ATHERLEY'S quest to become English indoor club champions was halted by Wey Valley's Young stars.

Although Atherley won overall in Surrey and took one of the contests at Hill Lane, they were undermined by the 29-12 home defeat suffered by Colin Thresher's rink against Chris Young.

Young - known as "Baby-face" - came fresh from playing in the Potters Holidays World Singles Championship in Norfolk.

And the 22-year-old skip gave an inspirational performance to a rink that was as youthful as he was.

"It was very disappointing to go out but full marks to Young and his rink," said Atherley indoor secretary Gwyn Guy after his club's 78-68 defeat in the sixth round of the Canada Life Denny Cup.

"They gave an excellent display and everything went their way," .

Atherley's sluggish start did not help their cause.

They were 24-9 adrift at five ends overall with Wey Valley ahead on all four rinks.

By the tenth end the gap was a yawning 39-29.

And although Atherley's hopes grew when they trailed just 54-49 following the 15th the revival petered out after Thresher and Peter Ward dropped threes on their 20th ends.

Atherley's best performance came at Wey Valley where Richard Shelley wiped out a 9-7 deficit at 10 ends to defeat Paul Vamvacopoulos 18-15.

Billy Groves - 5-1 down after five ends - led by one shot at halfway and was all square on 11-11 before losing a tight game 17-15 to Wey Valley's John Kenton.

Wey Valley won the national under-25 double rink title last winter - and it showed as Young's quartet shook Atherley's most consistent rink in Southampton.

Thresher trailed 16-4 at 10 ends and 20-9 after 15 but still could not prevent Young from extending his advantage in the closing stages.

Ward kept the flag flying overcoming arrears of 6-2 following the fifth end to lead 11-8 at halfway in his six-shot success against Andy Hatto.

SCORES

Atherley rinks, Wey Valley skips only), at Atherley: Steve Cleverley, Barry Littlewood, Steve Spreadbury, skip Peter Ward 23 Andy Hatto 17; Larry Collins, Dave Edmonds, Brian Buckle, skip Colin Thresher 12 Chris Young 29.

At Wey Valley: John Barter, Dennis Durrant, Ray Wilkinson, skip Billy Groves 15 John Kenton 17; Dave Bishop, Mick Barrett, Dave Archibald, skip Richard Shelley 18 Paul Vamvacopoulos 15.

* OVERALL it was a bad day for Hampshire.

Portsmouth-based Victory slumped out of the Canada Life Denny Plate to Cambridge Park.

The turning point was a disastrous 20th end which saw the Portsmouth club drop 14 shots on three rinks.

Adrian Ash conceded six shots and Colin Hayward and Steve Robertson both gave away fours in Victory's 74-72 defeat.