Preston's second bid for a national title ended like the first.

Following their disappointment in the semi-finals of the Yetton Trophy, they suffered a similar fate in the Egham Trophy at Loddon Vale against Cambridge Park, who went on to beat York by ten shots in the final.

Preston knew it was going to be tough against the powerful Surrey club's set-up but they gave a good account of themselves by only losing 79-67.

Top four were Alf Carver, Kathy Flood, Betty Durrant and Basil Holding. Down 6-5 at ten ends and 13-12 up at 16, they led 16-12 at 18 and, boosted by a five on the 19th end, won 22-14 over Gary Little.

Eric South, Jean Bowles, Pat Pearce and Dave Hesketh battled gamely against Ian Jenkins being only 8-7 down at ten ends and 13-12 ahead at 15. By the 18th they had gone 18-14 down and lost 22-17.

Dennis Alderton, Jan Dearling, Terri Wall and Chris Turrell, 6-6 at ten ends, were doing well against Steve Tuohy. Five ends later they had slipped to 12-9 down and worse was to follow as the next three ends cost them eight shots.

Digging deep, Turrell's team won the last three ends with six shots but still lost 20-15.

Doreen Brockes, Brenda Bailey, Dave Woosnam and Ken Thatcher were always struggling against Bob Bass after the first five ends had cost them nine shots. On a difficult end rink they were 11-3 down at ten ends, 18-8 at 15 and, when the last two cost them two apiece, they lost 23-13.

In the play-off for third and fourth, Preston's four rinks were crushed 121-58 by North Walsham, but they picked up £200, the same amount as the women collected for fourth place in the Yetton, for club funds.

A third chance for Preston comes in the Over-60s men's double fours semi-finals at Melton Mowbray on Saturday April 7.

Joe Galelli, Dave Welsh and Basil Holding were well rewarded for their success in the Premier Windows Preston open triples tournament final.

They pocketed £100 apiece for beating Preston colleagues Billy Gibbons, Terry Brown and Tom Hubbard.

Having gone 9-4 up, they then dropped 4,2,2 to go three behind.

Roles were then reversed as Hubbard had a similar spell and, with 4,3,1,2, it was 19-12 to the eventual champions at 14 ends. They cruised to the finishing line, successful by 20-16. The losers each received £60.

The tournament was organised by Dave Woosnam, who arrived at the final after playing for Preston in a Sussex League (Section A) defeat at Grattons.

The Crawley club took the points 9-2 and the only winning Preston rink was skipped by Sid Shepherd against John Hopgood.

The other point came through Woosnam and John Laker drawing with Eric Pettingel and Don Davis respectively.

Grattons members Beryl Cousins and Mick Law went out of the national mixed pairs at the last 32 stage.