MARK Hammond's hopes of reaching the national stages of the English Indoor BA under-25 singles championship perished in the area final at Atherley.

The Liberty Trophy regular from Banister Park became the fourth member of the Hampshire junior team to be beaten in this season's competition by 17-year-old Daniel Tomberry from Poole.

Tomberry had already pitched out Tom Bishop (Atherley), Michael Hutley (East Dorset) and Hammond's clubmate, Andrew Herring, before capturing the area showdown on a tie-break.

Having taken such talented scalps on his way to the final Tomberry was obviously a big threat even though he is unknown outside Dorset. Hammond needed to be at his best to go through - and the Hampshire outdoor under-25 champion played below par.

Tomberry, whose father, Mark, was the 2003 EBA singles semi-finalist, clicked straight into gear and, helped by a full house on the fourth end, the Dolphin teenager breezed to the opening set 8-3.

Although Tomberry drew first blood in the next set, Hammond got his act together and romped in 9-1. Hammond faced defeat in the third set when 6-1 adrift but, with a two, single and two, he forced a 6-6 draw on the last of the seven ends.

This meant a tie-break over three ends which Tomberry took 2-0 to book his ticket to the last 32 at Nottingham on February 4-5.

l Bill Ward, above, of East Dorset will fly the Area 31 flag in the over-60 singles on that same Nottingham bill after a thrilling 21-20 victory against Dennis Shipp, also at Atherley.

Five Rivers skip Shipp led 13-8 but Ward responded with a seven-shot burst over three ends to go 15-13 up. Back came Shipp with five singles only for Ward to lead again at 18-15.

Another Shipp sequence put the Salisbury man on 20-18 but Ward snatched the prize with a two and a single.