IT STILL ceases to amaze that in a Section One match where 1,344 woods have been bowled, the scores are level.

That was the case in the clash of the Titans between Alexandra Park and Boscombe Cliff.

At one stage the Cliff appeared to be well in control, then Alex skips Stapleton, Wanklin, King and Miller rallied their troops.

After 20 ends Alex led 68-63, but then Boscombe Cliff replied with Morgan (+1), Hutley (+1), Squires (+1) and Geary (+2) to level the match 7-7 (68-68).

Meanwhile, Poole Park tiptoed into top spot after a resounding 12-2 (90-56) success over West Moors.

Jim Garner, Billy Shylock, Stuart Stephens and Chris Weeks (23-9) featured for the Lakesiders, with John Riddington’s squad (18-19) saving West Moors’ blushes.

In a roller-coaster finish at Branksome Park, Bournemouth’s Colin Bingley, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Saunders and Gerry Potts recovered from a tea-time deficit of 7-9 to storm home 24-12 and land the Meyrick Marauders a 10-4 (80-77) victory.

With two rinks apiece, Ringwood came out on top 10-4 (76-69) over Knyveton Gardens, as the Foresters’ star turn of Richard Lawrence, Frank Billett, John Thomas and Peter Ward (29-8) covered the Gardeners’ chirpy Jim Flexman (26-8).

Wimborne’s Brian Shepherd (21-19) picked up a last-end two as the Minstermen ran out 12-2 (79-72) winners over New Milton.

SECTION TWO

TRAILBLAZERS Southbourne made it four out of four as Alan Elkin, David Wilkinson, Dave McKenna and Chris Dowding (37-10) laid the cornerstone for a 10-4 (90-69) win at Richmond Park. The stunned HQ side’s best reply came from Tony Wanklin’s warriors (19-14).

Just to prove a point, Southbourne A went one better, with a clean sweep at home against Fordingbridge.

Skips Paul Turner (27-14) and Peter Dockree (25-15) shared the honours in the 90-60 total.

Lymington received shock treatment at Electric. Ken Bartlett, Dave Hiscox, Brian McCoy and Les Rogerson (31-17) pulled the switches as the Sparkies romped home (87-66). Reg Robinson’s rink (15-14) held on for the Lymo’s two points.

Boscombe Cliff A moved into second spot after comfortably overcoming Braeside 12-2 (80-75).

John Hall, Brian White, Trevor Smyth and Clive Smith (29-15) laid the foundations for a Wessex 12-2 (83-72) victory over Pelhams.

SECTION THREE

REDHILL Park moved into pole position, running out 10-4 (74-72) winners at Iford Bridge. A dazzling performance for Redhill from Ron Luscombe, Bob Horne, Brian Dixon and Dave Reeves (25-11) proved decisive in the final tally. Alan Doughty managed to conjure up a 22-12 effort from his Iford lads.

Mike Maidment, Tony Nelson, Bob Afflek and John Long (25-15) headed Moordown’s three-rink success over Swanage (81-64). Ron Emmett’s foursome (24-12) secured two points for the Purbeck Club.

It was ton-up time at Knyveton Gardens with Roy Fenton, Ken Budd, Adam Broom and Dave Baxter (36-12) the top scorers for the Gardeners A team who bounced Highcliffe 12-2 (110-61).

Stormin’ Norman Davies’s foursome amassed a 42-6 total as Poole Park A ran amok at Kings Park (103-63). Ian Davies (23-21) contributed to Kings Park retaining four points.

It was nip and tuck all through the match between Argyll and Branksome Park A and with two rinks apiece, it was Branksome’s Tony Jennings, Geoff Shand, Bryan Morgan and Joe Staddon (24-16) who swung the result in the Squirrels’ favour (77-75).

SECTION FOUR

DAVID Cawte, Derek Johnson, Allan Herring and Mike Akerman enjoyed a 30-11 joyride as New Milton A pocketed nine points (79-76). A frustrated Wessex returned to Dorset with just five points for their efforts, after winning two and drawing one rink.

The Priory bells were ringing out as Christchurch rounded off a fine day with a 12-2 (86-77) victory over Milford-on-Sea. Ron Woodcock’s result (29-8) was Priory’s best. Rod Somerton (34-16) chimed in for Milford’s two points.

West Moors A, despite Eric Cook’s 28-20 and Arthur Baxter’s last end win (18-16), fell short of Swanmore’s winning total (79-72). Barry Coates’s quartet (22-13) glided in by netting 10 points for the Swans.

Ferndown looked all set for maximum points after 20 ends, but last-end successes by Brian Terry (23-21) and Dave Smith (17-16) rescued four points for Ringwood. The final score of 76-68 was in Ferndown’s favour.

SECTION FIVE

POOLE Park B collected 14 points as visitors Kings Park A crumbled to a 91-48 defeat. The top men for the Lakesiders were Alan Hardy, David Grant, Bob Whitehouse and John Mullins (28-9).

Richmond Park A moved into second place after winning on three rinks at Highcliffe A (77-65).

Harry Lewis (26-19) proved the inspiration for the headquarters team. Brian Giltrow’s rink (20-16) rescued two points for the hosts.

Knyveton Gardens B turned over hosts Bournemouth A 10-4 (86-80). Martin Gaynor, Pete Sant, Roger Bazeley and Merv Courtney (33-7) proved to be the deciding factor in the Gardeners’ favour. Wimborne A and Branksome Park B are still searching for that elusive win.

Wimborne crashed 12-2 (79-68) at Pelhams A. Mike Sebbage, Cyril Lee, Charlie Loader and Bob Goodman (20-14) set up the Pelhams victory with a sole reply coming from Peter Laundon’s crew (21-19).

Branksome also lost 12-2 at West Moors B, but by a closer margin of 85-82. John Price (25-9) top-scored for the Moors.

SECTION SIX

SWANMORE A replaced their opponents Southbourne B as section leaders. Denis Barrett, Peter Holden, Mick Terry and Harry Small (29-10) headed a three-rink success for the Swans (83-78). Dennis Cordes’s quartet (32-10) provided Southbourne’s sole response.

Redhill Park A go third after a 12-2 (86-69) victory over Iford Bridge A. Barry Sturgess’s rink (26-17) comfortably covered Iford’s best reply by Norman Cawfield’s lads (19-13).

New Milton B were looking good for a 12-2 win after 18 ends, leading by 15 shots across the board. However, Wimborne B had other ideas, picking up 16 shots and a 12-2 (78-77) victory. Bill Foreman (22-16) supervised the Minstermen’s fightback.

Southbourne C overpowered Ferndown A (88-64) with John Bailey’s rink (29-12) building the bridges for the Towermen’s 10-points haul.

Argyll A’s first success 12-2 (87-61) came at the expense of Lymington A. Barry Wootton’s quartet headed Argyll’s three winning rinks. The Lymos’s only reply came from Brian Marchant’s crew (20-15).