Surrey have started their Home Counties League programme with one win and one defeat.

They started the campaign with an encouraging 132-95 victory over Middlesex, with the rink of Bernie Pedersen (Tongham), Paul Coleman (Cheam), Ian Ross (Wallington) and Surrey captain Ian Honnor (Weybridge) winning their rink 30-7, as Surrey took 18 points and Middlesex four.

Team manager Dave Candeland said: “The atmosphere was very good with the players tackling their task very quickly and pressurising their opponents.”

Rink 1: Surrey: Colin Boozer, Richard Cushen, Joe Cable, Mick Sigamoney 16. Middlesex: John Sinclair 14. 2: Alan Gover, Gareth Morgan, Paul Chuter, Eamon Nolan 19 Tony Waller 20. 3: Bernie Pederesen, Paul Coleman, Ian Ross, Ian Honnor 30 Norman Worley 7. 4: Deric Homes, Steve Cooke, Tim Orr, Lee Dickson 18 Ernie Rudston 30. 5: Andy Bullen, Simon Greenwood, Nathan Beeson, Eamon O'Flynn 29 John Greeves 9. 6: Tony Downs, Andrew Boarer, Jeff O'Leary, Graham Vigor 20 Andy Knott 15.

However, the impressive start came unstuck with a 125-97 defeat to Oxfordshire at Oxford City & County Bowls Club.

The hosts fielded eight back-end bowlers from their last Middleton Cup match and, although the counties won three rinks each, Surrey took just six points to Oxfordshire’s 16.

Rink 1: Oxfordshire: M Charlett 30, Surrey: Charlie Souter, Keith Searle, Dave Clark, Nathan Beeson 21. 2: I Snowdon 14 Mick Gray, John Tucker, Joe Cable, Tim Orr 22. 3: C Nicoll 20 Chris Jones, Paul Chuter, Gareth Morgan, Ian Ross 11. 4: NR Welsh 19 Deric Homes, Richard Cushen, Paul Vamvacopoulos, Mick Sigamoney 20.

5: George Moon 15 Phil Burge, Andrew Boarer, Lee Dickson, Eamon O'Flynn 16. 6: Alan Ley 27 Colin Popple, Mike Appleford, Graham Robinson, Martin Sampson 7.

Surrey’s best rink consisted of Mick Gray (Cheam), John Tucker & Joe Cable (both Purley Bury) and Tim Orr (Mid-Surrey).

Surrey’s next Home Counties League match is at Kent in early July.

There was also a shock defeat for Surrey in their first home county friendly with the Isle of Wight at Farnham BC.

Surrey were beaten on four of the six rinks and their best quartet were senior vice-president Tony Bourne (Purley Bury), Robin Taylor (Windlesham), Derek Harvey (Purley) and David Candeland (Shirley Park). Over the last six years the matches between these two counties have been shared with three wins each but Surrey do not usually lose a county match at home. Two matches next week, on Tuesday against Hertfordshire (Away) and Thursday against Sussex (Home) when Surrey hope to return to winning ways.

Surrey 112 Bowls Isle of Wight 113.

Rink 1: Surrey: Bob Archer, Dennis Williams, Billy Banks, Jim Mason 10, Isle of Wight: Colin Vines 21, 2: Tony Bourne, Robin Taylor, Derek Harvey, David Candeland 30 Roy Smith 9. 3: Peter Duncan, Ken Parker, Mike Smith, Martin Sampson 16 Barry Rodwell 19. 4: Errol Kum, Tony Clark, Dave Botting, Ian Ross 19 Tony King 22. 5: Dave Hussey, Terry James, Terry Cannon, Paul Chuter 14 Derek Stevens 2. 6: Deric Homes, Michael Rejman, Tony Plater, Joe Cable 23 Fred Sly 22.

Surrey have a home friendly with Norfolk at Purley Bury on Tuesday, June 14 (2pm).