SIMON Garner is on a rescue operation - with the Football League's bottom club Torquay United.

And Ewood's record goalscorer made a successful start to his mission, by helping Torquay to a rare victory over Leyton Orient.

The 36-year-old Wycombe Wanderers striker has been unable to claim a regular first team spot at Adams Park.

But he is back in the senior spotlight after joining Torquay on loan; swapping the Second Division promotion battle for the survival scrap at the bottom of the Third Division.

Garner's debut at Plainmoor last Saturday co-incided with a 2-1 win - only the third of the season for Torquay - and gave them renewed hope of escaping the clutches of the Conference.

LATEST £500 Double Your Money winner is M Longworth, Blackburn, number 119A. Rovers Return £2,000 winner at the Sheffield Wednesday game was Mrs D Hampshire (Lichfield), number 163878.

SEATS for next Saturday's Premiership home game against Bolton Wanderers are on open sale at the Ewood ticket office. Normal match prices apply.

Saturday opening hours have changed slightly for the ticket office. When there is a game, it will open as normal from 9am-3pm. But from next week, on non-matchday Saturdays, the ticket office will only open from 9am-12-30pm. Unless special arrangements are announced.

THERE could be some fixture changes ahead as far as Rovers' remaining Premiership matches are concerned.

Dates will depend on the progress of opposition teams in the cup competitions but first concern is the trip to Aston Villa on February 17. That's FA Cup fifth round day and Villa meet Sheffield United in a fourth round tie tomorrow.

Rovers are also due to meet Leeds at Ewood on Saturday, March 23. But that is Coca-Cola Cup final weekend and Leeds have a two-legged semi-final coming up against Birmingham.

A DATE has yet to be arranged for Rovers' Lancashire FA Youth Cup semi-final away to Preston and the Pontin's League home fixture at home to West Brom - both games at Deepdale.

The reserve team game against Notts County at Meadow Lane has been put back 24 hours to Wednesday, March 20 (7pm).

GRAHAM Fenton confirmed his return to full fitness this week, after first shaking off hamstring trouble and then recovering from the stomach bug which has affected several members of the Ewood staff.

And the former Aston Villa forward maintained his excellent scoring record in the reserves, with two more goals against Sheffield Wednesday.

That gives Fenton a total of five goals from just seven appearances in the Pontin's League First Division - only one behind the reserve team's leading scorer, young Michael Holt, who has played more than twice as many games.

JAMES Beattie leads the way in the A team scoring charts, with 16 goals at an average of one per game.

In the B team, the striking rate of James Thomas is not far behind. He has 18 so far as the youth side chase the Lancashire League Second Division title.

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