WOMEN bowlers will be able to wear trousers in EWBA matches from next season.

Delegates voted in favour of the new dress code at the Association's annual meeting, and the relaxation follows hard on the heels of the introduction of coloured tops and the decision to make hats optional in 1993.

But the decision has not gone down well among some die-hards. Previous moves to allow women bowlers the option have always been defeated, but this time a motion by the Surrey WBA was voted in by 18 votes, reflecting changes in the women's side of the sport, which is seeking to open its doors to younger bowlers.

Many of the sport's enthusiasts changed their views when overseas players were first allowed to wear slacks as part of their fashionable official outfits at the 1996 World Championships at Leamington Spa.

Since then the groundswell of opinion has grown in favour of the relaxation of the strict dress code, which used to insist on dresses, tights and hats being worn by women bowlers.

The new rules apply only to the outdoor game, but it is expected that the English Women's Indoor Bowling Association will follow suit.

* The three-rink Hebburn Indoor Club continued their Denny Cup giant-killing when they claimed the scalp of Stanley, three times beaten finalists in the last decade.

The Tynesiders' 95-47 victory was the upset of the fourth round and they now face the might of Cumbria, who beat Sunderland by an equally comfortable 102-68 scoreline. Darlington maintained their interest in the All England Inter-Club with an 84-73 success over Swinton and they will now face Thornaby, 73-64 winners over Blackpool Borough. The fifth round games will be played next Saturday.

* Darlington also made progress in the All-England Mixed Inter-Club Championship for the Egham Trophy, enjoying a first round walk-over when Hartlepool scratched.

Other results at the first hurdle were: South Shields 84, Gateshead 69; Eldon 118, Hebburn 47; Tynedale 82, The Parks 75; Concordia 92, Stanley 69; Thornaby 111, Houghton 39; Redcar 81, Ferryhill 75; Great Acliffe 84, Durham 77.

* The Hartlepool Ladies Invitation Masters Pairs brought a home victory when Di Smart and Enid Parkes were 14-7 winners over Great Aycliffe's Ann Brown and Brenda Mangles in the final.

The Aycliffe ladies enjoyed an extra-end success in the semi-final over current international Ann Knott, playing with South Shields clubmate Shirley Wilson, while at the same stage the eventual champions were 19-10 winners over Hartlepool clubmates Audrey Davies and Barbara White.

Results: National Championships Area Three Results - Singles: M Thomkins (Darlington) 4, V O'Neill (Thornaby) 21; A Frosdick (Thorn) 21, B Storr (Darl) 8; J Pearce (Shildon) 14, D Dodd (Great Aycliffe) 21; S Burton (Darl) 17, G Skipp (Thorn) 21; A Birks (Thorn) 10, AW Jones (Thorn) 21; S Packham (Hartlepool) 16, A Kirtland (Darl) 21.

Pairs: O'Neill/O'Brien (Thorn) 19; Dodds/Atkins (Ayc) 11; O'Hara/Taylor (Hart) 19, Palmer/Metcalfe (Ayc) 27; Moreland/Dowson (Ayc) 9, Rudge/Packham (Hart) 20; G Skipp/Jones (Thorn) 12, Hanmer/Pearce (Shildon) 20. Triples: S Land (Spennymoor) 21, D Barron (Ayc) 6.

Fours: A Macey (Hart) 28, A Mather (Ferryhill) 7; J Pearson (Ferryhill) 24, A Bousefield (Darl) 23. Mixed Pairs: Alderson/Jones (Thorn) 24, Gillespie/Gillespie (Thorn) 10; Anderson/Moore (Darl) 26, Allison/Allison (Thorn) 8; Johnston/Kilner (Hart) 21, Stephenson/Stephenson (Darl) 19; Shepherd/Bousefiueld (Darl) 26, Ramsdale/Wellburn (Darl) 10; Claxton/Claxton (Redcar) 14, Eglintine/Taylor (Hart) 19.

Under-25 Singles: C Higgins (Hart) 5, M O'Riordan (Thorn) 21.

Over-60 Singles: R Young (Thorn) 7, E Ramsdale (Darl) 21; J Clare (Darl) 21, V Claxton (Redcar) 17.