POOLE Park took a major step towards Section One safety when completing a double over high-riding Wessex.

On a day when 17 matches in the Premier League and Combination were lost to rain Poole Park emerged soggy but triumphant at Broadstone with a dashing 12-2 (85-65) success that propelled them 16 points clear of the relegation zone.

Poole Park - 11-3 winners against Wessex in May - were inspired by Jim Garner, Alan Blaby, Mike Jones and Paul Spetch (29-8) while Geoff Lowcock, Gordon Tompsett, Stuart Stephens and Malcolm Peters (19-12) saved Wessex from being sunk without trace.

Ringwood tuned up for the English BA Championships fortnight where they are competing in the fours and triples with a handsome 12-2 (83-74) victory against Knyveton Gardens.

Ted Melton, Richard Lawrence, John Thomas and Peter Ward (27-19) lifted Ringwood and Tony Clarke, Jeff Mann, Mike Thayre and Richard Garrett (22-13) soothed Knyveton.

Wimborne and Alexandra Park are also Worthing-bound this week and it was the Minstermen who had a winning send-off with Ben Paulley, Bob Tappin, Phil Lawrence and Chris Weekes (27-17) the stars in a 12-2 (83-79) verdict against Alex whose consolation came from Alan Trevett, Dave Hodgkiss, Steve Chalker and Paul King (22-18).

West Moors stay in fear of an immediate return to Section Two after tumbling 11-3 (78-71) at home to Bournemouth whose driving force was Vic Druce, Malcolm Gray, Alan Wilson and Chris Dowding (22-15).

Brian Burton, John March, Ray Brinsden and Peter Langford (22-21) gained a last-end two to claim the lone West Moors win while the 23-23 draw came after Moors skip Bill Bedford had led 22-8 on 15 ends against Terry Chivers.

Section Two

Fordingbridge - the only team in the top five to beat the weather - stepped up their promotion challenge by shading gallant table-proppers Wessex A 68-65 to collect 11 points.

Norman Anton, Jeff Mitchell, Chris Nolan and Bob Mellors (21-14) fired the 'Bridge and Adrian Van Coller, Trevor Hayman, Bob Steffe and Trevor Smyth (18-12) did their utmost for Wessex.

Steve Hockham, Derek Handscombe, Roger Herlihy and Mike Cox (23-13) were the ace performers when New Milton tamed Pelhams 12-2 (79-70), Mike Perry, Colin Cox, Barry Rankine and Dave Madgewick (25-18) saving the Kinson club from a whitewash.

Section Three

Promotion-chasing pair Moordown and Highcliffe began the day level on points - but Moordown ended it six points superior after outgunning their rivals 10-4 (78-69).

Norman Weller, Tony Nelson, Tony Wanklin and Alan Tavener (28-7) were the Moordown masters while Norman Newby, Ken Wright, Laurie Cook and Stan Patch (25-11) were Highcliffe's finest. John Irons snatched the other Highcliffe points with singles on the last three ends to pip Tony Hutley 18-16.

Bournemouth A's summer of discontent continued with a 12-2 (71-63) home defeat by Lymington whose rain-soaked heroes were Ken Carter, Ken Priddle, Vernon Cox and Les Ford (19-10). Terry Muspratt, Alf Sylvester, Ralph Johns and Bert Mitchell (21-12) gave the cellar-dwellers something to smile about.

Keith Irwin looked like landing another rink for Bournemouth when 16-14 ahead on the 20th only for a Ken Streek five to give the Foresters a 19-16 verdict.

Section Four

Les Blackmore, Arthur Saunders, Fred Wisemen and Eric Jones surpassed themselves even by their own high standards when promotion hopefuls Redhill Park hit the ton against Braeside A.

They are the most consistent rink in the entire league but this time they notched a 40-7 monster in the 10-4 (100-47) Section Four victory.

John Green, Bob Brodie, Phil Hobby and Terry Cox (15-12) were Braeside's best.

Roger Tidby, Bob Parkes, Ken Harding and Chris Eales (25-18) steered Poole Park A to their 12-pointer (86-75) against West Moors A whose response came from Derek Eason, Terry Simmons, Peter Barton and Peter Brown (20-18).

New Milton A landed 11 points despite being just two shots ahead of Ferndown (79-77).

Clive Gibbs, Deryck Shinn, Dixie Dean and Tom Beevers (29-13) even scored the day's biggest rink success for Ferndown but that was outweighed by New Milton's strength in depth led by Stan Bolding, Mac Macartney, Ray Green and Keith Young (25-14).

Section Five

A 34-10 dazzler from Don Lane, Brian Harrington, Dennis Newham and Nigel Brown carried Ringwood A nearer the title with a 10-pointer (91-62) at West Moors A.

John Elliott, John Crease, Albert Hewitt and John Savage (24-10) contributed most to the West Moors cause.

Redhill Park A are still pitching for second place after polishing off Electric A 9-5 (76-69).

Derek Savage, Andy Davies, John Rumball and Bob Dixon topped the Redhill scorechart with a 35-10 screamer while Electric's sharpest were Derek Smith, John Diaper and Gerry Elkins who won 17-7 despite having 25 per cent deducted for fielding a three-man rink.

Milford stayed on Redhill's heels following their 10-4 (81-74) derby triumph at Highcliffe A.

Ken Bowey, David Benjafield, Ken Penfold and Jim Lane (27-15) fuelled Milford and Ron Hawkins, Malcolm Grace, Jim Lawrence and Brian Giltrow (20-10) bolstered Highcliffe.

Section Six

Knyveton Gardens B returned to their perch at the head of Section Six after they beat Ferndown A 10-4 (73-71) and previous pacemakers Pelhams slipped up 8-6 (86-71) at home to Southbourne B.

Jim Divall, Murray Bacon and Merv Courtney (24-9 after deduction) were Knyveton's prize-guys while Jack Denyer, Pete Sayer, Eric Baker and Graham Hogg (27-13) propped up Ferndown.

Although Pelhams took three rinks they were outgunned by a 37-6 Southbourne gem from John Morgan, Roy Lane, Tom Harrington and Ray Rankine.

Mike Alexander, Arthur Spriggs, John Green and Mike Tester (25-11) were the pick for Pelhams.

Combination

Leaders Alexandra Park A maintained their unbeaten Section Two record with a 4-2 (54-27) result at Redhill Park A.

Eric Simon, Dave Terrell, Fred Cutler and Alan Burden (38-7) were the Alex sparklers with the three-man rink of Don Locke, Ken Pittwood and Sid Atkins (20-16) responding.

Bob Geisler, Eric Herrington, Wal Winton and Bernard Sturgess (26-22) steered Wessex B to a maximum (46-37) against Moordown A.