Two crushing rink wins helped Oxfordshire ease to a confidence-boosting 136-92 victory over Gloucestershire in their final Middleton Cup trial match at Barnwood.

Following their home defeat by Northants the previous week, Oxon were looking to get back on track.

And emphatic 31-10 triumphs from skips Mark Sykes and Alan Prew ensured they did just that.

Sykes’s rink of AJ Docherty, who received his county badge after completing six games, Sammy Timms and Mark Charlett blew away skip Bill Alner.

Prew’s four of Chris Miles – making his debut at this level – Paul Sharman and Stuart Richens were equally merciless against Rob Griffiths.

Oxon triumphed on two other rinks with Richard Redford’s side of Keith Holloway, Lee Young and George Moon finishing strongly to beat skip Dave Howes 23-17.

And captain Greg Moon’s quartet of John Philpott, Will Campion and Barry Lambourne edged past skip Keith Hinder 18-16.

Oxon suffered narrow defeats on the two other rinks.

Baden Sparkes’s side of Shaun Claridge, Mike Petersen and Robbie Clanfield were pipped 20-18 by skip Lee Williamson.

And Howards Watts’s four of Nathan Lewis, George Schwab and Kevin Alder went down 19-15 against Steve Wiltshire.

Now Oxfordshire can look forward to their Middleton Cup opener against Hampshire at Atherley on Saturday, June 5.

In the meantime, they open their Home Counties League programme against Surrey at Shirley this Saturday.

Gloucestershire 92, Oxfordshire 136

(Gloucs rinks first)

Rink 1: M Humphries, J Roach, P Bryant, R Griffiths 19; N Lewis, G Schwab, K Alder, H Watts 15.

Rink 2: A Cotton, L Elliot, T Griffiths, K Hinder 16; J Philpott, W Campion, B Lambourne, Gr Moon 18.

Rink 3: J Dyer, G Phillips, A Sprules, B Alner 10; AJ Docherty, S Timms, M Charlett, M Sykes 31.

Rink 4: N Kitchen, P Nelmes, N Cansdale, L Williamson 20; S Claridge, M Petersen, Ro Clanfield, B Sparkes 18.

Rink 5: M Mayhew, J Roach, P Bryant, R Griffiths 10; C Miles, P Sharman, S Richens, A Prew 31.

Rink 6: V Wilkes, R Bird, M Cuthbert, D Howes 17; K Holloway, L Young, Ge Moon, R Redford 23.

OXON have named a ten-man squad for the National County Two Fours competition as they chase the Balcomb Trophy.

Oxon squad: J Philpott, K Holloway, M Charlett, I Snowdon, S Richens, A Prew, Gr Moon, H Watts, M Sykes, N Rae-Welsh.