IT is less than halfway through the season and Boscombe Cliff are 19 points clear at the top of Section One.

Boscombe proved to be the only away winners in Section One, clinically dispatching West Moors to a 14-0 (87-68) defeat. Alan Geary’s quartet headed the operation with a definitive 37-13 strike.

The Cliff’s nearest rivals, Alexendra Park and Poole Park, both lost out on their travels.

Alex were edged out (77-75) by a determined Branksome Park. John Tinson, Bob Harris, Paul Mullender and Roger Button (27-12) earned star billing for the Squirrels. Bob Turnbull (24-19) and Alan Miller (29-8) ground out four points for Alexandra Park.

Poole Park came a cropper at Wimborne, where Colin Shew’s rink of Keith Gentry, Doug Smith and Eric Curry (34-15) proved too hot to handle for the Lakesiders. Brian Shepherd’s rink held off a late challenge (16-15) by former Wimborne player Chris Weekes, resulting in a 12-2 (99-66) success for the hosts.

Following two narrow defeats, Bournemouth were suffering that déjà vu feeling. After 19 ends against Knyveton Gardens the scores were level at 71-71. Bournemouth’s Gerry Potts led the way with a last wood five-shot turnover, winning 26-23. This, allied to Roy Bray’s 22-15, saw the Meyrick Marauders edge home 12-2 (81-77).

New Milton skip William Wallace took on the mantle of Braveheart when leading his clan of Jim Elder, Mike Cox and Tony Read to a resounding 30-13 success as the home team repelled Ringwood on all four rinks (102-57).

SECTION TWO

A TABLE-topping clash at the Tower resulted in Southbourne defeating Lymington 10-4. In an exceptionally high-scoring match, Chris Dowding found himself seven shots down and Southbourne facing defeat but with his last wood he drew second shot, giving Southbourne the match (91-90). Dean Hopkins (35-12), the hosts’ key rink, covered Lymo’s best – Ken Streak’s 27-13.

Braeside go second after slaying the Turks on the Magic Carpet 14-0 (106-60), leaving Fordingbridge in bottom spot.

Pelhams moved out of the relegation zone with a comfortable 83-62 victory over visitors Southbourne A. Pride of Pelhams, Evan Alner, Terry Hines, John Bond and John Eldridge (30-14) put the hosts on track for a 13-1 points haul.

Boscombe Cliff A had a three-rink 81-65 success over Electric. Malcolm Perkins, Charlie Munden, John Cave and Bob Sprules top scored for the Cliff. The only success for the Sparkies came from Mike Elkins’s crew (28-9).

Richmond Park shared rinks at Wessex, but HQ’s best effort from Dave Snow (22-17) was surpassed by Les Brown, Dave Gibb, Brian White and Trevor Smyth (24-15) who earned 10 points for Wessex.

SECTION THREE

THE form book held up as leaders Knyveton Gardens thrashed bottom club Argyll 98-72, with Peter Habgood’s crew of Roy Fenton, Mike Wilkins and Robert Watkins (30-18) heading the Gardeners’ three successful rinks. David Cleave’s quartet played well to salvage two points for Argyll.

Poole Park A, who were at home to Redhill Park, also enjoyed a three-rink success. At tea the visitors led on all rinks, but chose the wrong cups and a revitalised Poole came back to win 78-65. Richard Sawyer, Peter Martin, Derek Hawes and Peter Wilson (23-14) claimed top honours for Poole Park. The visitors’ sole response came from Terry Horgan (19-14).

Swanage pulled away from the drop zone after inflicting a 10-4 defeat on Branksome Park A. Top scorers for Swanage were Jim Green, Ted Curtis, Terry Buck and Peter Newbury (30-14). Branksome’s best reply came from Tony Matthews’s squad (28-20).

Iford Bridge’s improved form continued with a 10-4 (79-70) triumph at Highcliffe. John Millett, Bob Whitaker, Irving Mindell and John Turgel (28-17) paved the way for Iford’s win. Highcliffe’s best came from John Irons’s rink (27-17).

