JOHN KEAT came off the substitutes' bench at the last minute to help Hampshire reach the regional finals of the Top Four Championship.
The Sports Centre bowler, originally named as a reserve, was called into action when Boscombe Cliff's Russell Morgan cried off with a tooth infection on the morning of the match against Sussex at Atherley.
In a rink reshuffled by county manager John Plomer, Keat played at lead alongside Nicky Jones (Boscombe Cliff) and his Sports Centre colleagues Peter Ward and Martyn Sekjer - and the rejigged foursome gave a fine display to triumph 24-10.
Hampshire slipped straight into gear, moving 7-2 ahead after five ends. They extended the margin to 13-3 by the tenth and simply continued in the same vein before Sussex skip Martin Jones conceded on 20 ends.
"Keat played excellently - as they all did in a thoroughly good team effort," said a delighted Plomer who now looks forward to the regional finals at Wealdstone, Middlesex, on Sunday, July 7, when two wins would send Hampshire through to the national finals at Worthing.
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