DURHAM County received a sharp reminder that their big Inter-Counties Middleton Cuptie against arch-rivals Northumberland next week will be a tough encounter when they were well beaten in their Northern Counties match at Spennymoor.

Durham, even without long-serving stalwarts John Leeman and Chris Palmer, were expected to do a lot better against their near neighbours in the Muras Trophy, but went down by 22 shots. The scores were level 82-82 after 15 ends, but Northumberland scored 47 shots to Durham's 25 in the last six ends to clinch a well-earned victory.

The six rink matches were shared, but Northumberland went away with 16 of the 22 points on offer and will go into their Middleton Cup match with great confidence, especially after also beating Durham 114-94 in the B team Alsop Trophy, with Durham's C team scoring a 20-shots victory in the Armstrong Trophy to avoid a whitewash.

Muras Trophy scores (Durham first): Ian Lambert 17, Richard Train 12; Eddie Henry 17, Stan Lant 22; Andy Kirtland 20, Steve Birdsey 14, Bill Condron 20, Steve Harvey 36; Stuart Johnson 24, Keith Jameson 23; Alan Theobald 9, Tony Kempster 22. Durham 107 (6 pts), Northumberland 129 (16 pts).

Alsop Cup (Durham first): S Land 16, N Stoker 20; P Smithson 8, C Aitken 18; C Moore 14, K Rowe 23; N Buckley 16, J Logan 17; B Storr 19, J Holmes17; A Taylor 21, J Tweddle 19. Durham 94 (4 pts), Northumberland 114 (18 pts).

Armstrong Trophy (Durham first): D Oram 25, D Barrett 19; P Rutter 12, R Hunter 16; A Hill 21, R Gourley 15, B Playfor 18, K Liddle 21; H Dougherty 15, M Groundwater 19; T O'Hara 30, D Wilkinson 8.

* Chris Palmer (White-le-Hills) has lost his place in the England team contesting the International Series at Beach House Park, Worthing (July 2-4).

Palmer was a member of the 2001 team which won the 2002 International Series in Ireland, but loses his place in the Kirk Smith four to first-time triallist Adrian Holden, of Suffolk.

* Durham County bowler David Bolt, of Silksworth, has been selected to play in the junior international trial at New Lount, Leicestershire, where he will skip his rink.

Results from Durham County (EBA) District Six competitions - Four Bowl Singles (First Round): J Ainger 21, M Woodhead 11; T Davidson 10, T Harris 21; R Tomkins 21, A Ward 17. Second Round: D Fenwick 21, T Harris 11; G Adams 21, C Higgins 15; P Hartley 21, D Ray 4; G Skipp 21, R Tomkins 17; B Playfor w.o.

Two Bowl Singles (First Round): P Gorton 19, V Noble 21; D Kilner 17, R Cosgrave 21; T Davidson, D Fenwick, w.o. Round Two: D fenwick 21, R Cosgrave 5. Junior Singles (semi-final): D Ray 21, J Storey 9.

Pairs (First round): Wells/Macey 13, Ainger/Robb 16; Wilford/Woodhead 9, Fenwick/Skipp 24; Pearson/Storey 29, Lewis/Robinson 9; Playfor/O'Hara 23, Higgins/Higgins 14; Lutz/Dougherty 17, McFadden/Tate 19; Hold/Weston 16, Dougherty/Taylor 20; Bentham/McLean 23, Hewetson/Hewetson 24; Noble/Muncaster 18, Hartley/Oram 17; Standing/Stephenson 7; Ward/Price 21, Ray/Davies 15, Barnes/Armstrong 22; Kilner/Simpson 20, Tomkins/Tomkins 8; Golightly/Young 22, Higgins/Hartley 26; Kilburn/Stonehouse 9, Smaller/Lee 28; Riserburn/Gibson 23, Collingwood/Hind 16. Round Two: Noble/Muncaster 14, Higgings/Hartley 24; McFadden/Tate 21, Murphy /Noble 5; Ward/Price 21, Dougherty/Taylor 13; Hagon/White 23, Hewetson/Hewetson 17.

Triples (First Round): M White 15, G Rigg 19; G Thompson 11, F Young 20; T Harris 25, O McFadden 22; P hartley 18, A Taylor 8; R Tomkins 17, B Playfor 15. Fours (First Round): P Cockburn 12, D oram 20; V Noble 15, B Playfor 27; J Ainger 15, A Macey 26.