OXFORDSHIRE’S run in the English Short Mat Bowling Association’s Inter-County Championship Premier Knockout came to an end with a 24-16 defeat by Essex in the semi-final at Caroline Chisholm School, Northampton.

Oxon were always up against it as Essex came out on top 200-141 on shots.

RESULTS

VALE OF WHITE HORSE LEAGUE

Division 1

Stanford Village 18 (6pts), Chieveley 16 (2) 1st leg: Stanford Village (S Channer, H Skidmore, P Mildenhall, P Skidmore) 11, Chieveley (G Mason, S Sampson, D Simms, D Wilson) 7.

2nd leg: Stanford Village (V Smith, B Channer, M Edwards, L Gray) 7, Chieveley (D Ives, G Hornsey, N Cottrell, T Clough) 9.

Harwell Harriers 7 (1), Stanford Vale 25 (15) 1st leg: Harwell Harriers (M Street, R Lewis, P Lock, B Barnard) 16, Stanford Vale (B Gardener, T Watkins, J Hayward, P Broad) 6.

2nd leg: Harwell Harriers (J Smith, K Lee, J Hutchinson, I Hutchinson) 9, Stanford Vale (M Wyatt, M Church, G Iles, C Iles) 9.

  • BANBURY Borough’s Calvin Carpenter returns to Oxfordshire’s Middleton Cup squad after stepping down as team manager.

Steve Gilkes takes charge of the side, with the greatest representation in his 32-man squad coming from Oxford & District League and Cup double champions Headington, with ten bowlers.

Oxon squad: K Alder (West Witney), W Campion, G Schwab (both Banbury Central), C Carpenter, AJ Docherty, K Holloway, Ge Moon, R Redford, M Sykes (all Banbury Borough), S Claridge, M Charlett, I Henwood, J King, N Lewis, D May, G May, M Nash, C Nicoll, I Snowdon (all Headington), D Clanfield, R Clanfield, S Cooper, A Martin, A Prew, P Sharman, B Sparkes, L Young (all Carterton), C Earl, M Petersen (both Oxford City & County), B Lambourne (Shiplake Village), R Pink (Bicester), C Weller (Kidlington).