Oxfordshire came out fighting at home to Herts in order to avenge the heavy loss they suffered in the reverse fixture at Elm Court.

The singles for Herts (Michael West and Alan Spicer) took the brunt of the onslaught with two very strong opponents showing their mastery of their home mats.  The only points from the singles came from a Michael West 13-7 win in Session 3.

Audrey and Brian Fowler scored the only Herts points in the first session of play, winning 12-10.  In Session 3 Audrey and Brian and their teammates Pauline Taylor and Alan Hare came very close, both pairs losing by a single shot.

The triples faired a little better.  Adrianne West, Mary Chadd and Brian McGivern notched 3 game points while Jill Oakes, Tony Gayler and Gordon Burrow added 2 points with a comfortable 13-5 win in the afternoon session.  With 2 bonus points from the triples discipline, the Herts trios added 7 points to the Herts total.

The fours matched the points haul of the triples.  Jeff Branch, John Taylor, Sam Salmon and Jeanette Gayler got a win and a draw.  Margaret Hare, Barry Thorogood, Robin Quarterman and Ken Murray won their morning game 14-5.

Despite losing on points, the 4 point margin was not devastating to Hertfordshire's qualification campaign.  We are waiting for the result of the Northants v Bucks game where a win for Buckinghamshire would put them top of the group.  Whatever the result, the last match, a home game against Buckinghamshire in two weeks will decide the group winners.