LACK of throwers cost Team Solent their chance of making it two wins out of two in the UK Women's League Division 2 at Liverpool.

Losing hammer specialist Helen Arnold to work commitments was bad enough, but Solent were hit again by Cathy-Ann Hill's late withdrawal through illness.

Having edged the first match in Rugby, they found themselves down in fourth place this time round despite a zippy contribution from sprinter Melanie Purkiss, who jets off to Amsterdam this week for the European Under-23 Championships.

On a wet and windy day, the 22-year-old from North Baddesley won her specialist 200 metres event in 24.5 seconds, finished second in the 100m in 12.0 and ran a leg in both relays.

The hard-working Ridgley sisters, Clare and Becky, were their normal, invaluable selves, while Katy Sketchley did her bit in the throws despite being unable to compete in her specialist sprint hurdles discipline.

The result leaves Solent joint first in the overall standings on league points but trailing leaders Norwich on match points.

Match result: Glasgow 193.5, Rugby 167, Norwich 165, Team Solent 159, Coventry 156, Liverpool 149.5, Aldershot Farnham & District 147, Peterborough 93.

Overall league points (match points in brackets): Norwich 13 (341), Team Solent 13 (337), Rugby 13 (333), Glasgow 9 (318.5), Coventry 9 (301), Aldershot Farnham & District 7 (306), Liverpool 5 (276.5), Peterborough 4 (222).

Team Solent performances -

100m: A 2 Melanie Purkiss 12.0, B 2 Kate Denham 12.5

200m: A 1 Melanie Purkiss 24.5, B 3 Rachel Rogers 26.8

400m: A 6 Jenny Harris 59.0, B 4 Kate Denham 60.5

800m: A 1 Lorraine Phillips 2.12.0, B 6 Fiona Palmer 2.31.6

1500m: A 2 Helen Zenner 4.41.2, B 7 Marie Claire Le Garrec 6.41.7

5000m: A 7 Fiona Palmer 22.13.5, B 7 Marie Claire Le Garrec

100m hurdles: A 5 Rachel Lewington 18.3, B 3 Clare Ridgley 18.9

400m hurdles: A 5 Carol Dawkins 68.3, B 4 Rachel Lewington 69.6

4x100m relay: 2 Team Solent (Lewington, Purkiss, Rogers, Denham) 49.6

4x400m relay: 1 Team Solent (Harris, Rogers, Purkiss, Phillips) 3.54.1

High jump: A 7 Jenny Harris 1.25, B 6 Rachel Lewington 1.25

Long jump: A 5 Charmaine Turner 5.38, B 7 Kate Denham 3.91

Triple jump: A 2 Charmaine Turner 11.33, B 2 Becky Ridgley 10.47

Discus: A 8 Janet Smith 23.53, B 7 Fiona Palmer 18.44

Hammer: A 5 Becky Ridgley 30.23, B 4 Clare Ridgley 25.73

Javelin: A 7 Katy Sketchley 27.51, B 7 Carol Dawkins 18.36

Pole vault: A 2 Clare Ridgley 3.20, B 1 Becky Ridgley 2.60

Shot: A 7 Katy Sketchley 10.18, B 7 Carol Dawkins 7.55