THE Swans hit a bit of turbulence on their A Division visit to Nea Meadows – which is more renowned for low-flying ducks.

Swanmore evaded the duck thanks to a last-ditch stand by Viv Mansell (17-16). Highcliffe’s heroines were Rosemary Sullivan, Anne Taylor, Kay Richardson and Val Snook who romped to a 22-10 win.

Richmond Park dropped to fourth after their double-rink defeat at Broadstone-Wessex. Wessex’s Janet Harford, Jean Ames, Vanessa Smyth and Ros Valentine (25-17) edged Lyn Howard (21-15) for top honours.

Poole Park moved into second spot after trouncing Braeside 82-36. Ann Walford, Caroline Wilson, Pam Smith and Sandie Smith were the Dolphins’ star turn, conceding only four ends when winning 44-7. Julia Eatwell (38-19) ensured Poole Park of all six points.

Southbourne went level with Poole Park following their 49-29 win over West Moors thanks to Maureen Chadwick, Isobel Walker, Sheila York and Barbara Lunnun (26-12), and Sue Dadson’s squad (23-17).

Pelhams moved out of the bottom two despite losing their basement battle 4-2 to visitors New Milton. Sandy Elder, Sheila Godwin, Maureen Clark and Judy Busby (26-15) were Milton’s winning combination. Pelhams’ two valuable points were gained by Trish Kilminster (18-17) who picked up three shots on the last end.

n B Division leaders Redhill Park were pipped at the post when losing 45-44 at Moordown. Redhill’s Pat Horgan (29-14) collected two shots on the last end to put Rangers in charge. However, Barbara Roles, Erika Sykes, Mary Wilde and Pat Martin (31-15) collected three shots on the last end to snatch four points for Moordown.

There was also a close encounter between the second and third-placed teams at Lymington where the hosts emerged with a 4-2 (39-37) win over Ferndown. Lymington’s successful combo of Jenny Lawford, Jila Bellamy, Ann Coles and Sandy Nailard (26-15) just covered Ferndown’s successful skip Julie Stringer (22-13).

In the mid-table skirmish at Milford-on-Sea, it was visitors Brockenhurst who handled the elements better to take four points. Their match-winners were Janet Lake, Janet Blizzard, Pam Lawford and Dorothy Bond (25-17). They outscored host skip Di Goodyear (21-17).

Wimborne moved well clear of the relegation zone following their 70-31 victory at Fordingbridge. Trish Pitts, Chris King, Margaret Wilson and Maggie Wilkins (44-13) combined with Lorna Foreman’s squad (26-18) to give the Minster Maidens a full set.

Kings Park are just one defeat from the drop following their 6-0 home reverse by Broadstone-Wessex. Royals’ skip Michelle Higham was always in touch until the 19th end when her opposite number Anne Williams (17-12) picked up four shots and went on to win 17-12. It was a similar situation for the other Wessex skip Sybil Ball (20-12) who picked up five shots on the ninth end.

n West Moors recorded their fifth consecutive 6-0 win in C Division by defeating third-placed Branksome Park 58-27. Irene Clark, Penny Cook, Pauline Jepson and Barbara Tite (30-14), allied to Sheila Rundle, Marge Gardner, Gill Wells and Val Burton (28-13), maintained West Moors’ grip at the head of affairs.

Early-season pacemakers Bournemouth bounced back from last week’s 6-0 loss by winning 5-1 at Braeside. Ann Seale denied Bournemouth a clean sweep on the carpet when tying 20-20 with Belles skip Joan Belcher. Previously, Jo Shaw, Lyn Elder, Brenda Halliday and Ann Ashcroft (30-10) had put Bournemouth in control.

Pelhams retained interest in the promotion stakes with a 38-29 victory over visitors Southbourne. An 18-12 overture from Gill Woadden, Ann Barber, Wendy Watton and Jean Perry, backed up by Audrey Lewis’s squad (20-17), landed Pelhams all six points.

Broadstone-Wessex pulled clear of the bottom two following their 6-0 (59-27) home success over relegation-threatened Richmond Park. Wessex skip Barbara Parker (26-15) combined with Carole Bamford’s crew of Maureen Riggs, Mary Trayner and Cath Webb, who spun out a 33-12 win.

The mid-table clash at Iford Bridge resulted in a 5-1 triumph for Verwood. Iford captain Glenda Quick denied the visitors a full house by drawing two shots on the last end to tie 19-19. Previously, Dorothy Keep, Gill Thomas, Alice Bulley and Pat Dowling (21-19) had given Verwood what turned out to be a crucial lead.

n D Division leaders Swanmore extended their lead to 12 points with a 51-28 home win over Boscombe Cliff. Doreen Durnford, Doreen Brown, Esme Hazel and Hazel Gabriel (31-15) combined with Cathy Hayes (20-13) to take six points for the Swans.

Poole Park are a clear second after collecting four points at Southbourne. The Dolphins’ pod of Gill Brown, Fay Bowering, Carrie Butcher and Nancy Bennett (32-9) finished clear of host skip Yvonne Hosking (30-17).

Braeside moved to mid-table security after their 40-22 win over New Milton.

Highcliffe added to last week’s shock win over the leaders with a 49-33 victory at Pelhams. The 23-13 return from Chris Jarvis, Jenny Ford, Janet Donald and Brenda King helped lift the Castle Maidens out of the bottom two.

n The top-two clash in E Division at Branksome Park resulted in a 32-26 defeat for leaders New Milton. The Squirrels’ combo of Tina Richardson, Margaret Jones, Jean Hands and Babs Shand (19-10) accounted for Milton’s winning skip Trish Elsden (16-13).

Argyll I moved back into contention following their 53-29 success over Argyll II. And there were no headaches for the selectors after Doris Jeffery, Mary Burrell-Davis, Joyce Budd and Evelyn Lewin (36-15) combined with Norma Ritchens (17-14) to earn the A team all six points.

Redhill Park remained in with a shout after their easy 49-29 win over Broadstone-Wessex. A double-rink victory over fellow strugglers West Moors gave Wimborne a chance of escaping the drop.

n In F Division, Ferndown stayed top after sending Milford back home with nil points. Ferndown’s match-winners were Julie Masterman, Edna Ward, Anne Wrighton and Mary Harris (25-8). Margaret Bengtsson (22-17) ensured the hosts of all six points.

Maximum points were also gained by Poole Park who cruised to a 56-25 win over Iford Bridge.