THERE was disappointment for Claire Spreadbury following the England under-25 practice match against a Leicestershire men's side at Leicester.

The 14-year-old Loddon Vale bowler had played herself into this final six-rink trial aiming for a place in the England side for the women's junior internationals against Wales and Ireland next month.

However, hopes of representing her country in the series at Cynon Valley,Wales, were dashed as she was one of the unlucky ones overlooked by the selectors.

In a normal year, Spreadbury would have been chosen as England usually play Wales alone in a six-rink match but, this season, Ireland have joined the fold, although they can only field four rinks.

Hence the series is for just four rinks with a reserve rink on stand-by. After Leicester, four bowlers missed out, but Spreadbury has plenty of years left to make her international dream come true.

Loddon Vale's Theresa Darnell-Langton stages her President's Day match at the Basingstoke club on Sunday.