WENDY LINE may have retired from international bowling but she is still England class.

That was the conclusion after her outstanding performance carried Hampshire to a 39-27 revenge victory over Dorset in the Walker Cup (double rink championship) at Alderbury, near Salisbury.

With Atherley twosome Anne Pearce (lead) and Jean Arnaud (two) also finding the weight of the green immediately, Line had the perfect allies in building an 11-0 lead after six ends and later a massive 19-3 advantage after 12 against no less a rival than Janet Green, herself an international triallist.

Green was the bowler who whitewashed Line in the national indoor singles a few winters ago but the boot was firmly on the other foot as the Southampton Women's skip delivered a succession of fine woods to knock the stuffing out of Dorset.

Typical of Line's prowess was the sixth end where Green - already 10-0 down - looked set to finally get on the scoreboard with three shots until the Hampshire skip trailed the jack for a single. Line went on to win 24-12.

The other Hampshire rink Sandy Pullin, Sandy Moyse, Rosemary Corney and Alton skip Margaret Holden had an intriguing tussle with Rosemary Spetch.

Ahead 6-3 at seven ends, Holden then lost six ends on the trot to be 11-6 down. She was later 15-8 in arrears but then took the final four ends - including four shots on the last - to force a 15-15 draw.

In the next round on Thursday, June 27, Hampshire play Cornwall - conquerors of the Isle of Wight - at the Starcross club in Devon.