SWANMORE consolidated their lead at the top of A Division with a convincing 47-22 win over rivals Poole Park.

Rosie Beales, Irene Richman, Jenny Osborne and Jean Philip (26-9) landed the biggest catch, while Viv Mansell (21-13) ensured that the Dolphins returned home pointless.

Reigning champions Southbourne moved into second spot with a double-rink victory at New Milton. Sue Dadson’s squad (18-14) played the supporting role to team-mates Maureen Chadwick, Isobel Walker, Sheila York and Barbara Lunnun (27-15).

Richmond Park continued their winning form by taking all six points on offer at Pelhams. Jill Bryant’s rink of Jean Beedie, Sylvia Postill and Chris Butler (22-16) served up the main course, with Linda Johnson (19-16) supplying the dessert.

Braeside moved out of the drop zone following their 6-0 home win over West Moors. Anne Cox, June Perry, Joan Brooks and Molly Shutler (25-9) edged Pauline Crocker’s quartet (31-16) for Braeside’s top honours.

Highcliffe slipped into the drop zone despite defeating hosts Broadstone-Wessex 4-2. Rosemary Sulli-van, Anne Taylor, Val Snook and Kay Richardson (30-14) secured the match for the Castle Maidens. Broadstone captain Lyn Howard (17-16) collected two shots on the last end to deny the visitors maximum points.

  • It was all change at the B Division summit. Previous leaders Ferndown were on the receiving end after Redhill Park notched the highest score of the day with a 62-25 victory. Jennie Cooper, Margaret Pittwood, Bobbie Saunders and Jean Dixon (35-7), together with Pat Horgan (27-18), handed the Rangers all six points as they climbed to second.

The previous incumbents were Milford-on-Sea who lost 4-2 at Fordingbridge. Unfortunately, one of the Seasiders players was taken ill and, as a result of a 4.25 adjustment, Milford lost the match by exactly that amount – 41-36.75. This handed Fordingbridge their first victory of the season.

Lymington moved to the head of affairs after winning 48-29 at Wimborne. Patsy Little’s squad (19-15), coupled with a 29-14 return from Denyse Halse, Ann Eldridge, Sandy Nailard and Ngaio Mapes, made it a clean sweep for the Lymos.

Broadstone-Wessex took advantage of Brockenhurst’s poor form and sent the Brocks back to the Forest with nil points. Iris Rumble, June Leaper, Jenny Cutler and Anne Williams (22-12) combined with fellow skip Sybil Ball (19-16) to give the Wessex Girls a comfortable home win.

Kings Park remained firmly entrenched in the drop zone following their 4-2 home defeat by Moordown.

  • C Division leaders Bournemouth retained top spot despite losing 39-36 to Verwood. Meyrick skip Ann Ashcroft (23-14) fell short of Verwood’s winners Sue Pearce, Margaret Turner, Liz Lock and Gill Farrance (25-13).

Branksome Park were denied a place at the summit by Richmond Park’s Trish Gray (18-16). Previously, Carol Assal, Lyn Gamblin, Rosemary Staddon and Hilary Jenkins (20-11) had put the Squirrels in control.

Pelhams moved into third spot as a result of their 51-26 home triumph over Broadstone-Wessex. Gill Woadden, Ann Barber, Joyce Duxbury and Jean Perry (26-10), allied to a 25-16 return from Wendy Watton’s crew, captured all six points for the Kinson Ladies.

Elsewhere, there were 4-2 home wins for West Moors and Southbourne. West Moors overcame Iford Bridge, while Southbourne’s Shirley Winn, Maureen Elkin, Anthea Chilcott and Maureen Taylor (34-14) had the edge over Braeside’s combo of Ann Seale, Iris Hewlett, Sheila Watts and Margaret France (23-13).

  • Poole Park skip Doreen Tape picked up two shots on the last end to earn the Dolphins two points and deny leaders Boscombe Cliff the necessary haul to remain top of D Division. Previously, Barbara Graves, Lorraine Shirley, Marion Stainer and Sue Perkins (30-14) had put the Cliff in control.

Swanmore I seized the opportunity to go above the Cliff by inflicting a rare defeat on hosts Braeside. The highest flyers for the Swans were Gina Gommers, Linda Pocknell, Blanche Sheppard and Cathy Hayes (29-20).

Swanmore II grabbed the club’s third win of the day by defeating bottom team Southbourne 4-2 (50-30). The result was never in doubt after Beryl Hope, Daphne Hales, Beryl Brunsdon and Pauline West had carded a massive 37-5 win.

Highcliffe had to be content with just one point from their derby at New Milton following Pat Stoveld’s last-end 17-17 tie. New Milton’s 35-33 victory was secured by Jean Garrard, Brenda Davis, Barbara Shields and Beryl Anderson (18-16).

  • In E Division, Argyll I lost top spot after sharing shots and points 3-3 (41-41) at Moordown. Evelyn Lewin, Joan Hancock, Norah King and Jean Mead (22-19) cancelled out Moordown’s winning combination of Sheila Nelson, Marion Cutland, Vi Shevill and Terri Shepherd (22-19).

New Milton took over the leadership following their 4-2 (46-41) success at Broadstone-Wessex. Peggy Friberg (19-15) kept the Wessex Girls in the fight. However, a fine riposte from Janet Humphreys, Ann Goodchild, Chris Mays and Heather Coupar (31-22) swung the pendulum back in New Milton’s favour.

Argyll II moved out of the drop zone by defeating visitors West Moors 4-2, while Wimborne slipped into the basement after going down on both rinks at Redhill Park.

  • Iford Bridge remained top of F Division despite their 4-2 home defeat by Poole Park.

Wendy Tizzard, June Hawkins, Caroline Wilson and Nancy Bennett (21-13) paved the way for the Dolphins’ victory by outscoring Iford’s winning skip Dilys Barnes (18-15).

Milford-on-Sea, who have a game in hand, moved within striking distance of the leaders following their 4-2 win over visitors Ferndown.

A last-end pick-up by Mary Harris (18-17) denied the hosts a full house.

Milford’s match-winners were Sheila Leake, Christina Newell, Barbara Newland and Joan Summersby who carded a 28-18 success.