Oxfordshire dug deep to make it two wins from as many Middleton Cup outings with a 121-109 victory over Middlesex at Bush Hill Park BC, Enfield.

Oxon, who had thrashed Hampshire in their opening game, won on four of the six rinks to take the points 18-4 and storm 16 points clear at the top of Group 2B South.

With Calvin Carpenter in the side for the unavailable Jason King, Oxon always had their noses in front, but, at times, it looked as if Middlesex’s concerted efforts may just tip the balance in their favour.

With a handful of ends left to play, Oxon’s advantage dropped to just three shots, but fours in quick succession from the rinks of captain Alan Prew, Ian Snowdon and Mark Charlett opened up a gap.

Middlesex still refused to lie down, however, with Barry Jenkins killing the last end when Paul Sharman was holding a five, and Nick Edwards also putting the jack out against Snowdon late on.

The Headington four of Charlett, Nathan Lewis, Gary May and Mick Nash ended up Oxon’s highest-winning rink with a 26-17 advantage over Phil Sutcliffe.

There were further wins for Sharman (22-14) and Mark Sykes (21-16).

Despite some excellent play from Baden Sparkes’s four, they could not score on the last six ends, eventually going down 21-12 to skip Perry Cook.

Prew’s rink held four for game on the final end, but ended up taking a single for a 22-20 defeat by Pat Briscoe.

That left Snowdon’s four with three ends to play against Norman Worley.

A single on the penultimate end made the game safe for Oxfordshire, and the rink scores level.

Shaun Claridge, at two, drew the shot with his second bowl of the last, and it stayed in pole position to give the Oxon four a 20-19 win.

Oxfordshire make one change as they seek a hat-trick of wins when they face Sussex at Oxford City & County on Saturday.

David Clanfield replaces Will Campion at two on Sparkes’s rink.

Middlesex 109 (4pts), Oxfordshire 121 (18)

(Middlesex rinks first)

Rink 1: D Pitt, R Southgate, J Carey, P Cater 16, AJ Docherty, G Schwab, C Carpenter, M Sykes 21.

Rink 2: R Watkinson, N Edwards, A Frankland, N Worley 19, D May, S Claridge, C Nicoll, I Snowdon 20.

Rink 3: A Dempster, A Knott, B Bass, B Jenkins 14, L Young, A Martin, B Lambourne, P Sharman 22.

Rink 4: S Bland, I Rudston, R LeLeux, P Sutcliffe 17, M Nash, G May, N Lewis, M Charlett 26.

Rink 5: R Fortune, T Brooks, T Waller, P Cook 21, R Pink, W Campion, Ro Clanfield, B Sparkes 12.

Rink 6: G Dear, A Harman, J Sweeney, P Briscoe 22, K Holloway, I Henwood, R Redford, A Prew 20.

OXFORDSHIRE eased to a 119-92 win over Leicestershire in a friendly at Bicester BC.

Bob Gilkes and his rink of Richard Green, Barry Willoughby and John Eatwell led the way with a 31-9 success.

Oxfordshire 119, Leicestershire 92 (Oxon rinks scores): V Webb, L Eltringham, J McGeough, D Allin won 21-12; K Keen, J Timms, A Hall, I Whelpton won 18-15; G Wood, P Cross, M Brain, M Andrew lost 24-18; G Hooker, H Franklin, A Hunt, A Ley won 23-11; B Bloomfield, D Bullock, R Slater, M Petersen lost 21-8; R Green, B Willoughby, J Eatwell, B Gilkes won 31-9.