NICKY Jones confirmed himself as the most consistent Hampshire singles player of modern times by winning the county championship for a fourth time.

Boscombe Cliff's former under-25 international took the crown with three emphatic performances at Atherley.

He dispatched Middleton Cup skip Charlie Bailey (Fareham) 21-12 in the quarter-final and Cove's Bill Setterfield 21-9 in the semi-final before gaining a 21-8 final victory against Andy McKain (Milton Park, Portsmouth).

Although Jones convincingly added to his successes of 2003, 1994 and 1989, his Boscombe Cliff colleagues have a battle on their hands to retain the B&D title.

Last year they lost two matches all season - this year they have lost four following their 10-4 (90-83) demise at Knyveton Gardens.

Although Frank Wells, Colin King, Charlie Munden and Colin Garment (36-19) sparkled, the champions - minus their Middleton Cup contingent - were outshone by a Knyveton side headed by Tony Tarrant, Dave Baxter, Deric Pritchard and Dave Hart (26-8).

Boscombe's lead at the summit is down to one point after Southbourne walloped Bournemouth 12-2 (85-59) with 25-14 cards from Derek Painter, Bill Smith, Frank Warren and Forrest Thomson as well as Graham White, Keith Aldridge, Dennis Simpson and Alan Bliss.

Colin Haynes, Kevin Saunders, Alan Wilson and Gerry Potts sneaked in 19-18 for Bournemouth.

Alexandra Park stayed on the title scene with a maximum (86-62) against West Moors, courtesy of Alan Trevett, John Rumble, Dave Hodgkiss and Paul King (24-13) and Vernon Singleton, Bob Turnbull, Alec McGregor and Derek Ames (23-14).

Ringwood's championship challenge spluttered in a 14-0 (99-55) pasting at Wimborne whose show-stoppers were Eric Curry, Brian Wilkins, John Pudney and Phil Lawrence (29-9) and Tony Linley, David Shepherd, Brian Ludlow and Craig Shepherd (23-14).

Not even winning three rinks could grasp that first elusive victory for New Milton. They succumbed 8-6 (88-78) to Branksome Park who were indebted to a 28-10 scorcher from Paul Mullender, Bob Harris, Roger Button and Mike Grimsdale.

Roy Nicoll, Roger Herlihy, Trevor Rock and Brian Jones (26-22) were Milton's brightest.

TON-UP WESSEX

LYMINGTON'S Section Two promotion charge was checked in a 13-1 (101-61) setback at Wessex where John Hall, David Simmons, Keith Michael and Mike Abraham (35-8) staged a masterclass. Ken Carter, Les Ford, Vernon Cox and Ken Streek (21-21) bagged the Foresters' draw after trailing 18-8.

Poole Park's title aspirations sagged in a 12-2 (85-59) defeat at Braeside. Ian Cameron, John Phipps, Neil Rogers and Colin Moss (32-8) terrorised Poole whose meagre reward came from Bob Lemar, Alec McKenzie, Ray Smith and Clive Fawkes (20-14).

Electric now head the table with Ray Taylor, Alan Trickett, Brian Butler and Ray Cooke (29-11) buzzing in the 12-2 (85-63) demolition of Southbourne A. Angus Kennedy, Malcolm Laird, Mike Newton and Paul Turner (20-16) saved Southbourne from oblivion.

A 34-9 beauty from Jeff Mitchell, Stan White, Des Jarvis and Brian Cuckson kept Fordingbridge in the promotion picture 10-4 (86-68) at lowly Richmond Park who were propped up by Chris Jacobs, Les Minton, Roy Milton and Colin Johnson (26-12).

The 22-8 display from Evan Alner, Mike Alexander, Ron Penny and Dave Madgewick guided Pelhams to their 10-4 (77-71) win against Boscombe Cliff A. Richard Brion, Ricky Wrenn, John Cave and Keith Varley (23-16) topped Boscombe's scorechart.

RED-HOT BROWN

KINGS Park showed no compassion on New Milton A, thrashing the Section Three outfit 14-0 (94-66) with a 28-9 cameo from Derek Place, Robert Coombs, Peter Figg and Chris Brown.

Every shot was vital when Christchurch tied 7-7 (73-73) with Swanage. Graham Hicks, Mike Poore, Matthew Dean and John Waller (22-14) became Christchurch's premier rink after being inspired by a seven when 10-4 down. Mark Sheppard, Derek Smith, Mike Jones and Ron Emmitt (20-14) were tops for Swanage.

Thanks to a solitary 27-12 gem from Mark Farrant, Norman Caulfield, Terry Sedgwick and Alan Doughty, leaders Iford Bridge stumped Argyll 8-6 (77-73). Lloyd Hemming, Bill Pike, Barrie Wootton and Peter Kingdom (24-16) were the pick for Argyll.

