Team manager John Church was able to take the opportunity of seeing a number of players who were not available at the previous week's county trials.

The match was a close affair, but Northants looked set for victory when they were 18 shots ahead after 16 ends.

But over the next five ends, Oxfordshire came storming back to win it.
The County were just three shots in arrears after five ends, but over the next five ends taking the initiative to go 14 shots up at 10 ends, then to 18 shots before fading fast.

Rink scores
Rink one (Oxfordshire skips only): M Paul/J Newitt, R Castle, D Childs, J McKee 22, G Lucas 19. Rink two: R Lemon, D Graham, J Brown, A Hunter 9, M Sykes 26. Rink three: J Walker, A Ashby, J Freeman/ G Warren, V Gearey 12, C Carpenter 24. Rink four: T O'Leary, M Malins/A Coleman, R Tansley, S Wade 17, A Prew 27. Rink five: N Rees, R Mann/C Haines, M Diggin, P Reeve 18, H Watts 37. Rink six: A Withers, C Fowkes, C Bland/M Walker, J Haines 37, G Moon 15.

The Northants team has now been selected for Northants' opening Midland Counties match of the season against Warwickshire at Wellingborough on Saturday (2pm start, players meet 1.15pm).
Rink one: J Walker, A Ashby (bothWest End), J Freeman (Abington), V
Gearey (Kingsthorpe). Rink two: M Paul (Desborough), R Castle (Express), D Childs (Thrapston), J McKee (Kingsthorpe). Rink three: R Lemon (Express), J Brown (Abington), S Wade (Kingsthorpe), P Broderick (Wellingborough). Rink four: A Wither, J Haines (both Desborough), C Fowkes (Kingsthorpe), C Bland (Express). Rink five: T O'Leary (Abington), R Mann, P Reeve (Kingsthorpe), M Diggin (St Crispin). Rink six: C Height (Thrapston), M Mallins (Irchester), R Tansley (Kingsthorpe), N Corbyn (Wellingborough). Travelling reserves: P Ward (Desborough), A Coleman (Abington), D Graham (Express), M Walker (West End). Non-travelling reserves: G Warren (S&L), C Haines (Desborough), J Hall, M Chester (both Wellingborough).

County Ladies president Bev Manning (Kislingbury) and County ladies secretary Jan Hunt (Irchester) represented Northants at a Service of Thanksgiving for Bowls England and the blessing of the new flag at Gloucester cathedral.

Bowls England is the new national organisation for flat green outdoor bowls, born as a result of the unification of the English Bowling Association and the English Women's Bowling Association, earlier this year.

The service was followed by a match involving 20 teams hosted by the Bowls England ladies president Angela Harris at her home club, Gloucester Spa, where Hunt had the opportunity to play against Bowls England chief executive and former world champion Tony Allcock.

Byfield joined the big boys as the new Northampton Triples League season started last night. Byfield won promotion to the top flight last summer and will be hoping to record some shock wins against the likes of Kingsthorpe A and Express A.