BOSCOMBE Cliff clocked up their 12th victory of the season when overcoming their nearest challengers Southbourne in Section One.

Cliff, as is their might, finished the stronger to win 80-63. Southbourne’s Richard Poole (21-18) gave the only response to Cliff’s three winning rinks topped by Tony Geary, Derek Ridyard, Chris Martin and Alan Geary (24-10).

Poole Park recovered from last week’s setback with a crushing 14-0 (121-45) defeat of Fordingbridge, who failed to handle a very fast green. The top quartet for the Dolphins was Maurice Foord, Jack Smith, Paul Spetch and Chris Kane (39-14).

Following a poor start to the season Knyveton Gardens moved up to fourth by trouncing visitors Wimborne 14-0 (91-51). Bill Kerr, George Roberts, Martin Brierley and Jim Flexman (23-9) were the Gardeners’ best.

Broadstone-Wessex, meanwhile, came down to earth with a bump at Ringwood where the hosts won on all four rinks.

Den Newham, Eric Knight, Barrie Seymour and Derick Faulkner (43-12) featured in the Foresters’ 115-55 win.

Alexandra Park slipped to the foot of the table following their 12-2 (78-72) home defeat by Poole Park A. Dolphins’ winning rinks were headed by Mark Conner, Bill Shylock, Keith Power and John Potter (25-16).

  •  Bournemouth pulled well clear of the chasing pack in Section Two with an 11-3 win at Swanmore. Swans’ skip George Smith tied with his oppo Gerry Potts (18-18). Then Terry Chivers ((20-18) and Vic Druce (22-19) covered Swanmore’s Pat Hayes (19-17) to edge Bournemouth a 77-74 victory.

New Milton remain second despite their shock 83-77 defeat at Lymington. With rinks shared, the 25-15 return from Bob Hillier, David Stokes, Bernard Tennant and Viv Bailey proved to be Lymo’s match winner.

West Moors edged closer to New Milton following their 12-2 (91-70) win at Branksome Park.

There was a clean sweep on the Magic Carpet for Braeside who easily accounted for bottom-club Highcliffe.

Derek Baber, Terry Jones, Tony Brunt and Eric Lamb (26-7) led the slaughter as Braeside romped to a 97-53 win.

Great relief at Southbourne, who, after losing their last seven matches, collected 10 valuable points from their 75-68 success over Boscombe Cliff. Southbourne’s saviours were Alan Dawe, Eddie Hind, Jim Ford and Martin Sheppard (25-18).

  •  The top-two clash in Section Three at Pelhams resulted in a narrow 73-71 defeat for Knyveton Gardens. With two rinks apiece the Pelhams combo of David Kerr, Nigel Bunton, Nick Boswood and Bill Safe (31-15) secured the win for the Kinson club. Simon Lapenne’s squad (27-11) kept the Gardeners in the fight.

Iford Bridge are third after returning from Argyll with 13 points in the bag. Chris Quick, Bob Boatman, Mike Emsley and the dogged Alan Doughty (29-17) spearheaded Iford’s 86-63 victory. Argyll’s Franco Tinelli was denied a rink win by Bridge skip Roger Lawrence who levelled 17-17 on the last end.

It was down to the wire at Milford where Braeside grabbed a last-end 86-85 win. With two rinks apiece the match winners for the Carpetbaggers were Ken Ellam, Harold France, Alan Hart and Dave Brooks (25-16).

It was even closer at the Broadway, where Electric’s crew of Mike Sykes, Rob Burchell, Richard Haynes and Peter Cutts (30-17) picked up two shots on the last end to tie the match 83-83 with Branksome Park. The Squirrels’ only winning skip, Chris Harding (33-14) managed to equal the Sparkies three successful rinks.

A welcome win for bottom-club Kings Park who emerged with a 9-5 (100-94) win in a high scoring match at Swanage. With one rink tied it was left to Mike Hughes, Peter Hemming, Barry Hiscock and Roy Simpson (34-15) to cover the Purbeck Men’s two winning rinks.

  •  The top three in Section Four all suffered away defeats.

Moordown had to settle for four points at Wimborne, where the Minster quartet of Richard Edwards, John Longbone, John Armfield and Mike Connett (25-10) paved the way for Wimborne’s 77-64 victory.

Richmond Park’s David Wakelin (22-19) salvaged two points from their 82-68 loss at Knyveton Gardens. Peter Jupp, Pete Sant, Murray Bacon and Ray Elrick (28-18) took the rosette for the Gardeners.

Poole Park slipped to fourth after losing 81-66 to Broadstone-Wessex. Alistair Swadel, Wal Winton, Will Taylor and Alan Godwin (24-10) shone for the Wessex club. The Dolphins top return came from Bill Ogden (23-18).

New Milton moved ahead of Poole Park following their 13-1 home win over Christchurch. Host skip Derek Tansley was trailing by two, then his number two took the jack through to level the rink 21-21. Previously, Chris Lunnon, Roy Nichol, Norman Newby and Mike Akerman (31-15) had set up Milton’s 102-64 triumph.

Redhill Park came out on top in their basement battle at Highcliffe. The Rangers captured 12 points from their 90-64 win.

  •  West Moors returned to winning form in Section Five with a 12-2 (85-58) success over third-placed Lymington. The main Moors Men were Terry Hester, John Cooper, Brian Holder and John Bascombe (29-13).

Argyll hold the second promotion spot after their 10-4 win at Iford Bridge. Don Hawkins, John Hancock, Colin Harrison and Dave Thomas (34-17) were the top performers in Argyll’s 92-84 victory.

Ringwood moved above Ferndown following the Foresters 10-4 (76-71) win over the Stags.

Boscombe Cliff, meanwhile, moved to mid-table security as a result of their 95-74 triumph at Redhill Park. Michael Drage, Derek Chapman, Keith Symonds and Dave Fawcett (29-13) topped Cliff’s two winning rinks.

Branksome Park remained in the drop zone despite back to back wins. This week they narrowly defeated Southbourne 11-3 (86-81) courtesy of Peter Dixon, Alan Gamblin, Alan Vatter and Hector Binding (28-15).

  •  Section Six leaders Poole Park maintained momentum with a 12-2 (87-68) win over day trippers Milford-on-Sea.

Rather surprisingly the Dolphins nearest challengers Ferndown lost 12-2 (88-66) to bottom-club Southbourne.

The Towermen’s best return came from Ian Walker, Brian Harris, John Stanborough and Bryan Clay (29-9).

Bournemouth completed the double over Pelhams by a narrow margin of 91-88. With rinks shared the 25-22 carded by Gordon Atkins, Jeff Gordon, Barry Purkiss and Bert Mitchell proved crucial in the final countdown.

There were two rinks apiece also at Moordown where Swanmore continued their good away form by winning 69-62. The Swans’ top flight was Dennis Barrett, Roy Watson, Peter Holden and Derek Ireson (21-9).

Basement-team Richmond Park gained valuable points with a 65-55 home win over West Moors. With rinks shared the 20-9 win by Rob James, Simon Fletcher, David Phillips and Richard Prowse won the day for HQ.