BARRY Bendall and Denny Murrey - runners-up two years ago - made no mistake in this season's final of the Hampshire Indoor BA triples at Atherley.
In 2004 the Banister Park duo teamed up with Trevor Comley to reach the final but, with Comley on holiday, they drafted in Peter Hammond at lead to sink Mike Rowley, Carl Taylor and Leo May of Rushmoor 18-15 with a late five-end flourish.
After Banister Park had built a 4-1 advantage Rushmoor responded with a five to go 6-4 up on the fourth end and by the seventh the margin had swollen to 10-4.
Rushmoor were still 14-9 ahead on the 12th before skip Bendall launched a blitz that carried him 18-14 in front following the 17th.
Most rapid final of the day was the singles in which Matthew Marchant produced a master class to bewitch Bill Ward 21-1 inside 13 ends.
Marchant has been on fire in the county championship, dismissing Graham Hillier 21-6, Andy Ross 21-5, Mick Barrett 21-11 and Dave Rogers 21-5. That Rogers' result was in the semi-final at Atherley, a carpet that Marchant enjoys as it is similar to the surface at his own club, Victory.
But the England under-25 indoor captain saved his best for last with a performance that had his East Dorset opponent sighing: "He was simply awesome."
Ward, winner of the national over-60s' crown in February, scored a single on the second end but after that whatever he did - and he certainly did not play badly - it was trumped by Marchant, who rattled up a four, three and two to lead 11-1 after five ends.
Typical of Marchant's prowess was the penultimate end. His second wood was a toucher and, although Ward nudged it out to hold shot, the Victory man planted his last two deliveries within an inch either side of the jack to collect a double.
East Dorset had better luck in the pairs where Ron Sparks and Terry Chivers outgunned Taylor and May, which meant the Rushmoor twosome completed a double of the wrong kind.
Although Rushmoor won 12 of the 21 ends they dropped two fives as East Dorset recovered from being 10-9 behind to win 23-19.
A four on the 12th eased the Christchurch outfit 13-10 in front and a five two ends later increased the gap to 18-11. Although May retaliated with a three, Chivers collected doubles on the next two ends to virtually seal matters at 22-14 by the 17th.
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