HAMPSHIRE are through to the Liberty Trophy final for the first time in eight years after staging a sprint finish to win a pulsating semi-final against Somerset.

When trailing by 13 shots at 17 ends, Hampshire seemed booked for defeat but they fought back to snatch a 111-107 victory on the last end of the day at the Cotswold club in Stroud, Gloucestershire.

They now face Norfolk at Nottingham on Sunday, April 22 (2.30).

Hampshire manager Derek Collins summed up his team's rousing performance by saying: "Somerset made it very tough for us and we needed all the experience of our five international skips to see us through.

"It was a triumph not only for our tenacity and skill but for the team spirit right across the green. Our supporters were great too - the players and myself can't thank them enough for their constant encouragement."

Rink scores: Darren Griffith, Gary Starks, Colin Hayward (all Victory), Martyn Sekjer (East Dorset) 17 John Hick (Clevedon) 20; Matthew Marchant, Barry Starks (both Victory), Leo May (Rushmoor), Steve Robertson (Victory) 18 Clive Benham (Taunton Deane) 17; Jody Bright (Atherley), Marc Rivoira (Loddon Vale), Colin Thresher (Victory), Adam Tidby (East Dorset) 28 Neil Williams (Watchet) 12; Tom Bishop (Atherley), Andy Anderson, Mark Hammond, Graham Standley (all Banister Park) 14 Richard Billington (Bridgwater BCL) 16; Alan Geary (East Dorset), Dave Dunford (Rushmoor), Paul May (Banister Park), Richard Shelley (Victory) 26 Dave Alder (Clevedon) 14; Ian Rawlinson, Chris Martin, Julian Haines, Peter Ward (all East Dorset) 8 Mark Denslow (Ilminster) 28.