Darlington'S hopes of reaching the final stages of the All-England Inter-Club Championship for the Denny Cup to be played on their own green in February were dashed when they went down by 20 shots to Nottingham in the sixth round.

Ironically the damage was done at the Morrison Centre. Although Nottingham were held to a single shot advantage on their own green by the rinks skipped by Allan Moore and Davie Joyce, the Midlanders were in rampant form at Darlington, winning by 19 shots.

Scores (Darlington first) - Home: Andrew Kirtland 13, Dave Robinson 22; Graham Peacock 20, Paul Talbot 30. Away: Allan Moore 23, Mark Owen 18; David Joyce 17, Brett Morley 23. Darlington 73, Nottingham 93.

The sixth round produced two maximum counts of eight shots in one end, one by Graeme Potter's North Walsham quartet and the other by the Exonia rink skipped by Nathan Farrant.

North Walsham's full house at home proved invaluable in an 82-80 victory over the Denny Cup holders City of Ely, and they now meet Cumbria 96-67 victors over Hull in the quarter-finals.

The second eight-count, in the eighth end against Weymouth's Moonfleet 2000 club, helped Exeter-based Exonia to an 85-65 victory.

The quarter-finals on January 26 are: North Walsham v Cumbria, Exonia v Cyphers, Kingsthorpe v Nottingham and Desborough (Maidenhead) v East Dorset.

In the consolation Denny Plate, for first round losers, the region's standard-bearers are Hartlepool.

They scored an impressive 84-68 victory over Scunthorpe and now meet Peterborough in the quarter finals, at a neutral venue.

Durham County Ladies were beaten 109-98 by Cumbria in the Atherley Trophy.

Cumbria always led in the tie at Ryedale, but Durham, after trailing 59-43 at halfway, staged a spirited fight back to cut the deficit to a single shot at 15 ends.

But Cumbria proved stronger in the final stages to win a place in the last eight of the competition.

Scores (Durham first): M Middleton 19, M Ferguson 22; M Shaw 13, E Gass 20; J Rodgerson 18, M Harrison 11; E Kirkbride 16, J Bewley 14; D Harbin 13, E Garrity 20; M Bousefield 19, K Barker 22.

The Hartlepool and District Midweek League, playing outdoors on Monday and Tuesday evenings in the summer, have a number of vacancies. With a membership including a number of clubs outside the Hartlepool boundary, any application would be warmly welcomed.

Any interested clubs should contact David Rile, 5 Prissick Street, Hartlepool (01429 289193) before January 24.

National Championships Area Three results - Singles: B Cooper (Darlington) 12, V O'Neil (Thornaby) 21; A Kirtland (Darl) 21, J Appleton (Darl) 7.

Pairs: Heath/Russell (South Moor) 23, Hamner/Pearce (Shildon) 16; Ward/Simpson (Hartlepool) 16, Barnes/Jackson (Hart) 21.

Triples: S Land (Spennymoor) 18, T Frosdick (Thornaby) 16.

Mixed Fours: A Moore (Darl) 31, S Packham (Hart) 12.

Over-60 Pairs: Hardwick/Heath (Ferryhill) 20; Roberts/Dunning (Aycliffe) 13.

Over-60 Singles Area Final: Eric ramsdaled (Darl) 21, John Clare (Darl) 16.

Junior Singles Area Final: M O'Riordan (Thornaby) 21, S Moreland (Great Aycliffe) 11.