Knowing that three points were needed to enable the Darlington Indoor Bowls Club veterans A team to qualify for the Durham County play-off, the players rose to the occasion in their home match against St. James Indoor Bowls club of Bishop Auckland.

The Quaker bowlers allowed the Bishops to score on only 17 of the 46 ends, played overall across three rinks taking up full three hours of intensive play.

Jack Grayson, Bill Elliott, Mort Mooney and Brian Metcalfe (skip) finished their game in some style, collecting a total of 16 shots over the last four ends.

They powered their way home to an impressive 31-6 win.

John Mackey, John Beaston, Norman Rae and skip Eric Ramsdale were level on 4-4 after four ends. They scored three doubles and then a four to lead by 14-4 and in the remaining eight ends conceded only two more shots to run out convincing winners by 25-6.

Experienced and well talented quartets including Ken Bousfield, Ken Coates, Harold Robinson and skip Barrie Armstrong were made to fight very hard for every shot. With only a short time left to play one more end they were all level at 10-10. Up to this point there had been only eight singles and six twos scored between the two teams.

The Quakers home team broke the sequence by collecting three shots at the finish to win their game dramatically by 13-10.

Bishops players included B Craggs, A Pears, M Oldfield and Harold Newton at skip.

Teams and scores for the visitors included S Dixon, C Manson, G Hunt, L Hadfield (St James skip) 6, Eric Ramsdale (Dton) 25.

R Hindmarsh, M Davison, L Ranson, Alan Brooksbank (St James) 6, B Metcalf (Dton) 31.

Final teams score: Darlington 69, Bishop Auckland 26.

As runners-up for the Division A winners Great Aycliffe, who field a very strong team in every match, are drawn away to the winners of Division Four including The Parks, Hartlepool or Durham City B in the quarter-finals.

Darlington B have also qualified for the play-offs as runners-up and now meet Division One winners Great Aycliffe. They field a very talented and experienced team and last year the Aycliffe stars won the overall championship for the county.

First games have to be played by April 7 as follows: winners of Division Three v runner-up Division Four; winners of Division Two v runners-up Division Three; winners of Division One v runner-up Division Two; winners of Division Four v runner-up Division One.

League winners claim the advantage of playing at home according to the draw.

Durham County A team are drawn to play against Devon in the semi-final of the All England Liberty Trophy team championship.

Durham are represented by Brett Arkley (Stanley), Paul Hartley (Hartlepool), Alan Theobald (Stanley), John Leeman (skip Stanley), Dave Morgan, Russell Bewick, Jim Humphrey, Gary Smith (all Sunderland). Rink three: Mark Dunlop (Hartlepool), Paul Smithson (Sunderland), Dave Webb (Stanley), John Thurlbeck (Stanley).

Rink Four: Steve Cairns (Sunderland), Mick Tompkins (Dton), Tony Macey (Hartlepool), Bill Condron (skip Spennymoor).

Rink Five: Mark Squirrell (Hartlepool), John Mansfield (Hartlepool), John Wells (Hartlepool), Andrew Kirtland (skip Dton).

Rink Six: Ian Peacock (Stanley), Steve McIntosh (Hebburn), Eddie Henry (Stanley), David Bolt (Sunderland).