ATHERLEY'S John Barter has been called up for his Liberty Trophy debut when Hampshire embark on a revenge mission against Essex.

He is one of four newcomers in the side, the others being Victory duo Darren Griffith and Barry Starks and East Dorset's Bill Ward.

Team manager Peter Line (pictured left) knows Barter's game inside out - the Atherley twosome reached the national semi-finals of the over-60s pairs championship last winter.

Barter lead for Line in their attempt to land the national title and it is in the lead position that he makes his Liberty Trophy bow at Whiteknights, Reading, on Saturday, October 28, when Hampshire will be eager to avenge their slender defeat by Essex in the first round a year ago.

Barter is also an Atherley lead in their Canada Life Denny Cup team as is Starks for Victory while Griffith's pedigree at a higher level is already known as the youngster from the Isle of Wight made his international debut in the England under-25 side last winter.

Bill Ward - no relation to skip Peter Ward - may be making his Hampshire debut but he is no stranger to Liberty Trophy combat as he played for Warwickshire in the competition and in the Middleton Cup as well before moving to the south coast and joining East Dorset.

Bill Ward is named at two in a rink that sees the number three slot filled by Nicky Smith who is back in action after taking a winter break last season.

Smith's last match for Hampshire was in the triumphant Liberty Trophy final of 1999 - and the same applies to Andy Ross who is recalled after being omitted from the Essex defeat last year.

Atherley's Richard Shelley steps up to skip for the first time in the Liberty while Kevin Cousins, a skip last season, is now at number three alongside East Dorset clubmate Russell Morgan.

Line named his side following the 124-91 win over Oxfordshire in their annual pre-Liberty sharpener at Banister Park and has high hopes that with a stronger front end to the team they can make amends for that five-shot beating which finished their reign as Liberty kings.

Skips' scores against Oxon: (Hampshire first) Graham Standley 30 Charlie Carpenter 17, Nicky Jones 22 Chris Allen 11, Peter Ward 22 Glen Allen 15, Richard Shelley 22 Brian Green 10, Nicky Smith 10 Ian Snowden 21, Russell Morgan 18 Alan Prew 17.

Hampshire rinks to play Essex: John Barter (Atherley), Chris Martin, Dean Morgan (both East Dorset), skip Graham Standley (Longmeadow); Steve Henry (East Dorset), Denny Graydon (Banister Park), Colin Thresher (Atherley), skip Nicky Jones (East Dorset); Barry Starks (Victory), Trevor Bailey (Havant), Colin Hayward (Victory), skip Peter Ward (Atherley); Matthew Marchant, Peter Hobday (both Victory), Kevin Cousins, skip Russell Morgan (both East Dorset); Andy Ross (Longmeadow), Bill Ward, Nicky Smith, skip Julian Haines (all East Dorset); Ron Sparks (East Dorset), Steve Robertson, Darren Griffith (both Victory) skip Richard Shelley (Atherley). Reserves: Bill Belcher (East Dorset), Keith Cole (Atherley), Danny McEwan (Banister Park), Ian McKenzie (Victory).