HAMPSHIRE skips Graham Standley and Richard Shelley have made early exits from the national singles championship.

Standley (Longmeadow) lost 21-14 to Dorset Liberty Trophy player Mark McGrath (Dolphin) while Shelley fell 21-19 in an all-Atherley tussle with Steve Spreadbury.

Banister Park's Roy Alford squeezed through 21-20 against former Hampshire outdoor singles champion Colin Taylor (Longmeadow) and that was also the score for another Banister Park bowler as Danny McEwan edged past M Newton (East Dorset).

Keith Cole of Atherley produced a fine performance.

leading 19-15 before bowing out 21-20 to East Dorset international Dean Morgan but there were no problems for Morgan's namesake and clubmate Russell Morgan who brushed aside Nat Di'Cristina (Banister Park) 21-5.

Another Atherley derby ended with Denny Whitcher beating Mike Lawson 21-13.

Palmerston overcame Stoke Mandeville 171-116 in their annual friendly.

The Fareham club were in control from the start leading by six shots at five ends and by 76-56 at ten before extending the gap to 31 following the 15th.

Palmerston's most successful rink was skipped by Joyce Bradlaugh with Win Small, Norma Wheeler and Madge Bird. They won their contest 27-6.