HAMPSHIRE start their defence of the Liberty Trophy with a match against "sleeping giants" on Saturday morning.

The fact that Peter Line's men are the national champions makes them a prized scalp for any opponent. They are there to be shot at and the anticipation of victory over the Liberty kings is bound to raise the game of any would-be Davids in the hope of slaying Goliath.

That is why Hampshire must be at their best as they set out to retain the trophy which they won in such great style against Durham at Melton Mowbray in April. Team manager Line and his team are well aware of this and there will be no slacking when they tackle Essex in the first round on a Watford green that is renowned as being a heavy, pushy surface.

Line acknowledges it is not the easiest of ties: "I regard Essex as bowling's sleep giants. They are capable of turning any side over and have a lot of good players but they are just not able to put it together as a team.

"One day they will - and we have to make sure it is not against us. Winning the Liberty Trophy was a wonderful performance. It proved we were the best in the country and having had a taste of success, I know the team are eager to do it again this season."

Skips Billy Groves and Peter Ward starred as Atherley overcame their perennial sparring partners Victory in the second round of the Denny Cup.

Victory called the tune early on but by the tenth end Atherley had nosed 41-35 in front. The Southampton club increased the margin to 62-51 at 15 ends and eventually triumphed 80-73 to earn a date with Worthing in the next round on Saturday, November 6.

Groves stole the show at Portsmouth with a 22-20 success over the redoubtable Peter Hobday. The other contest there saw Willie McCay's quartet beaten 25-19 by Victory's Dorian Bishop.

In Southampton it was also one apiece with Keith Cole, Iain Bunday, Steve Spreadbury and England international Ward crushing Colin Brewer 22-10 and Colin Hayward scoring an 18-17 success for Victory over Colin Thresher.

Worthing progressed at the expense of Palmerston 83-61, the drama of the tie coming in Sussex when host club bowler Bob Hoskins collapsed and was taken to hospital with a cut head. He was replaced by a spectator.

Palmerston won one rink at home and one at Worthing. Their successful foursome in Hampshire was that skipped by Liberty Trophy newcomer Livy Bell, who was playing alongside John Knight, Andy McCain asnd Roy Reader. They won 20-11. Barry Grinaway skipped the Palmerston rink, completed by John Etherton, Ron Curtis and Keith Gerrard, to land a 21-16 victory in Sussex.

Banister Park overcame Isle of Wight Community 84-77, Havant beat Long-meadow, Isle of Wight defeated Worthing Pavilion 94-65, Riverside bowed out 109-60 to Arun, Five Rivers fell 82-64 to Bournemouth, and the 1998 cup winners East Dorset brushed aside Dolphin 96-44.

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