REIGNING champions Boscombe Cliff finished strongly in their Section One curtain-raiser at Ringwood to secure 12 points from a 101-66 win.

Ringwood led on all four rinks at the halfway mark but the visitors responded well when Alex Findlay, Brian Everard, Stan Jordan and Alan Geary ran out 30-11 winners, while Peter Ward’s rink (22-17) secured two points for the Foresters.

With several new recruits in their ranks, Poole Park soon gained control over visitors Bournemouth in a 95-62 win.

Chris Lawrence, Mike J Jones, Pat Ravelin and Alex McKenzie sailed in with a 28-9 win, while skip Paul Spetch drew a last-end winning shot (18-17) to earn the Lakesiders maximum points.

Newly-promoted New Milton and West Moors both suffered four-rink defeats.

New Milton lost 96-57 at Knyveton Gardens with Russell Foote, Reg Davis, Martin Brier-ley and Chris Hollier leading the way (28-9) for the hosts. And John Kellow’s rink netted five shots on the last end for a 20-15 win to ensure a maximum haul.

West Moors received similar treatment at Alexandra Park in a 94-55 defeat. Park’s Alan Burden, Bob Turnbull, Alex McGregor and Mike Stapleton (27-10) were ably supported by Paul King’s quartet (27-13).

John Pinson, Bob Harris, Doug Mitchell and Roger Button (30-6) helped fashion an 11-3 points advantage for Branksome Park over Wimborne from a 94-59 win. Chris Nappin’s rink (18-17) salvaged two points for the Minstermen on the last end.

SECTION TWO

RELEGATED Southbourne showed their determination to bounce straight back to Section One with an 11-3 points advantage over visitors Electric in a 98-87 triumph.

Derek Painter, Bill Smith and Richard Poole, with wily Forrest Thomson at the helm, set the trend (30-19). The quartet were backed up by Bob Read, Archie Nisbett, John Challis and Dean Hopkins (27-20), which included a ‘Hot Shot’ on the eighth end.

This result was matched by the other relegated side, Lymington, who travelled to Southbourne A and returned home with a 90-72 success.

Ken Carter, John Kitcher, Vernon Cox and Ken Streek (30-19) played a leading role for the Sailormen.

Boscombe Cliff A and Wessex, who finished third and fourth respectively last year, shared rinks in a close encounter on the East Cliff with the hosts running out 71-64 winners.

Tony Geary, Peter Maher, John Cave and Bob Sprules (27-11) covered the top Wessex rink of Ron Banks, Brian White, Trevor Smyth and Clive Smith (19-11).

Fordingbridge Turks kicked off the season with an impressive 101-63 home victory over Pelhams. Brian Walden, Tim Wych, Geoff Phillips and Ron Barclay (30-13) won top honours for the ton-up Turks.

It was a close call at Richmond Park where Eddie Gilmore’s rink (24-16) covered Braeside’s two winning rinks in a 76-71 victory for the hosts.

SECTION THREE

NEWLY-promoted Knyveton Gardens A edged out hosts Iford Bridge 76-70 after the rink honours were shared in an evenly-contested match.

The Gardeners’ top rink was skipper Jeff Mann’s team of Peter Hemming, Bob Osler and Peter Dorey (26-12), while Iford’s best quartet was Dave Webb, Alan Mitchell, Mike Emsley and Alan Doughty (21-12).

Poole Park A journeyed to the West Cliff and came away with all 14 points after a comprehensive 97-74 win over Argyll.

Chris Evripidou, Norman Austin, Barry Higgins and John Hobby (24-15) led the charge for the Lakesiders.

Kings Park’s Paddy Roche, Andy Darch, Mike Smith and Vernon Dillon achieved the second ‘Hot Shot’ of the day in a 12-2 points advantage over Swanage (96-67). They were supported by Roy Simpson’s 21-7 rink score.

Branksome Park A toppled Redhill Park 85-80 with Geoff Shand, Clive Harris, Stan Tucker and Richard Lewis (23-14) turning the match in the visitors’ favour.

George Webb, Derek Wylde, David Wanklin and Gary Menday (27-14) starred in Moordown’s 87-60 win over Highcliffe who had to settle for just one point.

SECTION FOUR

JOHN Kendall, Derek Neville, Tom Lamont and Peter Keenan (21-13) took top honours in Christchurch’s 74-64 home win over Ringwood A.

Foresters’ skips Brian Tester and Brian Terry, however, salvaged four points for the visitors.

Also going down on their travels were Boscombe Cliff B who returned from Wessex A with two points after losing 82-66.

After narrowly missing out on promotion last time round, West Moors A kicked off with a 12-2 points advantage over Milford-on-Sea from an 85-66 triumph.

Bob Graham, Colin Mills, John Simmons and Albert Hewitt (33-14) took the plaudits, as the Hampshire men limped home with just the two points gained by Colin Baker’s rink.

Braeside’s ‘Magic Carpet’ held no fears for Swanmore who swept up 97-83. The winners’ top rink was Cyril Baker’s team of Kevin Diment, Richard Free and John Field (30-19).

Braeside’s sole response came from Terry Cox’s foursome (29-23) whose labours secured the club’s two points.

Michael Akerman’s rink spurred on the New Milton A team to a narrow 80-78 home win over Ferndown (10-4) whose stubborn resistance was led by Bob Thorne’s quartet (23-20).

SECTION FIVE

POOLE Park completed a hat-trick of 14-0 wins when their B team overcame hosts Pelhams with John Bennett, David Dean, Gary Shepherd and Colin Ansell (25-8) laying the foundations for an emphatic 86-57 triumph.

Poole Park’s two Combination League teams also gathered in full points to give the club victory on all of their 16 rinks played on Saturday.

Knyveton Gardens, meanwhile, were also treble winners after their B team won their Section Five encounter 71-69 at Wimborne A.

The Gardeners’ top skip was Peter Frampton (22-17), while the Minstermen’s best rink (19-13) was skipped by Roy Campbell.

Kings Park A chalked up a 10-4 points advantage with an 83-81 win at West Moors.

Seton Smith, Des Milnes, Brian Pearce and Bournemouth and District general secretary Ian Macpherson (29-16) top scored for the visitors.

Bournemouth A lost 87-71 at home to Richmond Park A whose top rink was John Butler’s quartet of Mike Washington, Graham Stanton and Tony Wanklin (33-24).

Highcliffe A also gained a 12-2 points advantage in a 77-56 win against Branksome Park B.

The pick of the three successful rinks was Keith Day’s team of Ian Ewance, Graham Davies and Peter Haworth (25-6).

SECTION SIX

SWANMORE A just missed out on reaching a ton as they easily accounted for Argyll A 98-13. The pick of their winning rinks was Mike Brunsdon’s team of Alan Brown, Alan Leggett and Ron Prigg (26-14).

Southbourne B team’s 87-59 victory at Wimborne B was inspired by Alan Kent’s rink of Albert Labone, Gill Webb and Michael York (32-10). The club’s C team also won 85-70 at New Milton B.

A solid performance from Lymington’s Graham Mundan, Jim Slade, Mike Hayward and Ron Prigg (26-13) gave the hosts a 10-4 points advantage in an 81-75 victory over Redhill A despite a spirited reply from Barry Sturgess’s quartet (25-15).

Ferndown A and Iford Bridge A secured an 80-75 win thanks to ‘Hot Shot’ heroes Alan Rankin, Digby Crane, Ron Morris and Eddie Boyt.