DURHAM County bowlers scored a magnificent double on the final day of the EIBA National Finals at Melton Mowbray.

The Domnick Hunter-sponsored senior team became the first county to win the coveted Liberty Trophy in three successive decades, while the young blood gained a first victory in the Inter-County Under-25 Double Rinks.

But both finals ended in nail-biting finishes, with Durham claiming success by just one shot on each occasion.

Facing a Devon team with internationals leading four of their rinks, Durham stormed away to take a 26-shot lead and it looked as though a seventh win in the Inter-County Championship would be a mere formality.

But the men from the West Country had other ideas, and not only did they close the gap but fired their way into an eight-shot lead.

Durham recovered their composure to regain the lead, but then Devon edged in front in a ding-dong battle.

A couple of timely three counts from the John Thurlbeck quartet gave their colleagues - beleaguered on four other rinks - crucial breathing space.

And with just a couple of ends to finish across the board the foursome of Brett Arkley, Steve Birdsey, Alan Theobold and John Leeman produced a masterstroke when Leeman, as he has done so many times in his years of county service, produced a delivery of stunning accuracy to earn the four shot lead Durham took into the final end.

Pat Thompson, Phil Smithson, Eddie Henry and John Thurlbeck were entrusted to protect this lead and they did - just - despite the heavy-handed tactics of opposing skip Greg Sanders.

So Durham, in spite of losing on four of the six rinks, added a seven th Liberty Cup victory to their trophy board - but they have seldom been involved in such a dramatic finale.

Scores (Durham first): Andrew Kirtland 16, K Phillips 19; John Thurlbeck 25, G Sanders 18; Gary Smith 10, I Bond 24; David Bolt 21, J Whickham 24; John Leeman 26, S Evans 6; Jim Humphrey 14, J Evans 20. Durham 112, Devon 111.

The Durham youngsters set their seniors an early example when, in the morning preview to the Liberty Final, they gained a 38-37 victory over Kent inn the Inter-County Under-25 Double Rinks Final.

Holding a matchwinning one shot advantage on the final end, the David Bolt quartet withstood a determined Kent onslaugtht to set their seniors a shining example - which was duly followed!

Scores (Durham first): Marc Squirrell, James Rudge, Ian McIntosh, Phil Smithson13, J Winter 22; Pat Thompson, David Sykes, Shaun McIntosh, David Bolt 25, P McCaughan 15.

l There was further success for the North-East when Eldon Square (Newcastle) were 43-40 winners over Moonfleet (Dorset) in the Over-60 Double Rinks event.

Glenn Skipp, of Thornaby, was beaten in the semi-finals of the Singles Championship, but had the consolation of claiming the scalp of Anglo-Scottish legend Andy Thomson. Stanley's Chris Palmer was knocked out in the second round of the singles.