Sussex surprised star-studded opponents Surrey when they won the Atherley Trophy inter-county match 133-97.

Victory puts the county into the quarter-finals when the opposition will be one of four West Country counties.

Sussex won the home half at Denton Island 69-44 and the away leg at Wey Valley (Guildford) 64-55.

Delighted county president Joan Timms said: "We've beaten Surrey and we're all over the moon."

The selectors had dropped three players from the Wendy Davies skipped rink after the previous match and their judgement was proved right.

Davies, with Maureen Chown, Pam Pile and Janet Birch, went nine up after five ends at Wey Valley before winning 24-17 over Carol Templeman. Chown had an outstanding game upfront.

Wendy Fuller, Doris Wickenden, Mary Williams and Di Taylor, from only 8-6 up at 10 ends, led 20-7 at 15 and won 26-12 against Doreen Lewis.

For Pam Hawkins, Bridget Collings, Barbara Fry and Wendy Adams it was a case of digging in to keep the margin of defeat down. They trailed 8-3 after five ends, 12-6 after 10 and 20-7 with 15 played. They eventually lost 24-14 to Sally Rickman.

Over at Denton Island, Sussex also had two winning rinks.

Preston's Sue Jones, Terri Wall, Pat Pearce and Jean Bowles led 10-5 at 10 ends and 13-9 at 15, but slumped to a 20-16 defeat against Kathy Strutt.

Sue Gunston, Gloria Michael, Betty Durrant and Rita George were ahead 9-5 at half-way, led 17-7 at 15 ends and won 23-14 against Doreen Hankin.

Lorraine Hume, Brenda Piper - a late substitute for the unwell Lorraine Kemp - Carol Ashby and Pat Bain ensured Sussex had control from the start at home when they went 17-3 ahead at 10 ends, led 22-9 at 15 and eventually won 30-10 against Pam Gardener.

*Good news for Eastbourne and Wealden in the Vivienne Trophy national inter-club event. They were the winners of the zone semi-finals and meet on January 18. Eastbourne beat Preston 89-71 with their home rinks of A. Rose and E. Goldsmith winning 24-19 and 27-9 over Vera Bailey and Vera Lammie respectively.

Eastbourne's Shirley Tankard won 25-19 at Preston over Brenda Porter, but Di Carpenter lost 24-13 to Sheila Niner.

Wealden won their semi-final 91-70 over Langney Sports. Skips (Wealden first): I.Woodward 13, P.Tappenden 28; J.Gasson 34, E.Vine 9; J.Page 21; M.Clinch 19; V.Mennis 23; M.Roberts 14.

*Although a number of the big guns had dropped out from the original selection, Sussex women were delighted to get their first win of the season on the road when they beat Hertfordshire 162-147 at Stevenage.

Five shots on the 16th end put Edna Polley (Falaise) Terri Moore (Eastbourne), Hazel Hill (Adur) and Doreen Hough (Wealden) 27-7 ahead and they finished top rink with a 30-11 win over R.Sale.

Marie Wilson (Preston), Jo Williams (Egerton Park), Dot Durrant (Eastbourne) and Beryl Fry of Langney won 23-17 over R.Mead and from only 10-9 ahead at 10 ends Arun's Daphne Anderson, Bridget Collins, Mavis Butler and Wendy Adams pulled clear to win 25-13 against B.Albrecht.

Also successful were Pat Anders (Preston), Elizabeth Gooding (Wealden), Edna Baldrey (Grattons) and Sheila Niner of Preston who defeated J.Rutland 16-12, but Joy Goldsmith (Worthing Pavilion), Joan Timms, Betty Potten (both Worthing) and Wealden's Janet Birch lost 25-22 to Sandra Madgwick.

Losing a single on the last end resulted in Shirley Nelson (Wealden), Lillian Herriott (Eastbourne), Aileen McNair (Egerton) and Rita George of King Alfred going down 19-18 to Joan Killer.

Gloria Michael (King Alfred), Jean Durrant (Wealden), Margaret McGlone (King Alfred) and Barbara Strong of Horsham lost 22-12 to E.Cowhill and Alison Paine (Grattons), Doreen Kelcher (Horsham), Sheila Sutton (Eastbourne) and June Page of Wealden went down 28-16 to A.Cravies.

*The Sussex Association team lost 122-70 at Worthing with Trisha Fry, Pat Anders, Rosemary Slaughter and Bobbie Bonanr the only rink to escape defeat. They drew 18-18 against Lena Inch.

Sheila Lock, Geraldine Friola, April Janman and Shirley Moses lost 24-15 to Joan Plackett, Dot Hillman, Pam Rousseau, Doreen Tilling while Freda Conley lost 25-13 to Celia Tomsett. Lorraine Clarkson, Shirley Stone, Phyl Brooker and Maxine Clarkson were defeated 27-14 by Wendy Davies.

Dot Murray, Margaret McGlone, June Wells and Di Taylor lost 28-10 to Worthing's top rink of Edie Bond, Beryl Sharp, Rosemary Smithers and Betty Potten.

- Ray Potten