Basingstoke news and sport from the Basingstoke Gazette

Champions facing relegation

From the archive, first published Thursday 10th Jan 2002.

DEFENDING champions Palmerston are facing a different outcome to the current Hampshire League season.

Their 7-1 defeat by leaders East Dorset, plus the resurgence of Banister Park, means the Fareham club have now been dumped in last place with the spectre of relegation to Division 2 looming large.

With two clubs going down, Palmerston's next match against Banister Park takes on extra importance with Havant also looking anxiously over their shoulders following a 7.5-0.5 pasting by Atherley.

Neil O'Donovan was the Palmerston skip who prevented an East Dorset cleansweep, the club captain scoring a fine 28-20 win away to John Plomer.

Banister Park's unexpected 8-0 maximum against Victory not only lifted them out of the basement, but also severely dented the title hopes of the Portsmouth side who now trail East Dorset by 9.5 points with four games to go.

If anyone can stop East Dorset from going one better than last season, it appears to be Atherley.

They maintained their climb against Havant and would put themselves in the thick of the championship race if they beat East Dorset a week on Saturday.

Stars of the show were the makeshift rink of John Fhithyan, Phil Hunt, Colin Stark and Denny Whitcher, who landed an 11-shot success over Barry Harman atHavant.

RESULTS:

Division 1: East Dorset 83 (7) Palmerston 71 (1). Skips' scores: (EastDorset first) Ken Jones 23 Tony Grant 19; John Plomer 20 Neil O'Donovan 28;Ken Hann 24 Andy McKain 10; Mike Squires 16 Roy Reader 14.

Banister Park 98 (8) Victory 52 (0). Skips' scores: (Banister Park first)Brian Dibdin 28 Nick Fairall 16; Steve Whitehead 22 Alan Jones 16; DannyMcEwan 28 Lenny Compton 10; John Joslin 20 John Farrar 15.

Atherley 96 (7.5) Havant Borough 77 (0.5). Skips' scores: (Atherley first) Denny Whitcher 26 Barry Harman 15; Peter Line 24 Derek Turner 24; RayWilkinson 23 Alan Sprake 17; Dave Archibald 23 Glyn Jones 21.

Division 1 points (all played six): East Dorset 35.5, Victory 26, Atherley 25,Havant 21.5, Banister Park 19, Palmerston 17.

Fixtures (Jan 19): Banister Park v Palmerston, HavantBorough v Victory, Atherley v East Dorset.