PALMERSTON finally kick-started their Bramley Bowl Hampshire League Division 1 campaign albeit by a single shot against table-proppers Chawton Park.
The 76-75 verdict earned the champions a 6-2 points victory.
Palmerston travellers Bob Bradlaugh, Alan Payne, Dave Turner and Bob Gilmore trailed throughout but crucially fought back to lose only 23-19 to Graham Robinson.
David Croad, Ian Chittenden, Brian Le Marquer, and Dave Beynon (23-15) always held the whip hand against Chawton's Dick Holden.
At Fareham the Palmerston quartet of John Duhig, Terry Mason, Jim Small and Andy McKain wiped out a 9-5 halfway deficit to overcome Dave Sims 22-15 but Chawton Park took the other contest there 22-12 after Ben Settle, Chris Gauntlet, Dave Heather and Barry Stafford failed to score on the last six ends having been all square on 12-12 with John Kellow.
After two excellent wins Loddon Vale were brought back down to earth in a 6-2 (87-70) defeat by Victory - all rinks at Basingstoke - while Rushmoor went top following a 7-1 (89-67) mauling of East Dorset.
Positions (all played three): Rushmoor 19, Loddon Vale 16.5, Victory 15, East Dorset 9, Palmerston 9, Chawton Park 3.5.
l Banister Park marched to the head of the Trisham Trophy HL Division 2 with a 108-50 maximum against New Milton. At Eastleigh Dave Moore, Ray Davis, Nat DiCristina and Ken Marsh erased an early deficit to win 22-17 while Martin Gay, Nick Wood, Ken Foulkes and Brian Dibdin finished 26-16 up.
At New Milton Michael Comley, Brian Barber, Malcolm Comley and Derek Read enjoyed a 31-8 spree and Alf Smith, Steve Boyce, Eric Williams and Neville Scovell (29-9) were almost as impressive.
Atherley gained revenge for their Denny Cup exit against Longmeadow by beating the Whitchurch men 7-1 (96-53). Eddie Rowe (40-10 against Graham Hillier) took star billing for Atherley at home with excellent backing from Dink Mintrum (26-9 against Fred Judd).
At Whitchurch John Wise (18-16) notched the Southampton club's third win but Peter Line fell 18-12 to former Atherley member Andy Ross.
Riverside rose to third after a 6.5-1.5 (83-69) success against Havant. Home wins from Chris Ralph (26-14) and Eddie Bates (22-18) put the Winchester men in command with Ron Snook drawing 16-16 at Havant. Arthur Hind (21-19 against John Lind) secured the Havant consolation.
Positions (all played three): Banister Park 16, Atherley 14, Riverside 13.5, Longmeadow 10.5, Havant 10, New Milton 8.
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