LEADERS Swanmore continued to set the pace in A Division after emerging from a tricky fixture at West Moors with a 4-2 victory.

The Swans’ flight of Rosie Beales, Sandra Simmonds, Gill Head and Viv Mansell (23-10) outscored Moors’ skip Judith Miles, who gained three shots on the last two ends to win 19-16.

But nearest challengers Southbourne and Poole Park closed in on the frontrunners after both collected maximum points. Southbourne’s Maureen Chadwick, Isobel Walker, Sheila York and Barbara Lunnun (21-13) combined with Sue Dadson’s rink (25-21) to see off visitors Highcliffe.

Poole Park sent New Milton home with an empty locker following a massive 38-13 return from Elayne Walker, Kris Saunders, Julia Eatwell and Rosemary Spetch. Penny Cresswell (25-8) ensur-ed a clean sweep for the Dolphins.

Braeside remained bottom following their double-rink defeat at Richmond Park. Sue Dillon, Dorothy Borth-wick, Linda Johnson and Pam Harrison (20-9) laid the foundations for Richmond’s 35-22 victory. Jill Bryant (15-13) tidied up for the six points.

The mid-table clash at Broadstone-Wessex ended in a 4-2 (38-35) defeat for Pelhams. The Wessex Girls’ match-winners were Pam Fordham, Monica Sturgess, Sally Rowe and Lyn Howard (24-15).

  • Milford-on-Sea lost the top spot in B Division after suffering a surprise 48-30 home defeat to Broadstone-Wessex. Iris Rumble, June Leaper, Jenny Cutler and Anne Williams (28-12), together with a 20-18 win by Sibil Ball’s squad, landed all six points for the Broadstone club.

Ferndown took over at the summit following their double-rink triumph at Brockenhurst. Dorothy Alner, Olive Keer, Denise Madgewick and Barbara Brown (27-20) edged Julie Stringer’s rink (25-20) for top honours.

There was more six appeal at Lymington where the hosts overcame Kings Park 46-32. Lymo’s star performers were Jenny Lawford, Pat Brockhurst, Sandy Naillard and Ngaio Mapes (24-13). Jean Stopp’s rink (22-19) played the supporting role.

Wimborne were condemned to nil points at Redhill, but the 42-38 scoreline reflected a much closer encounter. Jennie Cooper, Margaret Pittwood, Bobbie Saunders and Jean Dixon (22-20) and Barbara Bell, Jean Revell, Pauline Wiseman and Pat Horgan (20-18) were made to fight all the way by the Minster Maidens.

There was a similar situation at Moordown where Fordingbridge returned home pointless. Cathy France (18-16) allied to Barbara Roles, Sue Smith, Mary Wilde and Pat Martin (19-16) gave Moordown a narrow 37-32 victory.

  • In C Division, frontrunners Bournemouth made it back-to-back 6-0 wins. Their latest success came at Richmond Park where Jo Shaw, Lyn Elder, Brenda Halliday and Joan Belcher recovered from a 13-7 deficit to win 27-18. The Belles’ other skip Joan Cox was close behind, winning 21-13.

The formbook went out of the window when the bottom two clubs, Braeside and Southbourne, defeated second and third-placed outfits West Moors and Verwood, respectively.

West Moors skip Barbara Tite (20-18) denied hosts Braeside a clean sweep. Previously, Connie Phipps, Jeanette Hobby, Margaret Steel and Mary Southgate (27-15) had ensured four points for Braeside.

Southbourne took all six points on offer at Verwood. Southbourne’s Olive Fidler (22-14) played second string to Shirley Winn, Maureen Elkins, Judith Bliss and Maureen Taylor (21-12).

Branksome Park moved up to second place following their double-rink victory at Broadstone-Wessex. The top return for the Squirrels was provided by Carol Assal, Lyn Gamblin, Rosemary Staddon and Hilary Jenkins (21-14). Carol Williams’s quartet (21-15) made it a clean sweep.

Pelhams made progress up the table after their 6-0 (48-27) win at Iford Bridge. The Kinson club’s top honours went to Maureen Barratt, Barbara Wood, Audrey Grinstead and Audrey Lewis (23-11).

  • With Swanmore I on a rest day, Boscombe Cliff took over at the top of D Division thanks to a double-rink triumph over Swanmore’s second string.

Cliff’s squad of Barbara Graves, Susan Newland, Angela Roy and Chris Friery collected six shots on the last end to win 22-15. Fellow skip Joan Smith (24-17) made it a full house.

Poole Park climbed to third after their 6-0 (46-37) victory at Highcliffe. Gill Brown, Fay Bowering, Muriel Coombes and Doreen Tape (26-19) put the Dolphins in the driving seat.

Braeside won their basement battle against Southbourne. The visitors never settled on the Magic Carpet and crashed to a 65-35 defeat. Their biggest tormentors were Shirley Alford, Maggie Penn, Margaret France and Janet Young (37-14). Pat Shepherd (28-21) rounded up the six points.

Pelhams were one player short in their home fixture with New Milton, which ultimately cost them the match. After the 25 per cent deduction, New Milton won 4-2 (36-35.5)

  • There was no change in E Division after the top three teams all won 6-0. Table-toppers Argyll I hit the highest score of the day when defeating visitors Redhill Park 75-14.

Evelyn Lewin, Joan Hancock, Norah King and Jean Mead logged in with a 35-5 success. However, this was surpassed by a humongous 40-9 return from Betty Earl, Joyce Budd, Linda Pryce and Norma Ritchens.

New Milton stayed in touch by defeating Argyll’s second string 43-29, while Branksome Park completed a daily double over Broadstone-Wessex when winning 42-33. Moordown retained fourth spot after their 4-2 win at West Moors.

  • Iford Bridge moved to the top of F Division following their 47-26 success at Branksome Park. Bridge skips Maria Wilson (28-7) and Dilys Barnes (19-18) combined to gather all six points.

There was a close call at Poole Park where Dolphins skip Joyce McIndoe checked in with a 17-15 win. However, this was covered by the Ferndown quartet of June Hanney, Margaret Willis, Shirley Davies and Margaret Bengtsson (17-14), who won the last end of the match to give Ferndown an overall 32-31 victory.