HARMONY on the green as well as off it. That was the secret for two married couples from Palmerston in the national mixed fours championship.

Bob and Joyce Bradlaugh with Jill and Peter Cook (skip) scored a last-end four to hit back from 19-17 down and gain a fine 21-19 triumph over Sandy Pullin, Gloria Tardivel, Tom Pullin and skip Iain Mackenzie from Victory.

Palmerston also came up trumps against Victory in the third round of the men's national pairs as Jeff Ellis and Dennis Wren beat Liberty Trophy regular Darren Griffith and his cousin Mark Griffith of the Portsmouth club 21-16.

Atherley's Denny Graydon exited the singles 21-15 to ex-Banister Park colleague Barry Bendall, and Graham Standley fought back from 20-18 down to pip Bournemouth's Chris Daniels 21-20 at Longmeadow.

Dave Edmonds and Dink Mintrum outgunned fellow Atherley bowlers John Barter and Peter Line 21-11 in the pairs, while Steve Whitehead and his Banister Park comrades defeated H Dobson (Riverside) 22-7 in the triples.

Norman Shelley (Atherley) shone with a 33-7 fours victory over Bournemouth's Chris Daniels, and Norman's son Richard also went through 18-16 against Bill Belcher (E Dorset).

Eddie Bates (Riverside) edged Peter Line (Atherley) 21-20 in the over-60s singles to set up an area semi-final with Danny McEwan (Banister Park).

In the mixed pairs, Palmerston duo Pat Rye and Neil O'Donovan defeated H Marke and John Macknee (Havant) 19-16. Jean Arnaud and Peter Ward saw to Betty and Dennis Whitcher 24-10 in an all-Atherley tussle.

Palmerston four Pat Rye, Cath Etherton, Sandy Moyse and skip Val Cooper beat Margaret Bayliss, Thelma Heal, Audrey Greenfield and skip Pat Terry (Arun) 18-17 in the women's national fours.