PAUL SHOTT and Lee Trowern have fingers crossed their performance at the regional School of Excellence in the England Youth Bowls development scheme will earn them places in the national final.

Shott of Banister Park and Trowern, who played under the Palmerston banner though he is joining Victory next winter, gained top-five places on the indoor carpet of the Bromley club at Orpington, Kent.

They were two of 32 leading youngsters from Hampshire, Kent, Surrey and Sussex who were put through a series of tests on the green throughout the day which included jack casting, line bowling and weight delivery.

Points were awarded for each exercise, Shott taking joint third place on 47 with Trowern one mark behind in fifth. Winner was Helen Brooks (Sussex) with 51 followed by Ben Gover (Kent) 49.

Best performers in regional rounds will be invited to compete in the national stages at Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, in September. Finishing in the first five should guarantee a national place but, until the invitations are issued, no one is sure of qualification.

Hampshire fielded eight bowlers at Orpington, the others being Elaine Cullen (Palmerston) 37 points, Ben Settle (Palmerston) 35, Andrew Snook (Atherley) 33, Andrew Herring (Banister Park) 31, ten-year-old Luke Weston (Palmerston) 28 and Kristian Holland (Loddon Vale) 26.

Hampshire county coach Tony Grant accompanied the youngsters who all received certificates for reaching the regional stage.