THE Atherley Trophy ladies are Hampshire’s last hope of salvaging some pride from a miserable year for the county’s teams.

Outdoors, Hampshire’s women went into the summer as national champions only to be humbled by the Isle of Wight which ultimately ended their hopes of retaining the Johns Trophy, while the men had their poorest Middleton Cup campaign for many moons.

Indoors it has been no better with the juniors considered too young and inexperienced to even play in the under-25 double-rink championship, while at the weekend the S-Trend Liberty Trophy side suffered their biggest defeat since Derek Collins became manager when mauled 147-92 by Essex at Barking.

That leaves just the Atherley Trophy for Hampshire to make a name for themselves and on Sunday Joy Annetts’ squad will attempt to succeed where the men failed by beating Essex, this time at neutral Croydon.

Full bowls review in today's Daily Echo