HIGH-flying Swanmore have the A Division title in their sights after securing all six points at Pelhams.
The top formation was Rosie Beales, Irene Richman, Jenny Osborne and Jean Philip (25-16), while Viv Mansell (18-15) completed the 43-31 win.
Poole Park slipped out of the top three following their 41-34 home defeat by Richmond Park. Richmond’s Linda Johnson came from 17-15 down after 19 ends to win 18-17. Team-mates Jean Beedie, Chris Butler, Sylvia Postill and Jill Bryant (23-17) more than matched up to claim all six points.
Southbourne regained second spot with a convincing 50-18 win over visitors Broadstone-Wessex. Suzanne Ager, Lynn Mann, Liz Messer and Sue Dadson (31-6) were particularly lethal, with Barbara Lunnun’s quartet (19-12) making it a clean sweep for the Tower Ladies.
Braeside are just above the drop zone after losing 42-31 at Highcliffe. Valerie Snook’s last end 18-18 tie denied Braeside two points after Kathy Smith, Pat Jolley, Jane Seal and Janet Emerson (24-13) had put Highcliffe firmly in control.
New Milton remained rooted at the bottom despite their 6-0 (43-34) home victory over West Moors. New Milton’s match winners were Chris Cooke, Mary Herlihy, Margaret Whale and Sheila Nicoll (23-15), while Wendy Reed’s squad held on to win 20-19.
- Redhill Park retained top spot in B Division following their 46-24 victory at Kings Park. Jennie Cooper, Margaret Pittwood, Bobbie Saunders and Jean Dixon (27-14) combined with Pat Horgan’s combo (19-10) to collect all six points for the Rangers.
Second-placed Milford-on-Sea lost on both rinks at Moordown as only five shots separated the two teams. Moordown skip Cathy France (25-23) and Barbara Roles, Wendy Bule, Mary Wilde and Pat Martin (20-17) were the winners.
There was also a double-rink victory for Wimborne who completed a 2013 double over Broadstone-Wessex. Chris King, Elaine Campbell, Maggie Wilkins and Pat Gallup polled a 23-11 return. Lorna Foreman made it six points for the Minster Maidens after collecting three last-end shots to win 18-17.
Fordingbridge moved off the bottom after their 5-1 home win over Ferndown. Janet Norrish, Kitty McGeachy, Frances Gadsby and Mary Wych (22-16) put Fordingbridge in the driving seat, but the hosts were denied a full house after Ferndown skip Barbara Brown grabbed a last-end 15-15 tie.
Brockenhurst secured two safety points from their 43-33 home defeat by Lymington. However, Pricilla Rees, Jila Bellamy, Jenny Lawford and Patsy Little (27-16) covered the Brocks’ winner Dorothy Bond (19-16).
- C Division frontrunners Bournemouth survived a stern test at third-placed Pelhams to emerge with a 4-2 (43-31) victory.
The Belles’ match winners were Jo Shaw, Lyn Elder, Brenda Halliday and Ann Ashcroft (28-10) who covered Pelhams’ winning skip Jean Perry (21-15).
West Moors moved closer to the leaders by registering the highest score of the day when crushing near neighbours Verwood 64-23. The match was done and dusted when Shelagh Rundle, Irene Clark, Carole Wright and Elaine Hunt carded a massive 38-8 win. Barbara Tite (26-15) made it a full house for the Moors.
Branksome Park moved above Pelhams after their 53-24 home win over Southbourne. Lyn Gamblin, Jen Cookson, Rosemary Staddon and Hilary Jenkins (33-9) topped the scoring, while Carol Williams (20-15) ensured a maximum haul for the Squirrels.
The basement battle at Braeside resulted in a 41-33 defeat for Richmond Park. Connie Phipps, Jeanette Hobby, Mary Southgate and Sheila Harris (25-18), backed by Margaret France (16-15), gathered all six points.
Broadstone-Wessex slipped into the drop zone following their 6-0 (56-26) defeat at Iford Bridge. Renee Stanger’s quartet of Linda Savage, Sue Higgins and Margaret Avery delivered a 36-12 win.
- Swanmore I moved 13 points clear at the D Division summit after their 5-1 win over visitors Pelhams.
Cathy Hayes’s squad (23-13) laid the foundations for Swanmore’s 37-27 triumph and Pelhams’ Ann Jenkinson (14-14) was denied two points by Doreen Brown, who took the jack through to three waiting Swans woods.
Braeside crushed early-season pacesetters Boscombe 56-33. Shirley Alford, Maggie Penn, Cynthia Davey and Janet Young (30-12), allied to Pat Shepherd (26-21), gave Braeside a clean sweep.
Swanmore II are eyeing a promotion place after their double-rink success at New Milton. Beryl Hope, Daphne Hales, Beryl Brunsdon and Pauline West (32-11) led the way before Pearl Shepheard (24-11) made it a maximum.
The two basement teams locked horns at Southbourne, but Highcliffe had to be content with just the two points earned by Pat Stoveld (21-13). This was only just covered by Southbourne’s winning combo of Sue Brown, Gwyn Baker, Ann Laird and Jan Pardy (22-12).
- In E Division, New Milton claimed four points from their 44- 34 win over nearest rivals Argyll I. The top return for the Milton outfit came from Pat Akerman, Sue Buckle, Wendy Bayliss and Doris Gethings (23-11).
Both Branksome Park and Moordown moved ahead of Argyll I following their away victories over Wimborne and Broadstone-Wessex respectively.
The Branksome quartet of Tina Richardson, Jean Hands, Carol Bryant and Babs Shand (34-13) combined with Lola Barker (23-12) to leave the Minster Maidens with nil points.
Moordown returned with five points from Broadstone, courtesy of a 20-16 win by Sheila Nelson, Dee Phillips, Jan Morton and Pat Masters. The hosts were denied two points by Moordown’s Terry Shepherd (18-18).
At Redhill, West Moors’ winning combination of Olive Holder, Anne Goss, Linda Light and Marion Miles (20-15), allied to a last-end 16-16 tie from Doreen Bascombe, earned the visitors a 5-1 win.
- Branksome Park are still searching for their first F Division win after crashing to a huge 63-14 defeat at Milford-on-Sea.
The hosts’ star performers Jill Blakeley, Chrystal Carter, Sue Pitts and Ann Norris showed no mercy when winning 42-4. Milford took over at the top as Poole Park were on a rest day.
Ferndown remained in touch with the leaders after a double-rink victory over Iford Bridge (52-31).
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