CHAWTON Park men’s Bramley Bowl League championship aspirations were left in tatters in the winner-takes-all match against Palmerston.

All four Chawton rinks fell behind from the start and a nine-shot overall deficit at five ends continued to grow and at no time looked retrievable.

Palmerston eventually won by three rinks to one, with a comfortable 26-shot overall advantage. Peter Slingo, George Roberts, Dave Turner and Adam White salvaged a little pride with a 23-18 win over Peter Gentry’s rink.

Credit to Palmerston who are worthy league champions.

Chawton Ladies’ push for league honours also hit the rocks, although it was a much closer contest against fellow contenders Loddon Vale. At 18 ends, the sides were dead-level at 69-69, with all four rinks up for grabs. Away from home, Margaret Holden’s rink held a five-shot advantage and Margaret Leppard had reduced a seven-shot deficit to just one. At home, Beryl Collier dropped a seven, then scored six to trail by just one shot going into the last end. However, a well-placed shot secured a two-shot win for Loddon.

Brenda Plumpton’s rink slipped to a five-shot loss in the second period. Margaret Leppard’s away rink secured a fighting half with a 22-22 draw and Margaret Holden held on for a three-shot victory, but Loddon Vale emerged overall victors by 84 shots to 80.

Chawton recorded two excellent wins in the men’s Hampshire competitions. Basa Smith, Gordy Summerhill, Mark Fyfield and Adam White travelled to Victory to play a very strong rink skipped by Colin Thresher. The lead swung both ways, but Chawton finished the stronger side, taking eight shots over the last six ends to run out 22-18 winners and book their place in the semi-finals.

At Palmerston, Adam White was up against Bill Jackson in the County singles and came away a comfortable 212 victor.

Farnborough Civil Service BA provided stiff opposition in the week’s friendly fixture and won on three rinks. But the top rink of Joan Cox, Paul Berry and Robert Green secured an emphatic 31-6 win and ensured overall victory for Chawton by 108-99.