BANISTER PARK staged a grandstand finish to book their ticket to next month's national English Women's BA fours championship play-offs.

Playing on their home green in the Hampshire semi-finals, Joan Ryan, Pam Thompson, Margaret Darkin and skip Midge Pitter trailed throughout - but captured a last-end five to turn a three-shot deficit into an unexpected 19-17 triumph against Highcliffe.

Banister's win means they represent the county at Leamington Spa alongside Cove, who took their semi-final after a vital final delivery from skip Allyson Flint on the 21st end.

Although Cove led 19-17 Flint was two down at the head until her last wood converted that into a plus four to seal a 23-17 victory over Molly Duffin's Hayling Island rink.

Carol Ashby has won numerous world and national titles indoors but she rarely plays outdoors let alone goes for EWBA titles. However, bowling's glamour girl is now off to Leamington Spa after teaming with Julie Saunders and international Gill Mitchell of Richmond Park to go through in the triples.

After beating Margaret Holden (Alton Social) 15-13 in an intriguing morning quarter-final, Richmond Park wiped out a 10-0 deficit to overcome semi-final opponents Rose Rogers, Lynn May and Kath Patrick of Milton Park 15-13.

The other triples qualifiers are Fleet United, who touched off Pirrie Park 14-12 in the quarter-final before outgunning Ringwood 21-8, having been level at 5-5 on six ends.

The Hampshire championships continued yesterday at Banister Park with the pairs while today sees the four-wood and two-wood singles. County finals are tomorrow (10am) at the same venue.

In the last eight of the four-woods are: Val Dibben (Banister Park), Anne Pearce (Atherley), Hannah Burden (Kingsclere), Margaret Hankin (Fleet Social), Hazel Marke (Emsworth), Kath Etherton (Lee-on-the-Solent), Linda Johnson and Gill Mitchell (both Richmond Park).

Going for the two-woods are: Wendy Line (Atherley), Jenny Loftus (Southampton Women), Jenny Cole, Kath Rogers (both Fleet United), Dorothy Williams, Judith Edwards (both Hayling Island), Beryl Nuttall (Kings Park), Linda Johnson (Richmond Park).

RESULTS:

Fours, quarter-finals: Frankie Brandon, Irene Galpin, Sue Sharpe, Allyson Flint (Cove) 26 Barbara Hall, Carole Lloyd, June Roberts, Ellie Mundy (Fareham) 12;

Betty Page, Judith Edwards, Win Dyke, Molly Duffin (Hayling Island) 18 Sally Webster, Maureen Gillett, Dot Davey, Mary Harris (Alton Social) 17;

Joan Ryan, Pam Thompson, Margaret Darkin, Midge Pitter (Banister Park) 21 Jan Jones, Jo Shaw, Kris Saunders, Sheila Plomer (Bournemouth) 17;

Rosemary Sullivan, Ruth Hawkins, Pauline McCarthy, Valerie Snook (Highcliffe) 22 Jean Evenden, Liz Bartlett, Jean Terrell, Pat Sutton (Atherley) 8.

Semi-finals: Banister Park 19 Highcliffe 17; Cove 23 Hayling Island 17.

Triples, quarter-finals: Julie Saunders, Carol Ashby, Gill Mitchell (Richmond Park) 15 June Wood-Higgs, Joan Hennessy, Margaret Holden (Alton Social) 13;

Rose Rogers, Lynn May, Kath Patrick (Milton Park) 18 Barbara Hall, Carole Lloyd, Ellie Mundy (Fareham) 17 (after extra end);

Jean Huggett, Chris Mayoss, Doris Johnson (Ringwood) 16 Jenny Loftus, Jean Seymour, Susan Barnes (Southampton Women) 9;

Stella Waller, Margaret Hughes, Ros Plunkett (Fleet United) 14 Katherine Page, Wendy Long, Maureen Hawkins (Pirrie Park) 12.

Semi-finals: Richmond Park 15 Milton Park 13; Fleet United 21 Ringwood 8.