BOSCOMBE Cliff are back on top of Section One following their 12-2 win over Broadstone-Wessex who had led by 17 shots overall at the midway point.

The hosts, however, staged a second-half recovery, typified by Mike Squires’s rink, who recovered from a 10-2 deficit to win 21-15.

This, combined with a 25-19 return from Alex Findlay, Dave Halliday, Brian Frith and Darren Clark, saw Cliff cross the line with an 80-69 winning tally.

Poole Park lost their 100 per cent tag after crashing to a 12-2 (91-75) defeat at Southbourne.

The Towermen’s winning rinks were headed by in-form front man Mike Newton and his crew of Graham White, Dave McKenna and Brian Jones (26-15). Paul Tidby (19-14) rescued two points for the Dolphins.

It was all down to the last wood at Knyveton Gardens where Fordingbridge skip Neil Hart (25-12), needing three shots to level the match, had to settle for just two, which gave the Gardeners a 10-4 (67-66) victory.

The mainstay quartet for the hosts was Jeff Mann, Reg Davis, David Swindells and Mark Wanklyn (21-11).

Wimborne mov-ed out of the drop zone following their 10-4 win over visitors Alexandra Park. Minstermen John Champion, John Welch, David and Craig Shepherd (25-14) contributed the lion’s share to Wimborne’s 86-73 winning total. Steve Chalker marked up a 21-17 return for Alex.

A first victory still eludes Ringwood after their 10-4 defeat at Poole Park. Mark Brocklebank headed the Foresters’ efforts, while John Dyer, Richard Alders, Andy Richardson and John Cresswell (27-15) paved the way for Dolphins’ 85-78 success.

  • New Milton stayed top of Section Two despite going down 10-4 at home to Braeside. Ken Riley set up Bob Warman, Colin Seale and Neil Rogers to rack up a 22-10 win and take the main plaudits for Braeside’s 76-71 triumph. Bill Wallace’s clan (22-14) topped Milton’s winning rinks.

There was a close call at Branksome Park. With the match level overall, Bournemouth’s Chris Dowding (13-19) lay four down before drawing a second wood to edge a 70-67 victory for the visitors, whose only successful rink of Colin Bingley, Peter Shearing, Bill Belcher and Terry Chivers (27-9) covered the Squirrels’ three winning rinks.

Swanmore remained in touch following their 12-2 (86-68) triumph at Highcliffe. Terry Tuck, Mike Brunsdon, Kevin Diment and George Smith (26-8) were the Swans’ top flight. Highcliffe’s sole reply came from Roy Richardson (29-16).

West Moors, meanwhile, eased to a 12-2 (81-62) home win over Southbourne. Tom Downes, Dave Paget, Alan Wells and Eric Cook (31-14) featured for the hosts, while Barry Zabell (19-11) salvaged two points for the Towermen.

There was yet another defeat for bottom club Lymington. Despite a respectable 24-11 win by Doug Bowers-Barnard, their opponents Boscombe Cliff departed with the 10 points. Top performers in the Cliff’s 74-68 victory were John Coles, Peter Maher, Mike Gabriel and John Cave (22-8).

  • Knyveton Gardens stayed top of Section Three despite their 10-4 defeat at Argyll. The Gardeners, urged on by former Argyll player Clive Bunford (26-9), staged a late rally but ended up losing 77-74. John Memory, Alan Fitzpatrick, Barry Wootton and Mark Howard (27-15) took top honours for the Cliff Dwellers.

Third-placed Pelhams crashed to a 12-2 (104-68) defeat at Braeside. To add insult to injury, the Carpetbaggers’ rink of Brian Pond, Fred Micklewright, Jeff Sheppard and Alan Cobb scored a ‘hot shot’ in their 33-10 win.

Electric’s revival was halted at Iford Bridge where the ebullient Alan Doughty’s rink of Chris Quick, Dave Thirlway and Mike Emsley (34-5) laid the foundations for the Bridge’s 10-4 (95-65) victory.

A solid 26-13 return by Kings Park skip Steve Hack was covered by Milford’s three winning rinks. Dudley Pitts, Phil Freeman, Alan Edmonds and Mike Bird (21-7) top scored as the Seasiders won through 75-66.

Swanage ended their losing streak with a 12-2 (82-72) home win over Branksome Park. The biggest Purbeck Punch was landed by Mike Keats, Norman Love, Mark Shepherd and Derek Smith (26-14).

  • True to the formbook, Section Four leaders Poole Park comfortably defeated bottom team High-cliffe 12-2 (92-66).

The Dolphins’ main input was supplied by Phil Walker, Ted McIndoe, Maurice Bower and Mike B Jones (28-10).

Richmond Park remained second after their 10-4 (88-82) win over visitors Wimborne. HQ’s top rink was John Mcauslene, Ivor Miller, Mike Shenkel and Eric Trim (29-10), while the Minster-men’s best return came from Roy Campbell’s squad (22-16).

There was a nail-biter at Broadstone-Wessex where Moordown edged an 11-3 (70-68) victory. Bob Affleck, Andy Roles, Alan Richardson and John Long (24-16) topped Moordown’s two winning rinks, while Alan God-win (22-13) and a last-end leveller by Ray Moulton (17-17) retrieved three points for the hosts.

Knyveton Gardens are still seeking their first win following their 12-2 (87-68) home defeat by Christchurch. Gardeners skip Ray Elrick (30-10) was eclipsed by the visitors’ winning rinks, headed by Bob McMillan, John Etheridge, Tony Connor and Mike Poore (36-9).

  • West Moors stayed ahead of the Section Five pack following their 10-4 (82-73) win at Boscombe Cliff. The top Moors Men were John Jepson, Ian Guest, Derek Warne and Ken Hoare (28-17).

The spoils were shared between hosts Ferndown and Argyll when, after 20 ends, the match stood at 73-73. Stags’ only winning skip Brian Williams (25-18) threw down the gauntlet. Then, with the scores at 77-75 in Ferndown’s favour, Dave Thomas (21-20) levelled the match 77-77 and Argyll returned to the Cliff Top with nine points.

Ringwood moved into third spot after their 12-2 (86-68) victory over visitors Redhill Park. Once again it was Brian Terry’s crew of Andy Parker, Tim Wesbury and Frank Billett (25-18) who took star billing for Ringwood. It was ‘ton up’ for Lymington at Branksome Park where the hosts crashed to a 101-59 defeat. The Lymos’ three winning rinks were headed by Joe Garcia, Bill Nash, Phil Brock-hurst and Dennis Wankling (30-8).

  • Poole Park made it six on the trot following their 12-2 (94-56) win at Pelhams in Section Six. A massive 34-8 winning score from John Bennett, Gordon Wheatley, Russell Stanley and David Pearce put the Dolphins out of sight.

Ferndown also collected 12 points on their travels when they overcame hosts Moordown 88-59. The Stags’ star performers were Carl King, John Williamson, Dave Holvey and Bob Thorne (24-10).

The only ‘full house’ of the day was by Swanmore who defeated Richmond Park 90-63 thanks to Peter Bunce, Mick Terry, Peter Holden and Denis Durnford (26-15).