MANAGER John Plomer has applied a little fine tuning to the Hampshire side for their next Middleton Cup match.

For the fixture against Oxfordshire at Banbury on June 22 he brings in Bournemouth's Darren Clark as lead in Paul May's rink. Dean Morgan, who has retained his England place for this month's British Isles International Series at Worthing, moves from lead to three. Paul Short, who played in last weekend's 18-4 victory over the Isle of Wight, is dropped to the reserves.

May's men suffered the heavier of Hampshire's two defeats on the Island and by switching a bowler of Morgan's calibre to three Plomer expects to beef up the back end of a rink that contains the team's most inexperienced skip.

Hampshire were never in danger at Cowes building a 38-20 lead at five ends and extending that to a massive 80-33 by the 10th.

Martyn Sekjer, admirably supported by Julian Haines at three, had a rousing start to his Hampshire Middleton Cup career. The Sports Centre skip raced 10-2 ahead at five ends and was 18-3 up after 15 before Bruce Marks scored late shots for the Islanders.

Sekjer's fellow Sports Centre skip Peter Ward was in equally good form going 17-6 in front at halfway before registering a 31-10 win against Darren Griffith, a regular for Hampshire as a Victory member in their Liberty Trophy line-up but who goes back across the water for the outdoor campaign.

Nicky Smith had a pleasing return to Middleton Cup action dashing 12-2 in front after 10 ends en route to a 21-10 triumph while Nicky Jones posted Hampshire's heftiest success, a six on the eighth end putting him 20-4 ahead by the 10th. He eventually beat Peter Furmidge 34-12.

Scores at Cowes: (Hampshire rinks, Isle of Wight skips only)

John Keat (Southampton Sports Centre), Chris Martin, Julian Haines (both Boscombe Cliff), Martyn Sekjer (Southampton Sports Centre) 24 Bruce Marks 16;

Dean Morgan (Boscombe Cliff), Mick Brown (Milton Park), Paul Short (Aldershot Traction), Paul May (Pyestock) 12 John Picking 19;

Ian Churchman (Aldershot Traction), Ron Sparks (Boscombe Cliff), Leo May (Pyestock), Russell Morgan (Boscombe Cliff) 18 Mark Griffith 20;

Kevin Philip (Aldershot Traction), Chris Daniels, Nicky Jones (both Boscombe Cliff), Denny Graydon (Fleming Park), 34 Peter Furmidge 12;

Michael Squires (Boscombe Cliff), Barry Bendall (Banister Park), Dorian Bishop (Southsea Waverley), Peter Ward (Sports Centre) 31 Darren Griffith 10;

Matthew Marchant (Southsea Waverley), Paul Lawrence (Civil Service Portsmouth), Dave Dunford (Aldershot Traction), Nicky Smith (Atherley) 21 Phil Turner 10.