A ROUSING home win by Neil O'Donovan's rink set up Palmerston for their 7-1 (85-74) Hampshire League Division 1 triumph over Atherley.

Playing on their home carpet Bill Jackson, Andrew Miller, Eric Brierley and O'Donovan crushed Steve Baker, Dennis Whitcher, Dennis Durrant and Ray Sutton 27-8 as the other rinks were all determined by six shots or less.

Atherley, saving most of their big guns for the Ryman Denny Cup this weekend, gained their consolation in the second game at Fareham where John Fhithyan, Peter Rathband, Allan Arnaud and John Armstrong overcame an early 7-4 deficit to beat Ben Settle, Derek Arnold, Barry Grinaway and Eric Hopgood 22-17.

Palmerston bossed both games at Hill Lane. Bob Bradlaugh, Ian Chittenden, Brian Morgan and Tony Grant, trailing 9-4 at five ends, edged ahead in the second half to defeat Peter Gange, Roger Stonham, Dink Mintrum and John Wise 23-17.

Russell Gadd, Ron Packman, Fred Voller and Andy McKain wiped out an 8-2 deficit to shade Thomas Bishop, Jim Farmer, Colin Fleming and Eddie Rowe 18-17, Rowe almost snatching a draw for Atherley after being three shots down with two ends remaining.

The tussle of the promoted pair saw last season's Division 2 champs Longmeadow sunk 7-1 (86-74) by Banister Park, whose heroes were the Barry Bendall quartet who enjoyed a 32-19 win at Whitchurch after leading Fred Judd just 11-9 on ten ends.

Longmeadow took the other contest on their own carpet, Andy Ross winning 25-14 after dropping eight shots over the final ends to Danny McEwan.

Banister Park made no mistake on their home green with Brian Dibdin notching a vital five to ease 17-11 ahead in an 18-15 defeat of Graham Hillier and England junior trialist Mark Hammond outgunning 'Sticky' Bostock 22-15 after building a 22-10 lead.

Champions Rushmoor paid for fielding a weakened side as they tumbled 6-1 (88-68) to Victory. It all went wrong for Rushmoor at Farnborough where Terry Cuming (25-12 to Alan Jones) and Bernie Pederson (25-13 to Derek Wildman) both lost.

Rushmoor nearly repaired the damage at Portsmouth. Colin Moore (23-18) led Adrian Ash all the way while Paul May, 9-2 down at five ends, staged a fine comeback and almost snatched victory. Needing three shots on the last end he scored two and was held 20-20 by Nick Fairall.

Results: Atherley 1 (74) Palmerston 7 (85), Longmeadow 1 (74) Banister Park 7 (86), Rushmoor 1 (68) Victory 6 (88).

Next fixtures: (November 1) Rushmoor v Atherley, Palmerston v Longmeadow, Victory v Banister Park.