Moordown and Kings Park interchanged league positions after sharing four rinks at Moordown. Paddy Roche, Mike Smith, Andy Darch and Vernon Dillon (26-8) assured the visitors of the 10 points, despite a stoic (22-13) response from Gary Menday’s foursome for Moordown.

SECTION FOUR

THERE were three-rink wins for four clubs in this section, including the top two clubs – Swanmore and Christchurch.

Swanmore extended their unbeaten run to six matches with an emphatic 90-75 success over Wessex A. Cyril Baker, John Field, Kevin Diment and Richard Free (24-17) gave the Swans a solid base to build on, but Wessex skip Roy Lench denied the hosts 14 points by winning four shots on the last end (22-20).

West Moors A skip Peter Keeping (24-7) almost succeeded in covering their three losing rinks, but Christchurch, headed by Joe Spicer, Graham Hicks, Bill Wycher and Ron Woodcock (21-14), ran out eventual winners (71-69).

Ferndown’s 12-2 victory resulted in Braeside slipping into the relegation zone. Doug Rosson, Tony Woods, Derek Brown and Bob Thorne (31-19) spiked Braeside’s plans, finishing ahead 91-69. Pat Day’s rink salvaged two points for Braeside with a last end conversion (21-19).

Garry Taylor’s crew (23-22) saved Boscombe Cliff B’s blushes at Milford-on-Sea as the hosts rattled up a 91-73 victory. David Newman, Bernard Durio, John Henderson and Rod Somerton (28-14) headed three winning rinks for Milford.

New Milton A secured a 14-0 win over Ringwood A. The Foresters couldn’t believe it as Richard Wilson, David Morrison, Carl Bee and Bob Burns (25-15) laid the foundations for an 86-59 triumph.

SECTION FIVE

POOLE Park B resumed normal service by inflicting a four-rink defeat on Bournemouth A. Mick Wallis, Hugh Theobald, Colin Ansell and Howard Patch (25-12), supported by Bill Sadler’s crew (23-12), were the main contributors to Poole’s winning total of 87-49.

Knyveton Gardens B glided into second spot after winning 11-3 (91-63) against Branksome Park B. Roger Richardson’s squad (17-16) claimed two points for the Squirrels, but were eclipsed by the Gardeners’ top scorers Arthur Haslop, Clive Gibbs, Ray Elrick and Peter Frampton (31-15).

Kings Park slip-streamed Knyveton into third place after an 11-3 home victory over Pelhams A. Bob Goodman’s rink held on (16-14) for the visitors’ consolation points as Keith Arnold, Arthur Little, Brian Pearce and Ian Macpherson (23-13) propelled Kings Park to a 77-60 margin.

A splendid 32-17 result from Kevin O’Connell, Denis King, Terry Middleton and Brian Gooch headed Wimborne’s three winning rinks at Richmond Park. HQ’s winning skip Brian Hacker (22-13) denied the visitors the full quota of points.

Highcliffe dropped into the basement after their 12-2 (85-59) defeat at West Moors B.

SECTION SIX

SOUTHBOURNE B replaced Swanmore A at the head of affairs.

Southbourne racked up a massive 106-73 winning margin over Wimborne, due mainly to the efforts of Neil Ward, Roy Watson, John May and Richard Thompson (38-11).

Wimborne had to be content with two points from Bill Foreman’s rink (29-21).

Swanmore lost 10-4 (77-65) to Redhill Park where the top scorers were Roy Sargent’s quartet of Derek Savage, Dave Rawlings and Sid Atkins (23-13) who comfortably covered Swanmore’s best reply by Harry Small (21-17).

Iford Bridge A had lift-off after a 14-0 (99-54) triumph over Southbourne C. Colin Rattue, Jim Cossey, Trevor Ross and Dave Twinning blended well, top-scoring for the Bridge with (34-8).

Ferndown A replaced Iford Bridge at the foot of the table as a result of their 13-1 (99-74) defeat at Argyll.

New Milton B returned with 10 points after their trip to Lymington. Don Drake, Michael Barlow, Dennis Earston and Mike McCoughlin (24-10) set up New Milton’s 87-86 victory. There was frustration for Lymo’s top skip Brian Perrett (35-17) who picked up seven shots on the last end, only for his team to lose by one shot overall.