CHAWTON Park Indoor Bowling Club men returned to Hampshire League action with a match against relegation-threatened Banister Park.

Chawton’s pre-Christmas disaster against Palmerston meant that maximum points were a must. They started strongly and led by 10 shots overall at five ends, mainly due to David Sims’ rink holding a 10-2 advantage. The other three rinks were all very close.

By 10 ends, Chawton had extended the gap to 18 shots, with all four rinks in front, and at 15 ends they led by a massive 24 shots.

Graham Robinson’s rink had slipped behind, but a timely five-shot pick-up on the 16th end and a strong finish secured a 21-16 victory. The other home rink, skipped by Sims, recorded a comfortable 24-14 victory.

At Banister Park, meanwhile, Adam White’s rink, after some tight early ends, built up a 14-shot lead that would never be threatened and ran out 28-14 winners.

With overall victory in the bag, it was down to Mark Fyfield’s rink to secure the final point. They led by six shots through 17 ends and the points looked safe, but Neville Scovell’s Banister rink fought to the finish.

Fyfield’s men went into the 21st end with a four- shot cushion and the celebrations had almost begun. Hang on a minute, though! – Fyfield is four down with just his wood to come. The skip held his nerve to draw fourth wood, completing a one-shot win and securing a 94-64 overall victory for a maximum eight points.

This took Chawton back to the top of the league, albeit by a single point.

Mark Fyfield, Brenda Plumpton, Basa Smith and Sue Murray travelled back to Banister Park on Sunday for a return match against Neville Scovell in the Hampshire Mixed Fours.

This time, Scovell’s rink had the edge after a close contest and Banister won by one shot on the last end.

In the Hampshire Ladies Triples, Beryl Collier, Margaret Holden and Margaret Leppard were home to a Palmerston triple skipped by Caroline Cuerdon. The match was in the balance throughout the 10 ends, but Chawton’s pressure finally told. Beryl Collier was particularly consistent as Chawton ran out 20-11 victors.

The annual battle of the sexes took place at Chawton Park last week. There was the usual friendly rivalry as the men won by a modest margin.