Despite a 33-7 corker from John Palmer, Alan Richardson, John Long and Gary Menday, Moordown's decline continued in a 12-2 (82-76) defeat by Highcliffe who were hot-wired by Mike Rice, Laurie Cook, Ken Wright and Stan Patch (25-10).

DOUG DIGS IN

WIMBORNE A eased their Section Four relegation worries with a 12-pointer (76-63) at fellow strugglers West Moors A.

Lee Tilson, Tony Skidmore, Terry Middleton and Doug Smith (19-11) lifted the Minstermen while Frank Partridge, John March, Terry Simmons and Ray Brinsden (18-14) cheered West Moors.

A 26-8 cracker from John Stone, Ray Ollis, Ted Fay and Dave Smith helped Ringwood A edge further from the drop-zone 10-4 (74-68) against basement boys Bournemouth A whose stalwarts were Derek Towers, Martin Edge, Maurice Haynes and Hugh Theobald (21-12).

Wessex A stayed on promotion course 11-3 (75-68) against rivals Milford. Les Brown, Trevor Hayman, Bernard Sturgess and Ray Moulton (27-15) sparked Wessex and Stan Bristow, Keith Jeakings, Gary Kirby and Allan Edmonds (16-9) kept Milford afloat.

A 20-16 show from John Bennett, Alan Hardy, Ken Harding and Chris Eales swung a close encounter 10-4 (72-68) towards Poole Park A against Braeside A whose bravehearts were Dante Polak, Bob Brodie, Phil Hobby and Bob Carpenter (14-12).

Roger Luscombe, Doug Horne, Bob Dixon and Darrell Reeves enjoyed a 33-10 feast when table-toppers Redhill Park sunk Swanmore 12-2 (90-62). Alan Piper, Mike Cadle, Geoff Simmonds and Barry Coates (17-16) spared Swanmore's blushes.

BORN-AGAIN POOLE

POOLE Park B returned to winning form in Section Five by pipping Boscombe Cliff B 70-69 to pocket 11 points, chiefly due to Billy Shylock, Bob Wilson, Gary Sheppard and Ernie Kendrick (25-20). Maurice Wheat, Basil Phillips, Tony Green and Derek Francis (19-13) led Boscombe's assault.

Despite having the day's top foursome in Alan Gosling, Brian Collyer, Ben Brown and Bob Brunton (27-16), Argyll A slithered to a 10-4 (75-71) defeat at Redhill Park A whose prize-guys were Gordon Allan, Brian Walters, Ben Trimby and Alex Wood (21-12).

Bob Hart, Ken Millman, Ron Talman and Deryck Shinn (21-13) were on song as trailblazers Ferndown silenced Southbourne B 10-4 (73-66). Bob Pardy, Martin Sheppard, Rod Pearce and Dennis Cordes (19-16) steadied Southbourne.

Dennis Poole, Arthur Little, Doug Pember and Ian Macpherson (29-10) sizzled when Kings Park A trimmed Ferndown A 12-2 (87-65). Doug Keer, Chris Danks, Eric Baker and Roy Alner (25-16) pepped Ferndown.

HAVING A BALL

RAY Elrick, Ray Palmer, Don Priddle and Mike Ball had a 25-15 joy-ride in Knyveton Gardens B's Section Six 13-pointer (78-65) at Wimborne B whose morsel came from Bob Briggs, Don Harris, Doug Cheney and Roy Campbell (17-17).

John Pocknell, John Hillesdon, Geoff Harradine and Dennis Durnford produced a 32-8 stormer as Swanmore A polished off Iford Bridge A 12-2 (80-56). Alan Rankine, Ken Ayres, Mike Brunsdon and Eddy Boyt (20-11) consoled Iford.

Colin Watson, Graham Toy, Jeff Bliss and Scott Biden (30-9) ran riot when Southbourne C silenced New Milton B 10-4 (88-79), though Chas Dormer, Ken Cooper, Alan Reynolds and Jack Tarr (32-15) cut a dash for Milton.

Promotion-chasers Lymington A stumbled 12-2 (89-71) against West Moors B whose fab four were Richard Rogers, Richard Phillips, Peter Brown and Peter Cookson (28-18).

Lymington's Jim McGreavey, Alan Gourley, Ken Farrar and Terry Green (21-15) did the salvage job.

Table-toppers Highcliffe A breezed in 12-2 (72-59) with Peter Morgan, Ian Ewence, Graham Davies and Peter Haworth (23-6) turning on the style against Branksome Park B. Stephen Flay, Roger Aspray, Geoff Shand and Wally Barker (21-11) banked the Branksome points.