ATHERLEY upstaged high-flying Palmerston to reach the last 32 of the Rymans Denny Cup.

It is a sign of the times that, following victories over Banister Park and Longmeadow, Palmerston started as favourites for the fourth-round Hampshire derby - but they were brushed aside 85-65 by an inspired Atherley performance.

A startling 31-7 home win from Dave Bishop, Dennis Durrant, Ray Wilkinson and Iain Bunday was the key for Atherley. With Durrant outstanding at number two, the Southampton men tortured Ian Chittenden, Ron Curtis, Barry Stafford and Andy McKain.

At six ends Bunday led 11-0 and, though he was pegged back to 11-5 two ends later, Atherley took the next eight ends to open a 23-5 gap.

The second game at Hill Lane was much tighter with Tom Bishop, Peter Line, Dave Edmonds and Denny Graydon level 10-10 after 15 ends against Russell Gadd, Ben Settle, Brian Morgan and Tony Grant.

Atherley edged 16-11 in front on the 18th end but Grant battled back to force a 16-16 draw.

At Fareham honours were shared with Tony Cole, Ron Packman, Barry Grinaway and Roy Reader leading 13-6 at halfway in a 27-11 Palmerston win against Chris Hayes, Luke Young, Steve Henry and Mick Barrett.

Atherley, however, virtually cancelled this out because John Fhithyan, John Barter, 'Dink' Mintrum and Billy Groves accelerated from 15-12 at 15 ends to sink Bill Jackson, Andrew Miller, Eric Brierley and Neil O'Donovan 27-15.

Palmerston captain Grinaway was philosophical about the result: "It's been a learning curve for us this season but this was a very harsh lesson."

Elated Atherley are now looking forward to a date with Croydon on Saturday, December 11.

East Dorset are the only other Hampshire association club through to the fifth round. The Christchurch club beat Arun 87-71 and now meet Preston, the Brighton team scoring a surprise victory against Kent aristocrats Cyphers.

Atherley came off second best in the Leonard Denny Cup against Banister Park, the Stoneham Laners going through 44-31.

The game was up very early on for Atherley with Dave Archibald trailing 17-1 at eight ends at home to Paul May and Dave Edmonds 11-4 down on the tenth to Barry Bendall at Eastleigh.

May triumphed 24-17 and Bendall finished 20-14 up.

Atherley had better luck in the London and Southern Counties Shield, beating Preston 88-82, although after 15 ends they had been 28 shots ahead.

Graydon stole the show with a 30-12 runaway win at home and, alongside, Bunday lost 27-20. In Sussex Wilkinson squeezed in 21-20 but Henry fell 23-17 after being 17-11 ahead at 17 ends.