PETER LINE'S pre-match words ran so true as Hampshire lost their grip on the Liberty Trophy at Watford.

The team manager warned that Essex were no mugs and that on their day they could beat the best.

And so it proved as bowling's indoor county champions crashed out of this season's competition in the first round with a 122-115 defeat that ended Hampshire's season at a stroke (as reported in Monday's Echo).

With the Liberty now being a straight knock-out from the word go and Hampshire having pulled out of the Home Counties League this winter, Line's men have nothing else to occupy them, save for a friendly that might be arranged in the New Year.

Line said: "Naturally I am very disappointed that we lost but I knew what could happen. The low spots were that the attitude of the entire team left a little to be desired - one or two heads dropped when they seemed to realise we were up against it - plus Peter Ward's rink, who bowled so well in last season's championship, were below standard this time."

However, Line did not think it was all doom and gloom: "There were some plus points - Iain Foster, bowling at number three, soon established a fine understanding with skip Graham Standley while I was pleased with Livvy Bell, Mervyn Sallis and Kevin Cousins on their debuts for us."

Line thought the green did not help Hampshire's cause being considerably slower than they were used to in this area but he would not cite the surface as a reason for defeat and gave due credit to Essex who fought back to regain the lead in the closing stages after Hampshire had snatched the lead 81-80 at 15 ends.

Skips' scores: (Hampshire first) Graham Standley 24 G Walls 13, Julian Haines 19 M Rothon 25, Russell Morgan 22 J Stamper 16, Kevin Cousins 18 S Pickford 24, Peter Ward 12 David Gildersleve 25, Nicky Jones 20 G Pereira 19.

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