THE mixture of Smith and Jones (Bill and Brian), along with Mike Newton and Richard Poole (26-13), proved to be Southbourne’s tower of strength in their 11-3 (83-80) Section One victory over main rivals Alexandra Park. The only successes for Alex came from Mark Tomberry’s rink (26-15) and Mark Wanklin’s last-end (21-21) tie.

Poole Park climbed into third place after Dolphin skips Alec McKenzie (35-12) and Peter Willetts (32-12) led a four-pronged attack that stunned Electric into a 14-0 (112-56) defeat.

Dark horses Branksome Park, meanwhile, clocked up a fourth win of the campaign at Bournemouth. With all rinks down at tea, the Squirrels recovered to win 13-1 (82-68). This was typified by Roy Trayler, Edmund Sandell, Graham Longman and Paul Tidby, who turned a 14-4 deficit into a 24-16 advantage.

A depleted Boscombe Cliff side lost on three rinks to give Knyveton Gardens their first win of the season. Jeff Mann, Eric Sole, John Kellow and Richard Garrett featured most for the Gardeners in their 98-52 triumph.

Elsewhere, Chris Nappin (24-16) and John Pudney (22-14) led their Wimborne team to a 10-4 win over Ringwood. A rearguard action by Ringwood skips Steve van Wyk (15-14) and Lee Croad (17-16) avoided the whitewash.

SECTION TWO

New Milton emerged 11-3 victors in a close contest at Southbourne. The win by Roy Nicoll, Mike Cox, Ron Johnson and Roger Herlihy (21-12) proved to be critical in the visitors’ winning tally of 75-68.

West Moors looked set to collect all 14 points until Lymington skip Geoff Mapes, five down, received a fortuitous wick to claim second wood and a 22-22 tie. Frank Partridge, Charles Leonard, Eric Cook and Mike Burfield led the way in the 92-64 victory.

Fordingbridge tied their match 7-7 with visitors Pelhams. Derek Purse’s 26-20 win and Ron Barclay’s last-end two (13-11) proved crucial in the 81-81 score, with David Kerr’s quartet (24-20) taking the plaudits for Pelhams.

Kings Park’s visit to Braeside was disrupted by moss – Colin Moss that is.

His squad of Ian Cameron, Geoff Bevan and Peter Knight (26-11) led the onslaught in Braeside’s 13-1 (102-59) victory.

Broadstone-Wessex remain in bottom spot despite a much-needed 13-1 success over Poole Park A. John Hall, Dave Edwards, Clive Smith and Trevor Smyth (26-11) claimed top spot in the 102-59 win for the Wessex Men.

SECTION THREE

Boscombe Cliff A found themselves unable to field three teams on a Saturday and handed 14 points to Knyveton Gardens A without having to bowl a wood.

There was no such gift for Redhill Park who suffered a 10-4 home defeat to Richmond Park. Graham Shoot, Eddie Gilmore, Mike Lodge and Dave Snow stormed in with a 33-10 total to set up HQ’s 87-65 success.

Moordown moved into third spot after their 86-48 victory at Swanmore. Stubborn resistance from Barry Coates’s quartet (17-13) failed to cover Moordown’s three winning rinks, headed by Gary Menday’s force (30-7).

And there was another 12-2 result at Branksome Park where, despite Braeside skip Peter Lloyd (24-16) banking two points for the visitors, wins from home skips Danny Newman (24-14) and Joe Staddon (22-20) gave the Squirrels an 82-76 overall win.

Meanwhile, Swanage sent Iford Bridge back to the ferry smarting from an 82-64 defeat. Steve Leaton, Dave Thomas, Derek Smith and David Billington (26-13) claimed top honours.

SECTION FOUR

West Moors A came strong at the end to win on all rinks at Ringwood. The Moors combination of Terry Simmons, Brian Burton, Bill Leworthy and Mike Briggs (30-14) spearheaded the visitors’ 102-66 victory.

Poole Park B bettered that score, though, with a 127-58 home win over Broadstone-Wessex. John Mullins’s crew of Bob Whitehouse, David Grant and Bob Hobby collected a massive 42-10 score in the 12-2 triumph.

Bournemouth faded over the last four ends to lose 86-75 at Argyll. Alan Gosling, Colin Harrison, Rod Thompson and John Roberts (28-16) claimed the honours in Argyll’s 11-3 win.

With one rink sharing the spoils at Highcliffe, Eric Snook’s squad of Trevor Walsh, Mike Luker and Ray Jolly (27-15) were happy to shoulder responsibility and lead Highcliffe to an 11-3 (89-72) success over Milford-on-Sea.

In the day’s other match, New Milton A registered their first win of the season (12-2) against Christchurch. Eric Plows, Michael Barlow, Bob Shepherdley and Dennis James (24-15) featured in New Milton’s 90-75 winning total.

SECTION FIVE

Leaders Wimborne A retained top spot and their unbeaten record with a 12-2 (96-63) win at Boscombe Cliff. Top honours went to Minstermen Kevin O’Connell, Alan Hughes, Roger Gallup and Percy Swinson (35-7).

Kings Park, meanwhile, dropped out of the top two after losing on all rinks to their nearest rivals Ferndown. Once again, Tom Beevers, Doug Rosson, Barry Stainer and Dixie Dean (36-11) were the top rink in the Stags’ 108-64 victory.

Knyveton Gardens B shared rinks with Southbourne B, but Ron Straw, Don Priddle, Roger Bazeley and Merv Courtney (27-11) ensured the Gardeners collected an 88-77 win and 10 points.

Pelhams suffered a 68-63 defeat to New Milton B in a low scoring match, where New Milton needed three winning rinks, headed by Malcolm Wallace’s squad (18-13), to outscore Pelhams skip David Hilton (20-12).

Richmond Park A, meanwhile, remain at the foot of the table after losing 11-3 (80-65) to Redhill Park A.

SECTION SIX

Pacesetters Poole Park C collected a 10-4 (80-67) victory at Iford Bridge thanks to Jim Moon, Roy Turgoose, Wal Winton and Bob Wilson (31-11). Gordon Greenwood’s rink (22-12) gave Iford’s best response.

Lymington won 83-69, but were denied a full house by Swanmore skip Ron Prigg’s last-end 17-17 tie. Frank Johnston, Arthur Baker, Norman Caulfield and Danny Watson (24-17) were the main men for Lymo.

Highcliffe grabbed a 10-4 win at Branksome Park B where skips Derek Weaver (27-18) and Peter Haworth (24-15) spearheaded the 86-81 victory.

Honours were also shared at Ferndown, where home skips Brian Robert and Peter Dodd both recorded 27-15 wins in the Stags’ 12-2 (88-64) success over bottom club Argyll.

Wimborne C moved up the table following an 11-3 (77-64) triumph at Southbourne C. Phil White’s quartet of John Longbone, Doug Cheney and Alan Garland collected the bouquet for top Minster rink (26-14).