HAMPSHIRE POLICE'S promotion hopes in Championship 3 of the Southampton and District BA League soared with two 7-1 victories over second-placed County inside a week.

Although the Police are still third, they have three matches in hand over their beaten rivals following the games which not only had identical points scorelines, but which were also similar on shots' difference: 88-72 and 82-64.

Captain Ken Bollam, Bill Tickner, Ray Cartwright and skip Ken Marsh starred in the 88-72 success, gaining a 29-15 win over County quartet Harold Roe, Norman Woodford, Reg Smith and Peter Weeks.

They were backed by the triumphs of Gerry Thorne, Dave Butler, Keith Bridgeman and skip Derek Fulker 27-17 against Ted Brown, John Glasspole, John

Bull and skip Peter Parish and Peter Evans, Jed Appleton, Ron Wilton and skip Peter McWilliam 22-19 against Alan Beare, Gerry Phillips, Keith Phelps and skip Andrew Cook.

County responded with Don Hancock, Peter Thompson, Don McIntyre and Stan Clark beating Jim Hawkins, Jim Reed, Hampshire deputy president Don King and skip Keith Matthews 21-10.

In the other match, Fulker (32-15 against Parish) and Marsh (24-11 against Clark) were just as effective, while Matthews pipped Weeks 16-15. Cook overcame McWilliam 23-10 to avoid the whitewash.

No change at the head of Championship 1 with both leaders Woolston and Sports Centre winning 7-1 though Atherley, in fourth spot, lost ground when beaten 5.5-2.5 (82-71) by Eastleigh Rail.

Brian Ricketts, Tommy Turner, Eddie Rowe and Colin Thresher, who defeated Bob Fawcett, Brian Cox, R Baker and Ray Sims 27-10, stole the show for

Woolston in the 84-55 victory over Pirelli General.

Ron Sivier, Fred Hinton, Dave Morris and Frank Hooper weighed in 25-11 against Basil Butler, while the third Woolston success was by Alan Smith, Ken

Collingwood, Barry Morgan and Terry Hoare 17-14 against John Joslin.

Pirelli's point-savers were Aubrey Hibberd, Bernie Falla, Colin Bumstead and Dave Edmonds 20-15 against Ron Akhurst, Doug Hughdie, Fred Rolfe and Pat Gallagher.