PALMERSTON has been chosen as an international venue - a decision that has brought immediate approval from Hants and England regular Matthew Marchant.

The Fareham club will stage the 2004 British Isles Under-25 Indoor International Series next January, the news being announced following this winter's series at Bridgend last weekend.

This will be the biggest event ever staged at the eight-rink green and Palmerston officials are delighted about it.

Club secretary Ray Gregory said: "It is wonderful news! We wanted this place to be an international venue and within a few years we've got that recognition.

"We were selected after the British Isles Indoor Bowls Council and the English Indoor BA paid us a visit, took a look at our facilities and they liked what they saw because everything passed the test."

Palmerston, which only opened in 1997, had already been chosen to stage two prestigious events this season.

The England women's team are in action for a friendly against the Hampshire men on Sunday, February 2, in preparation for their international series and the semi-finals and finals of England's premier men's club knock-out Championship the Denny Cup and Denny Plate will be held there on February 15-16.

For Marchant, having the junior internationals on his own doorstep will be quite an incentive to retain his England place for 12 months time.

"It will be great for the series to be at Palmerston as I live only a few minutes away and I have already played there, so I am familiar with the carpet," said the 21-year-old Hampshire Liberty Trophy lead who has just completed a high-quality double of playing in the World Championships at Potters Lei-sure Resort, Norfolk, followed by the junior internationals.

Marchant's reward for battling through to the first round proper at Potters was a £750 pay cheque - and a wealth of praise even though he lost 7-7 8-7 to British under-25 champion Jon Tomlinson.

Their clash displayed bowls of an excellent standard with woods inevitably clustered close to the jack.

Marchant was disappointed not to win the first set after his 20-year-old opponent from Port Talbot produced a fortunate shot which turned three down into one for the Welshman.

Tomlinson also just got the nod in the second set to deny Marchant the plum prize of a tie with David Gourlay.

Tomlinson bowed out with head held high 8-6 8-7 but with a better slice of luck Marchant could have been the man doing battle with the Scottish legend.

"Playing there was a tremendous experience. The atmosphere was marvellous and it made me hungry to qualify again," said Victory member Marchant of his first taste of the world event.

If Marchant's World Championship exit was close, so was England's attempt to win the under-25 crown.

They and Scotland finished on four points - but the Scots retained the title with a superior shots' difference of one.

Wales finished with four points too but they had a vastly inferior shots' difference to the other two yet it was the host nation who had scuppered England's chances by beating them 74-70.

Marchant, who was lead for the rink of Hull's Sam Win-ter, began with a 22-14 triumph in the 113-60 pasting of Ireland but his quartet were beaten 18-13 by Wayne Phillips in the Welsh match.

England had to defeat Scotland by 14 shots to take the crown but with Marchant's foursome going down 18-16 after dropping a disastrous final-end four to Stuart Cruickshank they could only manage a 13-shot victory, 73-60.

The England management, however, have registered a complaint against the umpire and are disputing a decision which, if it goes in their favour, could make them champions after all.