HAMPSHIRE'S Middleton Cup team is on course for the quarter-finals of this season's competition if they beat Oxfordshire at the Sports Centre on Saturday (2pm).

Last week's exciting win over Berkshire at Reading maintained Hampshire's unbeaten record in Group 3A, although they do not lead the group as Buckinghamshire have already completed their programme and have two more points than Hampshire at present.

In practice, Hampshire need only collect four points on Saturday from victories on two rinks to win the group. But that is a dangerous way of thinking, as team manager Peter Kemp emphasised: "Although we only need four points we mustn't relax. If we go out with the wrong attitude we'll lose heavily. It is essential we go for a big win."

Hampshire had to stage a fighting recovery to gain their 126-115 win last week. After a promising start, Kemp's men were trailing for much of the game. They had reduced a five-shot deficit at five ends to one by halfway, but then slumped badly to be 12 down at 15 ends and lost two more shots on the next one.

Then the recovery began, inspired by John Keat, Leo May, Colin Hayward and skip Nicky Jones who collected five fours on their rink over the closing six ends. Peter Ward's rink collected a three, Russell Morgan's a two and the other three rinks gained one each to go with the four collected by Jones, so Hampshire recovered 12 of their deficit on the 17th end.

The team never really looked back from that point and threes for Morgan and Julian Haines, plus a four for Graham Standley meant Hampshire eventually gained quite a comfortable victory.

Kemp said: "I was very heartened by the win, which means we've a very good chance of reaching the quarter-finals."

The side for Saturday's clash with Oxfordshire is unchanged, although Colin Thresher and Dave Dunford exchange positions on Iain Foster's rink which had a nightmare last Saturday. Dorian Bishop, having been a late replacement for Keith Langfield, retains his place at lead in Ward's rink while Langfield has been selected as a reserve.

Rink scores (Hampshire skips first): Russell Morgan 25 Robert Newman 11, Julian Haines 15 Peter Swinn 31, Peter Ward 19 Michael Newman 15, Graham Standley 19 Jon Stradling 13, Nicky Jones 31 Ian Snowdon 12, Iain Foster 17 Paul Ryman 30. Hampshire 126 (18) Berkshire 115 (4) Other Group 3A result: Buckinghamshire 136 (22) Isle of Wight 87 (0)

Team to meet Oxfordshire: Dean Morgan, Chris Martin (both Boscombe Cliff), Jim Marsland (Cove), skip Julian Haines (Boscombe Cliff - captain) Jim Squires (Aldershot Traction), Nick Smith (Atherley), Peter Pull (Bournemouth), skip Graham Standley (Whitchurch) Matthew Marchant (CS Portsmouth), Colin Thresher (Woolston), David Dunford (Aldershot Traction), skip Iain Foster (IBM Portsmouth) Mike Squires (Boscombe Cliff), Norman Shelley, Richard Shelley (both Atherley), skip Russell Morgan (Boscombe Cliff) John Keat (Atherley), Leo May (Pystock), Colin Hayward (CS Portsmouth), skip Nick Jones (Bournemouth) Dorian Bishop (CS Portsmouth), Colin Brewer (Southsea Waverley), Russell Kemp (Fleming Park), skip Peter Ward (Sports Centre) Reserves: Steve Robertson (IBM Portsmouth), Charlie Bailey (Fareham), Paul Short (Aldershot Traction), Keith Langfield (Aldershot Traction) This week's other Group 3A fixture: Isle of Wight v Berkshire

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