come when man-of-the-match Roger Haines (26.84) took the first game to make it 16-9.

But the jitters then set in as Middlesex won the next four games to pull it back to 16-13.

Pete Hall (25.18) and Wes Topley steadied the ship to take Oxon to the brink of victory.

But then they lost the next four games to share the spoils.

Despite being unable to clinch victory, Oxon moved up a place to third and their promotions ambitions will be on the line when they face the top two, Cornwall and Surrey, in their next two games.

Oxon had got off to a good start with the ladies’ B team winning 4-2.

Lady-of-the-match Sandra Cox (22.43 average), Babs Manning (20.54), Kim Ledbury and Paulette Guy provided Oxon’s points.

Oxon stretched their advantage at the end of day one when the men’s B followed up with a 7-5 victory.

The wins came from Barry Stratford, Graham Manning, who made it four from four this season, Kevin Wilkins, man-of-the-match Dan Butler (24.62), Nigel Russell, Joe Palmer and Pete Fisher.

Leading 11-7 going into the second day, Oxon strengthened their grip on the match with their ladies’ A team producing another quality performance to triumph 4-2.

Karen Williams (20.14) set them on the way followed by Louise Carroll (19.94), world championship semi-finalist Deta Hedman, who produced the highest average of the weekend for both men and ladies with a cracking 28.06, and Linda Jones (20.88).

It left Oxon needing just four points from the men’s A team to clinch victory, but it was to prove beyond them.