HAMPSHIRE resisted a late Sussex revival to squeeze into the second round of the Liberty Trophy.
Although beaten 55-53 at Denton Island, Hampshire took the home rinks 63-55 at East Dorset to triumph 116-110 and earn a second-round date with Oxfordshire.
Overall, Hampshire led throughout. Ahead just 57-54 at halfway, they opened up a 90-77 gap by the 15th end and looked like winning comfortably when the advantage stretched to 105-89 on the 18th.
But they could not afford to relax as Sussex pushed them to the final ends.
The biggest winning rink margin was just nine achieved by the all-East Dorset foursome of Peter Ward that showed the wisdom of packing the home rinks with bowlers fully acquainted with the Christchurch club's carpet.
Ward was just 11-9 ahead at 10 ends and was still only 18-14 ahead at 18 ends before winning 24-15. Alongside, player/manager Julian Haines, all square on 15-15 at 15 ends, pulled 23-19 clear but Martyn Sekjer, also level on 14 apiece at 15 ends, tumbled by five.
At Newhaven, Richard Shelley was the toast of Hampshire, the Victory skip wiping out a heavy early deficit to lead 17-14 after 15 ends in a 22-19 verdict against Lee Prince.
Graham Standley edged a tight contest by a single shot and Adam Tidby was marooned on unlucky 13 and failed to score again in his 19-13 defeat, having been 13-13 at 18 ends with Derek Dyer.
Oxfordshire, who went through against Buckinghamshire, meet Hampshire on Saturday, November 20, when East Dorset will again be used as Hampshire's home venue.
RINK SCORES AGAINST SUSSEX:
At East Dorset: Alan Geary (East Dorset), Andy Anderson (Banister Park), Colin Hayward (Victory), Martyn Sekjer (East Dorset) lost 21-16;
Ron Sparks (East Dorset), Andy Ross (Longmeadow), Kevin Cousins, Julian Haines (both East Dorset) won 23-19;
Ian Rawlinson, Chris Martin, Bill Ward, Peter Ward (all East Dorset) won 24-15.
At Denton Island: Russell Gadd (Palmerston), Paul May (Banister Park), Colin Thresher, Richard Shelley (both Victory) won 22-19;
Barry Starks (Victory), Mark Hammond (Banister Park), Darren Griffith (Victory), Adam Tidby (East Dorset) lost 19-13;
Keith Cole (Longmeadow), Matthew Marchant, Steve Robertson (both Victory), Graham Standley (Longmeadow) won 18-17.
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