Eddie Bates staged a fine recovery to beat Ken Marsh 21-10 in the national over-60s Area 31 final at East Dorset.

In a game of two halves Bates trailed 9-3 but then found his length with a vengeance to win the next nine ends and sail into a 16-9 lead over his Banister Park opponent.

Although Marsh stopped the rot on the 18th end Bates was quickly back in control scoring three singles and a two for victory.

The 64-year-old retired civil servant now faces Area 32 winner and former over-60s national champion Livi Bell in the inter-area final at Atherley on Friday, January 12, when the prize will be a place in the national play-offs (last 16) at Nottingham on Saturday, February 3.

Bates, a former Longmeadow bowler, defeated Bell in the semi-finals of the county singles last March and knows he will have to be at his best to overcome the Palmerston player again.

Atherley erased a 6-0 deficit after three ends to knock Banister Park out of the London and Southern Coun-ties Single Rink Champion-ship at Stoneham Lane. John Barter, Dave Edmonds, Colin Thresher and skip Richard Shelley put Atherley through 25-11 against Derek Hall, Mal-colm Comley, Steve Whitehead and skip Steve Rice.

Atherley are now away to either Chawton Park or Egham.

Thresher, a specialist welder, travelled back from working in Milton Keynes to play in that match - and he arrived with minutes to spare at Poole the following night after a similiar journey of more than 100 miles as Ath-erley overcame Dolphin 45-28 in the Leonard Denny Cup.

Thresher skipped Larry Collins, Edmonds and Micky Barrett to a 19-15 victory while in the other contest at South-ampton Barter, Billy Groves, Steve Spreadbury and skip Peter Ward finished with a flourish to gain a comfortable 26-13 success after leading Doug Rumble 16-12 after 15 ends.

In the second round Atherley play Dorchester who come fresh from halting Victory's progress.