GRAHAM Standley reclaimed the Hampshire indoor singles championship after the most dramatic final in the competition's history.

It's never over until the fat lady sings - and she was whistling The Great Escape as Standley swept back from 18-4 down to shock the in-form Mark Hammond 21-18 following a 26-end epic at Atherley.

What made Standley's triumph more remarkable was that he was suffering from a back injury which restricted his delivery so much that, although he was able to bowl forehand, he was in pain when attempting the backhand - and never even contemplated driving or firing.

The discomfort of the Longmeadow member was such that halfway through the match he was on the point of quitting. But he decided to soldier on.

With Hammond amassing what appeared an unassailable lead, it seemed that Standley would not be on the green much longer anyway.

Despite Standley's predicament Hammond played impressively over the first 15 ends. The Banister Park 21-year-old has had a season to remember - and it showed as he opened a 9-0 gap by the sixth end.

Even though Standley varied the jack length after Hammond gave the mat away, it made no difference. Hammond eased 16-2 ahead and, though Standley clawed back successive singles, Hammond responded with a double to go 18-4 up.

Standley began his inspired 11-end sequence on end 16 with a morale-boosting full house from an open head that doubled his tally. Three ends later the margin was 18-12 and the skills that made him a regular Hampshire skip indoors and outdoors were becoming increasingly obvious.

Confidence was proving more powerful than the pain while the shots that had been so successful for Hammond earlier started to miss the mark, albeit narrowly.

Three more consecutive twos levelled matters, the third of those coming after Standley sent the jack into the ditch, and it was typical of how things were going for Hammond that his final wood looked set to score until toppling almost apologetically into the gutter.

A united groan rose from the crowd.

The tension was not over because, after Standley had crept 19-18 ahead, three precision bowls, all hugging the jack, left Hammond holding game.

Was the Young Pretender about to triumph after all? Standley's final wood appeared to be missing the target but held straight at the last minute, crashing into the pack and forcing a tied end with both men having a toucher.

After that setback Hammond must have guessed this was not going to be his day and Standley - champion in 1999 and 1992 - posted singles to take the crown.

"Can I keep the trophy now after winning it three times?" he asked. After a superb performance like that he deserves to!