HUNGERFORD thrashed Lymington by eight wickets to send out a chilling reminder that they are the Peter Cooper Volkswagen Southern League's top dogs.

With ex-Hampshire all-rounder Julian Wood taking 6-46, last year's champions skittled Lymington for 93 and polished off the target in only 18 overs. Without the injured Glyn Treagus (broken finger) and Hampshire's Zac Morris, Lymington lacked the strength to cope with Hungerford's firepower. Alex Barr (35) and Wood (32 not out) soon ensured a maximum 20-point haul.

Newly promoted pair Alton and last year's Hampshire League champions, Wellow & Plaitford both lost.

Alton fell to a 43-run defeat at Bashley Rydal where a half-century by Steve Latimore and a debut five-wicket haul from county under-17 leg spinner Ian Hilsum proved decisive.

Bashley experienced initial problems against a tidy Alton attack, Latimore's contribution proving invaluable when the total reached a nervy 48-4. With Neil Taylor (27) a reliable partner, Latimore (59) steadied Bashley, who closed at 139-8 off 37 overs.

Kevin Nash, suffering from a nagging hip problem, and Matt King made early inroads but Australian Chris Torrisi (39) kept Alton alive before being stumped by Luke Ronchi.

Leg spinner Ian Hilsum (5-23) claimed Torrisi's scalp - the fourth of his nap hand - before Taylor (3-20) dismissed Alton for 96.

Richard Kenway (93) and Australian Dave Carson (78) shared a 138-run sec-ond-wicket partnership as Hambledon piled up 228-6 (Mark Page 3-46) against Wellow & Plaitford.

Asked to score a reduced 156 off 34 overs, Wellow openers Chris Powell (58) and Colin Day (30) produced a flying start to have Hambledon on the back foot. Gary Shotton (3-36), Ed Saxell (3-46) and the left-arm spin of Dave Carson (3-25) unsettled Wellow, who slipped from 115-3 to 148-9, with the efforts of Mark Page (27) ultimately unsuccessful.

Mike Stonier (35) and Martin Miller (43) guided Bournemouth to 100-1 yet Havant emerged seven-wicket win-ners. Bournemouth lost their way against the left-arm spin of Phil Loat (4-36) and Luke Sears (2-45) finishing at 167-7 (Sam Miller 27) off 50 overs.

Havant eased home through Sears (42), Hampshire's Jason Laney (19), and later Andy Perry (54 not out) and Paul Gover (27).

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