PAUL MAY goes into Hampshire's Middleton Cup curtain-raiser on Saturday knowing he has taken a significant step towards retaining his place in the England junior side.

After skipping his rink to two wins during the national trial in Leicestershire last month, the Pyestock bowler has kept his skip's position for a further training session and final international trial at Leamington Spa on Sunday, July 13 - under the watchful eyes of English BA chief executive Tony Allcock and under-25 team manager John Bell.

The selectors have named eight rinks for the July get-together after which the squad will be announced for the junior international series back at Leamington on September 13-14.

May had his international debut last summer, making it a notable family double as his elder brother, Leo, had represented England in 2000. On Saturday they chalk up another double - by skipping Hampshire rinks in the Middleton Cup opener against Oxfordshire at Atherley (2pm), believed to be the first time brothers have skipped for the county at this level in the same match.

Paul was promoted by county manager John Plomer into that role last year with great success and is now joined by Leo, who the boss hopes will make a similar impression.

But, while Paul's England prospects continue to look bright, the hopes of fellow Hampshire skip Martyn Sekjer have disappeared, at least for this season.

Sekjer has played for England seniors before and, after winning the EBA singles crown at Worthing last summer, the Southampton Sports Centre member's chances of a recall soared when he was named at number three in a high-class rink for last month's trial.

But things did not go that well on the green with the result that Sekjer has been overlooked by the selectors.

It will be Hampshire rather than England on the minds of the Mays and Sekjer when they go searching for a revenge win against Oxfordshire. Hampshire have lost their last three tussles against them though their 148-106 drubbing at Banbury a year ago did not prevent Plomer's men from reaching the quarter-finals where they went out to Surrey.

Plomer is confident Hampshire can turn the tables and get the campaign off to a flying start. "I think we are a better equipped side than last year. The blend is better, and I shall be disappointed if we do not make amends for the defeat we suffered in Oxfordshire," he said.

Hampshire continue against Middlesex at Ladygate, Ruislip, on June 21 before the final group fixture against the Isle of Wight on July 5 at Atherley. The quarter-finals are on July 26 with the semi-finals and final at Worthing on August 30.

Dean Morgan (Boscombe Cliff), Peter Ward (Sports Centre), Julian Haines (Boscombe Cliff) and Sekjer will represent Hampshire in the Top Four competition away to Berkshire on Sunday, June 15.