EXCELLENT performances in Sussex from Marion Collins and Margaret Darkin carried Atherley through to the zone 14 final of the Yetton Trophy.

Collins triumphed 20-15 and Darkin finished 19-17 up as the Southampton club overcame Arun 79-73 to book a date with East Dorset on Thursday, January 19.

In a tight contest the closest games were at Hill Lane where Ella Dibble, Patricia Rowe, Jean Terrell and Pat Sutton scored a last-end three to tie 19-19 with Arun's Frances Ireland.

Alongside, Anne Pearce, Del Broomham, Jenny McAusland and Wendy Line led 21-16 on the 19th end for Atherley but dropped a two and a four to be pipped 22-21 by Irene Smith.

At Bognor Regis Jean Arnaud, Jackie Farmer, Gwen Weaver and Collins rounded off with a single and three having led April Janman 16-15 on the 19th while Eileen Askell, Ann Littlewood, Joan Penfold and Darkin trailed 16-15 following the 19th but pulled the result out of the fire with a four on the 20th.

An outstanding 28-12 win at Christchurch from outdoor international Gill Mitchell was at the heart of East Dorset's 91-72 success against Moonfleet (Weymouth).

Handsome victories from Molly Duffin (30-12 against Rose King) and Iris Maidment (27-14 against Rose Beynon) gave Havant a 92-74 triumph against Palmerston in the Yetton Plate.

Sandy Moyse (27-14 against Eileen Read) replied for the Fareham club while the other rink between Joyce Bradlaugh and Havant's Hazel Marke was tied 21-21.

Havant play Dolphin in the zone final.

l Reigning national indoor singles champion Theresa Darnell-Langton is through to the zone 11 final of this season's competition.

The Loddon Vale bowler was given a walk-over by latest opponent Kath Strutt - the Egham bowler was ill - and the area showdown could be a repeat of last year when she faced 2003 English singles queen Doreen Hankin of Egham. Hankin has her zone semi-final this weekend.

Darnell-Langton suffered a rare singles defeat in the Engage Women's World Match-play Championship at Hopton-on-Sea, Norfolk, when she lost to Jo Morris 7-6 10-6 in the quarter-final having earlier beaten England skip Amy Monkhouse.

Darnell-Langton had beaten Kent-based Morris in the final when winning the first of her two English singles' crowns at Loddon Vale in 2004. She retained the honours at Nottingham.