Darlington lady bowlers had a very successful season last year when they fought their way through to the All England Yetton Trophy team championship to win the bronze medal at Loddon Vale bowls club in Basingstoke.

This year's national finals in Wimbledon style are again scheduled for Hampshire. The struggle and challenge to graduate to the championship finals this year is fully under way with good teams from around the region including York and Cumbria battling for honours.

The Quaker girls are once again very focused and equally determined to match and even better last year's record in this prestigious team championship.

They proved last year when doing well against the eventual winners that they can mix with the very best. This time last season they had to meet and beat some really outstanding good teams from the Northern counties. This week they face up to one of the strongest club in the North of England when they take on Thornaby who they beat in remarkable style with 50 shots to spare last season.

The derby clash is staged and played out on a home and away basis over four rinks taking up to four hours at each venue involving a total of 84 ends. The winners go through, the losers go out. The straight knockout challenge adds greatly to the pressure and the atmosphere on and off the green at both venues.

The final total aggregate score across four rinks is what matters most. Quality play, team spirit and support are important, but what counts for everything on the day is the result against who scores the most shots. Often these games between two really good teams are settled over the last few ends with perhaps only one or two shots separating two good sides. Every bowl counts right up to the finish with team totals more important than rink scores or individual performances.

The Darlington team look to be well balance and is packed with experience. The Thornaby side involving 16 top players shall include experienced internationals alongside national champions and award winners who shall be equally determine to win the coveted gold medals and with them the Yetton Trophy. The Quakers' home rink shall be led by the experience skip and club captain Marjorie Bousfield who over the last two decades has proudly trodden the paths to many successes. Marjorie's rink includes Dorothy Donald at lead, Sadie Lynch at number two, Maureen Whitton as third wood with the team captain skipping all four.

The other home rink to play at Morrisons is packed with the right experience including a fine blend and balance of players capable of beating anyone on the day. Back to her best again skip Dulcie Harbin's rink includes Peggy Clark at lead, Mary Armstrong and Ann Simpson. The away rinks are skipped by two of the best including Joyce Stephenson who has played in all rink division and Ann Anderson who over the years has successfully played indoor and outdoor as an outstanding lead bowl. Both skips know the rinks at Thornaby very well as well as the strength of the opposition.

Citty Robinson and Audrey Cairns know the importance of leading well and helping to build up good heads for Olive Harris, on this occasion at number three. Barbara Watson and Rene Gordon play two and three respectively for Ann Anderson.

Doris Rewcastle, Edith Dunn, Vi Johnson and Joan Winter complete a strong squad for the Morrison bowlers. Darlington can no longer call on the experience and abilities of Pearl Wright and Margaret Shaw who have played very important roles as skips in previous and recent successes. Both of these stalwarts are still strong supporters of the Quakers' team and are pleased that the Darlington side is fighting hard for future success - watch this space for full and detailed account next week.