THREE Hampshire bowlers have been called up for the England indoor trial.

Kevin Cousins, Adam Tidby and Peter Ward will play at Thornaby, Teesside, on Saturday, January 4, aiming for places in the national side for the British Isles International Series during March.

Former Atherley star Ward is the only one with senior international experience, having made his debut when the series was held at Bournemouth Indoor BC three years ago.

He played after being named as a reserve in the squad but was then included in the starting line-up the following season.

Cousins has a wealth of England experience as a junior international having been an under-25 regular from 1990 to 1999 before going over the age limit.

After winning the 1994 national indoor junior singles crown while a Five Rivers (Salisbury) bowler, he was chosen for the senior squad of 26 for the next two seasons as a reserve.

Now 29, he has since had other senior England trials but has yet to make the breakthrough at that level.

This will be Tidby's fifth attempt indoors at trying to win a coveted blue international blazer - the 38-year-old has also had trials for the outdoor side.

All three Hampshire men are regulars in the Liberty Trophy side and are members of the East Dorset club at Christchurch.

The Thornaby test is a Probables v Possibles with the East Dorset trio in the Possibles' side. Tidby plays three to skip Ward while Cousins is at three to Cumbrian skip Stuart Airey.

The local trio should have been going the short distance for the trial to Bournemouth which was again the English Indoor BA's choice to stage the British Isles internationals and individual champions. However, the EIBA and the management of the Bournemouth club could not agree terms and therefore the venue for the trial and the real thing in March has been switched to Teesside.

HAMPSHIRE, who failed to make an impact on the Home Counties League last winter, started the new season off in the same vein with a 177-138 defeat by Surrey.

Fielding a side unrecognisable from the eight rinks originally chosen, Hampshire took just three of the ten points after losing 87-71 at Chawton Park and 90-67 at Camberley.

Hampshire's only home success was from the Victory foursome of Bill Taws, Phil Penn, Ian Purton and Steve Robertson who stormed in 30-10. Paul May, who had 11-year-old Atherley player Tom Bishop as his lead, looked like scoring another home point but, after building a 6-2 lead at five ends, he fell 19-17.

At Camberley, Ted Coward (Victory), Leo May (Rushmoor), Eddie Bates (Riverside) and Glyn Jones (Havant) finished two shots up as did the rink of Rod Prew (Riverside), county president Alan Doughty, Michael Squires and Bill Belcher (all East Dorset).

Skips' scores: (Hampshire first) At Chawton Park: Steve Robertson (Victory) 30 M Bishop 10, David Sims (Chawton Park) 11 P Vamvacopoulos 31, Dorian Bishop (Victory) 13 J Sussex 27, Paul May (Rishmoor) 17 I Ross 19.

At Camberley: Glyn Jones (Havant) 21 B Emanuel 19, Neil O'Donovan (Palmerston) 22 W Short 23, Peter Tarbutt (Loddon Vale) 5 A Hawes 31, Bill Belcher (East Dorset) 19 P Short 17.

Hampshire's next HCL match is against trophy holders Sussex on Sunday, January 26, with fours rinks at Havant and four at Arun.