Oxfordshire's Alan Prew helped the Central team retain the Peter Brimble Trophy in the English regional trial at Erewash, Nottingham.

Prew and his teammates beat off the challenge of the North, South East and South West in the first of two trials which will help the selectors decide the team for the Home Internationals in Belfast in March.

Chipping Norton's world No 6, Les Gillett, lined up in the trial at two to 1998 English Champion of Champions Simon Skelton and they recorded two wins in three games.

Prew and company rampaged home 32-10 against South West's Graham Standley in the opening session, then clawed their way back from 16-4 down to beat South East's Kent and England skip Gary Smith 18-16.

A last-gasp swoop, yielding a double and a four at the final two ends, deprived Prew of a 100 per cent record, the North rink snatching the match 15-14.

Oxford's Glenn Allen, a recent World Under 25s Championship quarter-finalist in Jersey, did well as No 2 to the South West's Griff Sanders.

Central finished with 27 points, ahead of South East (22), North (19) and South West (16).

Now Prew, Allen and Greg Moon await the call for the final trial at Rushcliffe, Notts, in January.

**Oxford teenager Pamela Rae went on a scoring spree in the England Women's Under-25s international trial at Rugby Thornfield.

The 18-year-old figured in the biggest win of the day, the 31-13 demolition of world under-25s championship contender Ellen Alexander, from Ely, Cambs.

Rae, from the Oxford and District club, was at two to Melton Mowbray's Helen Dabbs and they actually trailed 5-3 after six ends.

Rae and Dabbs then cut loose, piling up 20 shots over the next eight ends including a six, a five and two fours to power 23-10 ahead.

Five ends later, a stunned Alexander threw in the towel with one end still to play.