HAMPSHIRE'S sprint finish polished off a gallant Isle of Wight team in their opening Middleton Cup match at Shanklin.

At 15 ends with Hampshire only 87-81 ahead the outcome was still in the balance but the visitors redoubled their efforts over those vital late ends to triumph 126-101, taking 18 of the 22 points.

The result gave new Hampshire manager Rod Rosier a winning send-off but although the boss said he was "quite pleased" with the performance, he thinks his men can do better - and they will have to because their next fixture is away to Oxfordshire at Banbury on Saturday.

Oxfordshire were the side dramatically pipped on the final wood by Hampshire for the group 3a title last summer. That exit still rankles with them and Greg Moon and company will be thirsting for revenge.

At present Hampshire top the section with Oxfordshire a point behind after a thrilling 17-5 (118-115) victory against Berkshire.

Hampshire will hope that the Islanders will reproduce their plucky display against the likes of Berks and Oxon later in the campaign.

Hampshire certainly knew they had been in a contest because after five ends it was all square on 30-30 and though they pulled 65-45 ahead by halfway, the Islanders battled back to cut their deficit to that six-shot margin by the 15th.

The May brothers led the final charge over the closing ends, Leo accelerating from 17-10 to triumph 27-15 and Paul, 17-9 up, finishing as Hampshire's top rink on 30-16.

Charlie Bailey, pegged back to 16-15 following the 18th against Steve Hamblin, won by five and Nicky Jones, 15-13 in front at 18, doubled his final margin of victory to four.

The only rink that went against the trend were those of Richard Shelley and Jim Marsland. Shelley led 8-7 at halfway and was level on 14 apiece on the 15th before falling 21-13 to Peter Furmidge while Marsland wiped out a 13-7 deficit to go 14-12 up only to lose 19-17 to Alan Best.

Hampshire made one late change with Denny Graydon of Fleming Park slotting in at three to Leo May for the unavailable Colin Thresher (Southampton Sports Centre).