WITH all of their nearest challengers losing, Poole Park opened up a nine-point gap at the top of A Division. The Dolphins cruised to a 63-19 triumph over Iford Bridge, courtesy of Wendy Hardy, Pam Smith, Sandy Smith and Rosemary Spetch (36-10) who combined with Penny Cresswell’s rink (27-9) in Poole’s 6-0 win.

Richmond Park remain second despite suffering a 44-36 home defeat by West Moors. Janet Price’s rink, (20-17) were supported by Val Baxter, Sandra Rhodes Pat Chant and Olive Freeman (24-19) to gather in all six points for the Moors.

Ferndown floundered at Swanmore, going down 6-0 (45-29). Julie Hudson, Mary Jones, Pat Smith and Jenny Osborne (28-13) gave the Swans a lift while the extra buoyancy came from Jill Griffiths’s quartet who held on to win 17-16.

Southbourne’s recent recovery was dashed by a 40-37 defeat by visitors Lymington. The 26-16 win from host skip Sue Dadson failed to match the 24-11 by Lymos’ Patsy Little, Sandy Naillard, Wendy Brown and Kay Richardson.

B DIVISION: Leaders Braeside moved well clear after their 6-0 triumph over nearest rivals Highcliffe. Molly Shutler’s crew chipped in with a 21-19 win, to add to the 25-17 achieved by Helena Day, Sheila Watts, Mary Lamb and Carol Wood.

Another maximum resulted in Broadstone moving into second spot after winning 52-40 at Kings Park. Monica Sturgess, Janet Harford, Anne Williams and Lyn Howard (28-18) paved the way for the Broads’ impressive win.

There was last-end drama at Pelhams. Brockenhurst’s rink skipped by Jean Lees had finished, winning 29-10 while Pelhams skip Beth Roberts, winning 26-7, was three down, but with her last wood she drew shot to win the match 37-36.

Bottom-club Argyll handed out a 6-0 (43-32) shock defeat to Wimborne. Norah King’s rink of Joan Halliwell, Joan Webb and Emmie Drinkwater (22-16) just edged fellow skip Joyce Budd (21-16) for top honours.

Richmond Park received a lift after a 4-2 win at West Moors. Ann Ankers, Pam Draper, Jean Revell and Mary Lucas (24-14) lit the way for Richmond. Moors skip Barbara Tite held off a late challenge from her opponent to win 19-18.

C DIVISION: Bottom-placed Lymington tore up the form book and came away from section leaders Fordingbridge with all six points.

The Lymos played one player short on each rink but still won 38.25–25. Shirley Clark, Hazel Yerby and Kath Randall (21-11) top-scored for the visitors.

Verwood took up the running after a 6-0 success over Branksome Park. A 25-14 win from Jill Thomas’s squad of Gill Farrance, Beryl Hoply and Liz Lock opened the door for Verwood’s 42-30 victory.

Southbourne, meanwhile, romped to a 45-32 win at Broadstone. Edie Brophy, Sheila Hulland, Sheila York and Tina Sikes (27-17) were bolstered by Judith Bliss’s foursome (18-15) to give the Tower Ladies all six points.

Bournemouth’s poor home form let them down again after Braeside’s winning combination of Anne Cox, Christine Mills, Mary Southgate and Sheila Harris (25-7) comfortably outscored the 19-16 from Belles’ winning skip Kris Saunders.

Ringwood go bottom after a double-rink defeat at Milford-on-Sea. The Seasiders’ captain Diana Goodyear (19-14) played the support role as Judy Spooner, Jill Blakeley, Carol Tearle and Margaret Jeakings waded in with a 30-14 win.

D DIVISION: Trailblazers Alexandra Park tasted defeat for the first time this season at Pelhams. Alex skip Deidre Owen won 24-17, but was outdone by the Pelhams combination of Gill Woadden, Judy Jones, Norma Grinter and Audrey Judge (28-17).

Poole Park closed the gap on Alex after collecting four points at Argyll. Rosemary Stainer, Carrie Butcher, Muriel Coombes and Nancy Bennett (32-12) were the dominant factor in the Dolphins’ 32-12 triumph.

Consecutive 6-0 defeats have resulted in Christchurch plummeting down the league table. This week’s defeat was handed out by Richmond Park who were led to a 46-32 win by Vena Paris, Carol Gariano, Joy Spencer and Trish Gray (22-12).

E DIVISION: Broadstone and Moordown are way out in front after collecting 4-2 and 6-0 wins against West Moors and Iford Bridge.

Broadstone’s Vicki Miller secured a last-end two to win 16-13 and stay ahead of Moors’ winning skip Val Burton (19-17).

Moordown, meanwhile, equalled the top score of the day as they dismantled Iford Bridge 65-19.5. The Moordown rinks, led by skips Cathy France (35-7.5) and Pat Martin (30-12), shared the honours in their team’s 6-0 win.

Ferndown collected their first victory of the season, a 4-2 win over visitors Redhill Park – but only just! Ferndown skip Anne Wrighton, although having lost 18-16 (adjusted) to Redhill’s Sylvia Wood, scored the match-winning shot on the last end.

Mary Harris (21-18) had already finished on her rink to give Ferndown the upper hand. In all fairness it must be pointed out that Redhill played with two triple rinks, and the 25 per cent reduction cost them the match.

F DIVISION: With leaders Southbourne on a rest day, closest rivals Shelley Park and New Milton grabbed the chance to close the gap.

Shelley Park hit the heights with a 65-23 win at West Moors. A mammoth 40-8 win from Edna Lee, Barbara Graves, Angela Roy and Sylvia Sayer was backed up by Marion Stainer’s 25-15 success to give Shelley the full six points.

New Milton, meanwhile, scored a 4-2 win at Redhill Park. Janet Humphreys, Sue Buckle, Yvonne Tansley and Beryl Midgley (28-12.75) set up New Milton’s victory.

Lowly Highcliffe lost 4-2 at Branksome Park. A 21-13 win from Sarah Rowlands’s rink gave Highcliffe hope, until the Squirrels combination of Janet Gamlen, Babs Shand, Carol Bryant and Hilary Jenkins clocked in with a 24-13 win.

G DIVISION: Moordown retained the leadership with a decisive 6-0 (45-21) win over bottom-club Milford-on-Sea. Moordown’s top honours went to Barbara Roles, Vi Shevill and Wendy Bule (25-9), with back-up from Cherry Webb’s trio (20-12).