DURHAM County battled their way through to the final of the Liberty Trophy after being given an hour's "grace" when several team members on the way to the semi-final at Gedling, Nottingham, were help up after a pile-up on the A1.

Two Durham officials - 63-year-old vice-president Alan Cooper and David Sykes - had changed into Durham's strip and were preparing to come in as last-minute substitutes against Northamptonshire when the last two players rushed onto the green.

Two other players, Eddie Henry (Stanley) and Mick Tomkinson (Darlington) had travelled on the supporters' coach, and had to be "rescued" by David Gallant, a director of Durham's sponsors, Domnick Hunter, who travelled back up the A1 to pick them up.

Durham were 13-2 down after two ends. But they regained their composure to win on four of the six rinks and qualify for the final against Devon by 21 shots.

The performance at Gedling was reminiscent of Durham's glory days of the 1980s, and Brett Arkley, Steve Birdsey, Alan Theobald and John Leeman led the assault with a victory by 16 shots.

Rinks scores (Durham skips first): Davie Bolt 15, Neil McKee 20; John Leeman 26, Mike Allen 10; Jim Humphrey 19, Paul Broderick 25; Gary Smith 21, Neil Corbyn 16; Andrew Kirtland 20, Mick Sharpe 16; John Thurlbeck 22, Julian Haines 18. Durham 126, Northamptonshire 105.

Devon, who face Durham at Melton Mowbray on April 14, have four skips who have represented England at senior and junior level. They gained a nine-shot victory over Essex.

Durham will also be in action at Melton Mowbray in the final of the Under-25s Championship, and five of the team are likely to be playing in the Liberty Trophy final later in the day.

* Ron Hails and Harry Laverick have been made life members of the Hartlepool and District Bowling Association in recognition of their services, over many years.

* The Durham County Champion of Champions Finals will be held at Durham Indoor BC on Thursday, March 14 (6.30pm).

The matches are - Singles: A Macey (Hartlepool) v A Kirtland (Darlington); Pairs: D Morgan (Sunderland) v K Tinkler (Darlington); Triples (to be arranged): GR Smith (Sunderland) v J Wells (Hartlepool); Fours: B Harris (Stanley) v J Pearson (Ferryhill).

* In the Area Three National Finals at Hartlepool, Barry Attwood and Dave Barron (Great Aycliffe) beat Stewart Land and Bill Condron (Spennymoor) 20-18.

The Fours final brought a comfortable success for Ken Tinkler, Mark Jones, Alan Moore and Andrew Kirtland (Darlington) who were 22-14 victors over the Thornaby quartet of Mark O'Riordan, Richard Hudson, Bryn Mosley and Tony Frosdick