HAMPSHIRE will be gunning for a maximum against the Isle of Wight at Atherley on Saturday (2pm) in an effort to put their Middleton Cup hopes back on track.

A 22-point full house is a must after Hampshire suffered an opening-day setback at Reading, crashing 19-3 (128-112) to Berkshire.

Having beaten the royal county 16-6 at Atherley last summer, Hampshire were confident of staging a repeat, but Berkshire turned the tables to leave Rod Rosier's men propping up the table.

Even the Isle of Wight stand above them after losing 18-4, but narrowly on shots 120-113 at home to group favourites Oxfordshire.

Hampshire trudged home peeved that they did not have the rub of the green.

"It was such a disappointment. Nothing went for us and they had all the breaks going, the prime example being Rob Newman with an outrageous wick that gave him the shot on the final end against Leo May Rob was so sheepish, he even apologised," said manager Rosier.

Peter Ward though snubbed by England after the international trials gained Hampshire's solitary win while county newcomer Adam Tidby earned the draw.

Following the Berkshire setback, Hampshire urgently needed a lift and they got it the next day, beating Kent 42-38 in the new Two Fours championship at Popes Mead, Crawley.

Rosier had to draft himself in as well as reserve Kevin Philip (Aldershot Traction) after Mark Hammond (Sports Centre) and Dean Morgan (Boscombe Cliff) pulled out at the last minute.

But the two subs rose to the occasion in great style alongside Paul May and skip Tidby by landing the 27-22 victory against Duncan Hanmore that sent Hampshire through to the regional finals on Sunday, June 25, when the prize for the winners is a place in the national semi-finals at Worthing.

Tidby led 13-5 on five ends but a Kent six on the ninth helped square matters at 16-16 by the 10th. Hampshire edged 21-20 ahead on the 15th and battled for every vital shot after that.

Alongside Ian Rawlinson, Leo May, Graham Standley and Ward had a fearsome tussle with Andy Thomson. Ward eased 15-12 in front on the 19th only for his formidable opponent to snatch a 16-15 win with two doubles.

Rosier makes two changes for the Isle of Wight test with Alan Geary (Boscombe Cliff) and Ian Churchman (Aldershot Traction) coming in for Sports Centre's Jody Bright, who is unavailable, and Peter Gentry (Old Basing).