THE Potteries and District county team produced one of their best team performances for a long time to beat Derbyshire and keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the county championship.

Skipper Kerry Morris led the way for the home side. He beat Dale Spragg in the opening rubber at Fegg Hayes to inspire his side to a 77-point home victory. That was followed up by the Potteries' away side winning by 12 points at Ashbourne to seal a resounding triumph.

Home scores: Kerry Morris (Birches Head Hotel) 21, Dale Spragg 11; Anthony Shaw (Birches Head Hotel) 21, Jon Guess 7; Phil Owen (Birches Head Hotel) 21, Brian Hill 9; Andy Ferris (Congleton Park) 13, Richard Peach 21; John Mountford (Clough Hall) 15, Paul Stretton 21; Joe Williamson (Birches Head Hotel) 21, Ian Johnson 13; Tony Porter (Burslem Suburban) 18, Paul Mottram 21; Fred Donaldson (Clough Hall) 21, Keith Fantom 6; Richard Burgess (Middleport Park) 21, Craig Shore 8; Lee Dale (Middleport Park) 18, Paul Hawker 21; Richard Clay (Birches Head Hotel) 21, Mark Whelan 7; Paul Charlesworth (Congleton Park) 21, Andy Spragg 10. Total: 232-155.

Away scores: Dean Ferris (Fegg Hayes) 21, Steve Adams 4; Andrew Owen (Birches Head Hotel) 16, Dave Allsop 21; Barry Booth (Birches Head Hotel) 21, Dave May 16; John Simpson (Alsager Institute) 18, Brian Smith 21; Gary Owen (Birches Head Hotel) 13, Darren Carter 21; Mark Melvin (Middleport Park) 20, Neil Worthington 21; Darren Clutton (Meir Social) 20, Matt Kelly 21; Phil Burndred (Fegg Hayes) 21, Matt Ford 14; Mark Ferris (Middleport Park) 21, Darren Smith 14; Nick Tideswell (Middleport Park) 20, Calvin Jackson 21; Joe Melvin (Middleport Park) 21, Paul Chamberlain 9; Paul Phillips (Middleport Park) 7, John Dewey 21. Total: 219-207.

STAFFS Ladies remain top of their County Championship qualifying group after three games following a 14-point victory over North Shropshire.

A solid performance from the Staffs away side was key to victory after the home team racked-up a 21-point win at Florence.

Home scores: Janet Hargreaves 21, Pat Davies 13; Stacey Brown 10, Clair Richmond 21; Sylvia Holmes 20, Mo Corley 21; Ann Woodward 21, Avril Metcalfe 20; Sam Holland 5, Joan Groom 21; Sharon Whittaker 21, Mary Prince 15; Carol Thompson 19, Jo Hickson 21; Sue Wright 21, Joyce Griffiths 10; Janet Salmon 19, Gillian Edge 21; Hazel Macdonald 21, Daisy Weaver 18; Liz Rowley 21, Lynda Gollins 8; Dawn Prince 21, Sarah Weaver 10. Total: 220-199.

Away scores: Judy Ash 21, Tracy Harding 12; Jackie Laverty 21, Katy Harding 17; Laura Hamer 20, Janet Powell 21; Carol Steele 21, Colleen Harding 4; Susan Medlicott 9, Sue Mottershead 21; Elizabeth Wright 19, Dawn Owens 21; Corrinna Philips 21, Jan Haycox 16; Julie Burgess 6, Tina Ralph 21; Carol Matthews 21, Irene Bloor 19; Joan Lewis 20, Carol Beddows 21; Janet Hope 20, Wendy Matthews 21; Gill Welsh 21, Caroline Wynn 20. Total: 220-227.

THE North Staffs Parks individual merit final takes place tomorrow at Oakhill Bowling Club with 16 rivals vying for the £200 first prize (noon start).

The top four finishers will also qualify for the British Parks Individual Merit, which will be held in August.

Finalists: Barry Booth (Birches Head Hotel); Darren Smallman (Florence); A Bailey (Westlands); Anthony Lloyd (Burslem Suburban); Kerry Morris (Birches Head Hotel); Mark Melvin (Middleport); Graham Joynes (Trent Vale); B Ollerhead (Bucknall Park); P Walthall (Bucknall Park); I Atherton (Westlands); Joe Williamson (Birches Head Hotel); D Butler (Clough Hall); Richard Christon (Birches Head Hotel); A Porter (Burslem Suburban); I Farimond (Trent Vale); Nick Tideswell (Middleport).

THE Ted Astley Memorial Trophy continues at Birches Head Hotel tomorrow, starting at 1pm.

Draw: Mick Thompson v Mick Brindley; Martin Hallam v Joe Melvin; John Mountford v Tony Shaw; Roy Price v Paul Charlesworth.

Last week's results: Nick Tideswell 31, Richard Clay 23; Alan Bailey 31, Dean Ferris 21; Phil Burndred 31, Alan Pritchard 14; Mark Ferris 31, Ian Simpson 30. Second round: Tideswell 31, Bailey 29; Ferris 31, Burndred 29.

THE Potteries and District Midland Alliance play host to Derbyshire at Birches Head Hotel tomorrow, starting at 6pm.

THE final of the May Smith Round Peg competition will be played tomorrow at Birches Head Gardeners, starting at 2pm.

Finalists: E Hollinshead (Birches Head Hotel); H Macdonald (Milton Recs); J Burgess (Fegg Hayes); S Brown (Birches Head Hotel); A Woodward (New Stoke Park); J Hargreaves (Birches Head Hotel); J Lewis (Bucknall Private); S Holmes (Birches Head Hotel).

THE James Birks Senior Cup and Gerald Harrison Junior Cup are being played on Tuesday night.

James Birks fixtures and venues: Birches Head Hotel v Bucknall Private at Creda; Meir Social v Wolstanton WMC at Birches Head Gardeners; Creda v Middleport Park at Florence No 2 Green; Burslem Suburban v Milton Recs at Fenton Private; Florence v Fenton Private at Wolstanton WMC; Birches Head Gardeners v Bucknall Ex at Bucknall Private; Kingsley v Clough Hall BC at Oakhill; Oakhill v Fegg Hayes at Milton Recs.

Gerald Harrison fixtures and venues: Bucknall Private (+15) v Middleport Park (+5) at Norton Central; Burslem Suburban (+15) v Milton Recs (+20) at Birches Head Hotel; Florence (+10) v Fegg Hayes (+20) at Burslem Suburban; Birches Head Hotel (+10) v Clough Hall (scratch) at Fegg Hayes.

COMPETITORS for today's Nursery BC Classic at Stockport include Potteries bowlers Alan Bailey and Phil Owen.

CONGLETON'S Chris MacDonald was a beaten semi-finalist in the Heckmondwike Classic. He lost 21-8 to eventual winner Pete Jagger.

LONDON Road bowler Alan Boulton won the JJ Isherwood Championship, the Shropshire qualifier for the National Vets Open.

The national finals will be played at Prees, near Whitchurch, on July 1.

In the same week, Boulton also won the John Barber Cup, the seniors championship of the Market Drayton League.

ENTRIES are now being taken for the London Road summer open pairs competition.

Qualifying heats are being held on August 21, 25, 26, and 28, while the final takes place on September 1. Entry costs £10 per pair.

For more details, call Allan Johnson on (01782) 564076 or Graham Ellis on (01782) 628369.