KNYVETON Gardens – who had never previously led Section One – retained top spot with a 10-4 win over a depleted Boscombe Cliff side.

Stan Jordan (33-20) tried to stem the flow, but Terry Davis, Deric Pritchard, Dave Baxter and Chris Hollier (28-12) inspired the Gardeners to an 89-80 victory.

Branksome Park regained form and second place with an 11-3 triumph over Poole Park, who also had key players absent.

Norman Dames (26-18) was the only successful Dolphin skip. Squirrels’ formation of Paul Mullender, Bob Harris, Dave King and Roger Button (26-14) pressed on to front Branksome’s 90-82 win.

A last-end 19-19 tie by West Moors skip Ray Hunt denied hosts Southbourne a full house. Mike Newton, Brian Sadler, Frankie Warren and Alan Bliss (34-10) were delighted to head the Towermen’s 94-67 victory.

Lymington clocked up successive wins with a 14-point haul against Ringwood. Again, it was Bob Hillier, Bill Merrett, John Kitcher and Ian Shiell (23-10) whom contributed most to the Lymos’ 87-63 winning total.

Middleton Cup duties forced Alexandra Park to play four triple rinks against Bourne-mouth. And they paid dearly for, after winning on four rinks, the 25 per cent adjustment resulted in a 12-2 (66-62.25) win for Bournemouth. Steve Chalker (15-11) hung on for Alex with Terry Chivers’ rink (21-16.5) topping Bournemouth’s efforts.

• Broadstone-Wessex lost their 100 per cent Section Two record in the top-two clash at Swanmore. Three winning rinks headed by Geoff Simmonds, Mike Pearson, Tony Norte and Barry Coates (20-16) wrapped up the Swans’ 76-70 victory.

New Milton moved into second spot after defeating Southbourne A 12-2. Roger Herlihy’s squad of Len Johnson, Ron Johnson and Dave Walker ambled to a 27-8 win as New Milton racked up an 86-60 total.

Wimborne shared the rinks at Pelhams but came away with the 10 points thanks to Roy Campbell, Brian Wilkins, Colin Shew and John Pudney (27-10). Pelhams’ best return came from John Bond’s crew (26-14).

Fordingbridge returned to winning ways with a 10-4 (84-76) victory at Kings Park. Despite dropping a seven on the 17th end, the Turks quartet of Geoff Phillips, Jim Wych, Des Jarvis and Derek Purse rallied to win 27-18.

Electric consolidated their mid-table position by toppling Bos-combe Cliff A 90-61. Ray Cooke’s rink of Michael Fay, Barry Blake and Stuart Trees logged on to win 32-8 -– and assured the Sparkies of 12 points.

• There was a ton-up for Knyveton Gardens A who claimed top spot in Section Three after defeating Redhill Park 12-2 (101-68). Roy Fenton, Ken Budd, John Lee and Adam Broom brushed aside the opposition to win 36-9.

Last week’s leaders Braeside returned from West Moors with the dreaded nil points. Moors ran out 94-72 winners, the best return coming from Terry Hester, Bill Archer, Mike Tappenden and Arthur Baxter (28-19).

There was some consolation for Braeside as their A team collected a 10-4 win over Iford Bridge. Phil Harris, Trevor Sams, Bob Penn and Alan Watts (32-11) charged up the Carpetbaggers to win the match 90-73.

Richmond Park skips Brian Devine (22-18) and Malcolm Gray (16-12) shared the top honours at Poole Park. A late flurry from Dave Snow (21-21) ensured HQ of an 11-3 (73-69) victory over the Dolphins.

Moordown won on two rinks at Highcliffe, the best from Alan Tavener’s crew (27-12). However, a 32-9 from Trevor Welch, Derek Weaver, Bill Berry and John Irons paved the way for Highcliffe’s 77-74 triumph.

• A 12-2 win at Wimborne ensured that Branksome Park remained the only unbeaten team in Section Four. Bill Harris, Edmond Sandell, Martin Goss and Alan Parram (26-17) guided the Squirrels to an 80-65 win. One of their opponents – Percy Swinson – was celebrating his 80th birthday.

There were also 12 points for Ferndown who defeated Swanage 84-80. Peter Sayer, Peter Payne, Colin Procter and Graham Hogg (30-21) grabbed the headlines for the Stags. Pat Ratcliffe (31-15) replied for the Purbeck Boys.

Milford registered their first ton when overwhelming Poole Park B 101-77. Roger Christie, Phill Freeman, Gary Kirby and Viv Bailey (32-16) contributed most to the Seasiders total. Dolphin skip Dave Grant (25-25) denied the hosts a full house.

Christchurch’s Mike Poore (25-15) headed his team’s three winning rinks against New Milton. But it was all in vain as Max Rogers, Richard Silcock, David Morrison and Derek Tansley (30-10) gave Milton an 8-6 win.

• Broadstone-Wessex remained top of Section Five despite losing 10-4 at home to Southbourne B. Bob Pardy, Dennis Heath, Scott Biden and Ian Messer (34-16) were the mainstays for the Towermen, but it was Dennis Simpson (24-13) who secured the visitors an 83-79 win.

Another top-two loser Pelhams A could only muster two points at Knyveton Gardens. John Bristow, Jim Divall, Eric Jesty and Trevor Smith (26-14) led the Gardeners to an 86-74 victory.

Lymington A made it two in a row following their 10-4 (83-69) success at Ringwood. The Lymos quartet of Richard Nunn, Al Gouley, Frank Johnson and Dennis Watson made it look elementary by winning 28-6.

Basement club Boscombe Cliff B slipped further adrift after crashing to a 14-0 defeat at home to Highcliffe A. Ron Hazel’s cluster of Paul Oastler, Ernie Thorn and Brian Giltrow led the Castlemen to an 89-62.75 win.

• The top four in Section Six all won but with variable success. Swanmore A returned from Iford Bridge with a 9-5 (78-74) victory thanks to a 29-14 return from Tony Warren, Derek Ireson, Peter Holden and Harry Small .

Ferndown A, meanwhile, went one better with three winning rinks at Southbourne. John Davies, Sean Morrissey, Alan Davies and Paul Hallett (30-12) needed a big score to cover the hosts’ only successful skip Bryan Clay (34-14). And new leaders Branksome Park B went all the way at Poole Park, swamping the Dolphins 14-0 (104-53). Ron Emmitt’s squad of Mike Brocklebank, Ray Neal and Carl King (32-8) put on a royal show for the Squirrels.

Argyll A remained in fourth place after sharing rinks with Kings Park A. John Monk’s rink (20-14) topped the Royals’ efforts. However, Argyll’s Peter Giles, Alan Godfrey, Robert Jackson and Ben Brown checked in with a 30-14 return to earn Argyll the 10 points.

Richmond Park A were handed a 90-74 home defeat by Wimborne B. The Minstermen had three winning rinks, the best of which was Grant Rockley, Eddie Day, Geoff Falconer and Barry Smith (28-13).