ATHERLEY and Riverside all but sealed promotion from the Hampshire League Division 2 with handsome maximums.

Their impressive wins, plus a shock 7-1 (87-70) defeat for third-placed Loddon Vale against Havant put the top two in the clear.

The leaders meet in their last match on March 5 and both need only a point to guarantee going up. The only way one of them will miss out is if their clash ends 8-0 because the losers could then be passed by Loddon Vale if the Basingstoke team score a full house in their finale - and as that is against wooden-spoonists New Milton that is highly likely.

The home rink of Matthew Cole, Matthew Smith, Chris Hayes and Martin Wise headed Atherley's 109-56 runaway against New Milton with a 41-9 pounding at Hill Lane of Peter Wooller.

Dave Archibald (27-18 against Bob Shepperdley) made it a home double while Eddie Rowe won 21-10 away and was backed by Mark Badger who squeezed in 20-19 after scoring a last-end three against Chris Tabor.

Riverside had to battle for their eight-pointer (99-68) as three rinks were settled by seven shots or less against Longmeadow. The fourth contest was more clearcut with Chris Ralph thumping Nigel Bechelet 29-15 at Winchester.

George Doig overcame Graham Hillier 23-16 and at Whitchurch Eddie Bates triumphed 23-17 while a mid-match burst carried Ron Snook from 12-8 down to 20-12 up in his 24-20 verdict.

Jim Maund, skipping a HL rink for the first time in the absence of Eddie Kingswell, was the Havant hero as Loddon Vale's promotion drive was stopped dead in its tracks.

Playing at Basingstoke Carl Maidment, Ken Lockyer, Vic White and Maund slammed Marc Rivoira 26-10. Although Vale's Doug Morgan (22-18 against Derek Turner) took the second contest there, Havant shaded both games on their own carpet thanks to Gareth Davies (21-18 against Rob Voller) and Barry Harman (22-20 against Peter Tarbutt).

Results: New Milton 56 (0) Atherley 109 (8), Riverside 99 (8) Longmeadow 68 (0), Loddon Vale 70 (1) Havant 87 (7).

Points: (all played nine) Riverside 52, Atherley 51.5, Loddon Vale 44, Havant 35, Longmeadow 22, New Milton 11.5.

Final fixtures: (Saturday, March 5) Riverside v Atherley, New Milton v Loddon Vale, Longmeadow v Havant.