Winchester City and Conservatives caused a mighty shock in Championship 1 of the Southampton and District BA League by beating red-hot title favourites Sports Centre 6-2.
The margin on shots could not have been tighter: 84-83.
Although they were promoted last summer many pundits expected Winchester to struggle in the top flight. And they did in their opening match being humbled 7-1 (100-49) on their own green by Fleming Park.
However, it was a vastly different story when they tackled star-studded Sports Centre on their next appearance.
John Maskell, Gerry Lee, Graham Elsworthy and Martin Rowell landed the better of Winchester's two rink successes 30-16 against Peter Rathband, Ray Smith, Dink Mintrum and Roy Alford while Andy Crichton, Den Marchant, Sticky Bostock and Dave Young outgunned Sports Centre international Martyn Sekjer, playing alongside Chris Windess, Graham Smith and Anthony Nixon, 24-13.
Those wins gave City a famous victory as they outweighed the defeats suffered by Paul Arnold, Don White, Gordon Haynes and Chris Ralph (28-11) against Roy Blake, John Joslin, Colin Thresher and Peter Ward and by Derek Stocker, Jimmy Tarrant, Alan Carter and George Doig (26-19) against Ken Prior, Phil Hunt, Iain Bunday and Richard Shelley.
Rowell's men ultimately decided the outcome landing a five and a four in a blistering finish after trailing 14-13 at 14 ends. The drama came on their 21st end, the last of the match. Sports Centre led by one overall but a gem from Elsworthy and two from skip Rowell gave City victory, Alford only being able to remove one of their bowls from the head.
Another eye-catching result in Championship 1 was Banister Park's 5-3 triumph at Atherley. It was achieved by a single Banister Park rink with Nigel Peaty, Pete Hammond, John Laidlaw and Steve Whitehead handing out a massive 42-7 hiding to Kerry Clemence, Dennis Durrant, Mark Badger and Dave Archibald.
Results - Championship 1: Atherley 78 (3) Banister Park 95 (5), Old Green 90 (7) Eastleigh Rail 54 (1), Winchester City and Conservative 84 (6) Sports Centre 83 (2), Winchester City and Conservative 49 (1) Fleming Park 100 (7).
Championship 2: Brockenhurst 72 (1) Aerostructures 82 (7), County 57 (1) Mayfield Park 111 (7), Pirelli General 87 (8) Pirrie Park 61 (0), Waterside 80 (8) Lockswood 55 (0).
Championship 3: Hants Police 72 (2) Friary 88 (6), Hyde Abbey 87 (6) Romsey 83 (2), Hedge End 116 (7) Meon Valley 52 (1), Littleton 71 (2) BTC 73 (6).
Combination 1: Fleming Park 62 (5) Woolston B 56 (1), Atherley 63 (5) Sports Centre 48 (1), Waterside 65 (6) Atherley B 50 (0).
Combination 2: Aerostrutures 42 (1) Eastleigh Rail A 50 (5), Banister Park A 37 (0) Banister Park B 81 (6), Pirelli General 38 (0) Eastleigh Rail 52 (6).
Combination 3: Atherley 53 (1) Fleming Park 55 (5), Winchester 86 (6) Lockswood 38 (0),
Combination 4: Mayfield Park 80 (5) Hedge End B 43 (), Hedge End A 77 (5) Romsey 46 (1).
Combination 5: Totton and Eling 116 (6) Waterside 31 (0).
Combination 6: County 60 (2) BTC 62 (4), Meon Valley 62 (5) Police Club 50 (1).
Combination 7: County 35 (0) Bitterne 90 (6), Fleming Park 58 (6) County 49 (0), Colden Common 45 (0) Bitterne 56 (6).
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