SOUTHAMPTON Women saw their hopes of reaching the national stages of the English Women's BA pairs championship vanish in a dramatic finish to their Hampshire semi-final.

Playing Linda Johnson and Eileen Deadman from Bournemouth's Richmond Park, Jean Seymour and Christine Lee, they led 20-14 ahead with only three ends remaining.

But despite gaining a single on the 20th the Southampton Women's duo dropped a four and three on the other two ends as Richmond Park forced a 21-21 tie. On the extra end Southampton held three shots until with her final delivery Deadman carried the jack to gain the crucial shot.

Southampton Women's Doreen Yielding and Wendy Line suffered a surprise 24-12 defeat in the quarter-finals against Pelhams (Mary Dyke and Beth Roberts).

Pelhams then beat Emsworth (Deirdrie Lloyd and Hazel Marke) 19-10 to be the county's other Leamington qualifiers.