HAMPSHIRE'S Middleton Cup dream withered and died once again in Wiltshire.

Five years ago on the same Wootton Bassett green, their hopes of reaching Worthing for the national play-offs were ruined by Devon.

This time the opposition was different but the margin just as emphatic as Surrey waltzed through to the Promised Land 137-100.

It was ironic and must have given Hampshire officials food for thought that when these sides last met in a quarter-final two years ago in Sussex, it had been a very different Surrey line-up who had been fortunate to go through by six shots, a margin that would have been reversed had Nicky Jones received just a modicum of luck on his rink.

Since then there has been a mighty fall-out in Surrey, with most of their established stars withdrawing from the squad after a disagreement over the county's selection policy.

But, intriguingly, that boycott has proved a mighty plus because the county have called up a collection of hungry, highly enthusiastic and talented youngsters who do not appear to have the word defeat in their vocabulary.

Looking across the green at Wootton Bassett, there were a host of young faces, many in the Hampshire camp but more in the opposition ranks. Such a youthful scene suggests the future of the game is very bright.

Hampshire did not play badly. It was just that, on numerous occasions, their best bowls were trumped by pumped-up Surrey who took a grip on proceedings from the off and never let go.

It was a white-knuckle ride and Hampshire were never in the driving seat.

The margin was 23-8 at three ends and, though John Plomer's men twice briefly threatened a comeback - they cut the deficit to three shots at eight ends - on each occasion this was merely the signal for Surrey to produce another surge that carried them clear.

It takes a lot to subdue Leo May. The Pyestock skip is always focussed and vociferous in his encouragement of his rink and the team in general yet even he was silenced long before the finish - and understandably so as he encountered Ian Honnor, who gave the sort of "walk-on-water" performance that May himself had produced in the county pairs final the previous day.

Hampshire's only rink success came from Charlie Bailey, one of the heroes of that last-gasp group win at Oxfordshire. Ahead 15-8 at 15 ends, he held on to triumph 19-17.

Leo May, 11-5 up at eight ends, went down by eight while, alongside, brother Paul May saw his 13-11 advantage on 14 ends dissolve into a 25-14 defeat.

Chris Daniels had a torrid time and was 14-2 down before gaining the uplift of a six. However, normal service was quickly resumed by Surrey who were 30-13 in front before Daniels chimed in with a last-end six with the match done and dusted.

Rod Rosier was holding seven on his 17th end until Dave Clark rolled in for shot while Martyn Sekjer, down 17-7 at halfway, made late in-roads to trim his final deficit to six.