DESPITE Middleton Cup demands on their resources, Alexandra Park departed Knyveton Gardens with a 9-5 (87-74) victory in Section One.

Mark Tomberry collected a last-end 18-18 tie for Alex and Alan Trevett, Alan Burden, Dave Hodgkiss and Paul King (27-10) did enough to cover Knyveton’s two winning rinks.

At Branksome Park, the Squirrels could only muster two points against a buoyant South-bourne. Alan Elkins, Dave Mc-Kenna, Keith Norman and Leon Pope (28-17) contributed most to the Tower men’s 84-55 win.

Lymington made it three in a row when defeating Boscombe Cliff 12-2. Graham Morgan, David Stopp, Anthony Clarkson and Roy Richardson (21-12) picked up four shots on the last end to snatch a 78-77 victory.

Vic Druce’s squad of Barry James, John Cuff and Phil Pugh (19-12) featured in Bournemouth’s 12-2 win over West Moors. With the Marauders leading 76-75, skip Bill Belcher, although losing 15-27, had the luxury of not bowling the last wood.

Ringwood, with linchpin Peter Ward missing, cruised to a 12-2 win over Poole Park, who were also affected by Middleton Cup duties. Brian Harrington, Dennis Newham, Bob Curtis and Lee Croad (36-9) led the rout as the Foresters ran out 100-70 winners.

• Bottom club Pelhams upset the Section Two form book with a 12-2 win over leaders Swanmore. Chris Cieciura, Andy Hickisson, John Bond and John Watts (25-11) electrified their team into an 82-56 victory.

New Milton took over top spot following their three-rink success against Kings Park. Brian Gordon, Chris Tabor, Keith Young and Tony Reed (24-12) contributed most to Milton’s 83-67 winning total.

There were also 12 points for Southbourne A after Graham White, Alan Waterman, Scott Biden and Peter Dockree amassed a 30-4 win against Wimborne. Jim Garrett (21-19) rustled up two points for the Minster men.

Yet another three-rink victory at Boscombe Cliff A saw the hosts prevail against Broadstone-Wessex. Malcolm Perkins, Roy Lock, Mike Proctor and Bruce Glanville (24-12) paved the way for Cliff’s 78-71 success.

Elsewhere, Fordingbridge settled for 10 points from their encounter with Electric. Mike Harley’s quartet headed the Sparkies’ efforts, while Alan Attenborough, Ken Owen, Keith Guest and Roy Moretti (26-15) claimed the spoils in the Turks’ 83-75 win.

• Knyveton Gardens A crashed to a 12-2 (90-59) defeat in Section Three. Bob Osler’s rink salvaged two points for the Gardeners. But there was no stopping the hosts’ top combination of Mike Maidment, Ian Horgan, Pete Frampton and John Long (27-13).

Braeside returned to top spot after registering the highest score of the season, a 127-35 win over Richmond Park. Four high scoring rinks were headed by Ian Cameron, Tony Brunt, John Phipps and Neil Rogers.

The boot was on the other foot at Poole Park, where Braeside A went down 103-50. The Dolphins’ 14-0 triumph was shaped by Graham Mould’s squad of John Cresswell, Ken Sharp and Richard Sawyer (34-8).

West Moors A won on two rinks against Highcliffe A, but it was the Castle men who took the 10 points as Tony Smith, Ray Jolley, Peter Loffler and Alan Shepherd (28-7) steered Highcliffe to an 82-72 win.

Redhill Park’s first victory still eludes them. Their latest defeat (12-2) was inflicted by Iford Bridge after Alan Doughty’s crew, Mike Emsley, Gordon Greenwood and Dave Webb (21-11), spun the oracle for them.

• The Squirrels had their tails clipped at Swanage, going down 10-4 in Section Four. Graham Longman’s rink (23-27) topped Branksome’s efforts, but Ted Curtis, Dave Billington, Roy Scott and John Howitt (22-16) led the Purbeck men to an 83-77 win.

There was a ton-up for Wimborne A who crushed Christchurch 101-59. Minster captain Peter Laundon led from the front with a 41-9 return. Aptly named John Bishop (21-16) blessed the Priorites with two points.

Milford-on-Sea moved into third spot with a 12-2 success at Argyll. With the same shot difference, the rinks of David Hall (30-16) and Colin Baker (27-13) shared the honours in the Seasiders’ 96-64 victory.

Poole Park B slipped into the bottom two following an 11-3 loss to visitors New Milton A. A 23-15 return by Stephen Cridland, Kenneth Cooper, Michael Cox and Dennis James proved crucial in Milton’s 75-69 win.

• Section Five leaders Broadstone-Wessex A stayed on track with a 10-4 success over Redhill Park A. Last man standing Gordon Tompsett collected two shots for the Wessex men to take the match 67-65.

Southbourne closed the gap on the leaders following their 96-62 victory over Pelhams A. Tom Cutler, Gil Webb, John May and Dennis Cutler carved out a 35-12 win to top Southbourne’s three winning rinks.

There was drama at Highcliffe where Lymington lost 10-4 (75-74). Paul Oastler, Ernie Thorne, Brian Giltrow and Ron Hazell steadied Lymo’s ship to grab the winning shots on the last end.

Knyveton Gardens B climbed out of the basement zone with a 10-4 triumph over Ringwood A. John Scoulding, Pete Sant, Clive Gibbs and Don Priddle (26-18) laid the foundations for the Gardeners’ 76-74 win.

• Branksome Park B retained top spot in Section Six by overturning Argyll A 13-1 (84-62), thanks in the main to Carl King, Ray Neal, Mike Brocklebank and John Woollcott (27-14). The Squirrels were denied a full house by Argyll skip Mike Merridew (22-22).

Swanmore A crushed Wimborne B 14-0 (79-53) to move level on points with Branksome Park. Top flight for the Swans was Tony Warren, Derek Ireson, Peter Holden and Harry Small (23-14).

Ferndown dropped to third despite netting 10 points at Kings Park. Tony Bishop mitred out a 27-22 win for the Royals, but John Davis, Stan Morrisey, Alan Davis and Paul Hallett (26-11) guided the Stags to victory.

Only four points separate the lower half of the table.

Southbourne C moved out of the bottom two following their 12-2 (86-60) defeat of Richmond Park A. Charlie Worrell, Ken Garard, Brian Harris and Larry Cox (28-16) shone brightest for the Tower men.

Iford Bridge climbed one place, with a 10-4 win over visitors Poole Park A. Bob Kiddle, Mick McGing, Cyril Gould and Eddie Boyt (19-14) were the keystone in Iford’s 67-63 success.