ATHERLEY staged a late, late show to complete a maximum against the Isle of Wight in the Famous Grouse Home Nations Top Ten Classic Group L.

It was not until the final end that Larry Collins, Dave Edmonds, Steve Henry and Colin Thresher sealed a 19-18 away win against the Islanders' rink of Roy Jemson in the fours.

That slender victory gave Atherley a full 15 points in an 85-55 triumph on shots and extended their lead at the head of the table.

In the other game at Ryde, Denny Graydon took the 21-16 against Harry Brownsden while in Southampton Keith Cole and Peter Line (pairs, 21-10) and Dave Bishop, Iain Bunday and Richard Shelley (triples, 24-11) dominated.

Banister Park's tussle with Victory had a staggered start. The Eastleigh men were sitting pretty after Danny McEwan (singles, 21-10 against Ian McKenzie) and Cliff Higgins, Geoff Norgate, John Joslin and Ken Marsh (fours, 25-17 against Colin Hayward) guaranteed Banister Park six points.

However, when the two games took place at Portsmouth later in the day Victory won both the pairs and triples - and snatched the aggregate points for a 75-70 (9-6) success.

With Denny Murrey ruled out through illness, Trevor Comley and Barry Bendall lost the pairs 23-11 to Victory's Steve Robertson and Vic Winterbottom, Mark Hammond and Roy Alford went down 25-13 in the triples to Charlie Bailey.

The only discipline that Five Rivers won in their 77-65 (11-4) defeat by Arun was the singles which went to Dennis Shipp 21-11 at Salisbury.

That ten-shot margin gave Five Rivers the home aggregate points as well since Ron Oakes only lost the fours 24-21 but in Sussex the Salisbury men were distinctly second best with Steve Safe tumbling to a 24-14 pairs' defeat and Terry Spreadbury losing the triples 18-9.

Group L results and positions: Arun 77 (11) Five Rivers 65 (4), Isle of Wight 55 (0) Atherley 85 (15), Banister Park 70 (6) Victory (9) 75. Points: Atherley (played 3) 39, Arun (2) 26, Victory (2) 24, Banister Park (3) 22, Five Rivers (3) 6, Isle of Wight (3) 3.

Next fixtures: (January 5) Five Rivers v Banister Park, Atherley v Arun, Victory v Isle of Wight.