BASINGSTOKE won the plate again as seven districts contested the Hampshire District Knock-Out competition at Basingstoke Sports Centre.

The home team of Peter Seward, Tim Cooper, James Bevis, Alison Parker, Heather Prior and Alison Foy progressed after a first-round defeat by Winchester, who fielded a number of county players.

Basingstoke held their own in the mixed doubles, where Bevis partnered Foy to victory, but were overwhelmed in the men's and women's.

They then came up against Waterside, the other first-round losers. Basingstoke held the upper hand throughout, winning all the mixed games easily, taking a narrow victory in the men's and winning two of the three women's games by a good margin.

Victory gave Basingstoke the plate for the third year running.

In the main competition, Winchester lost to last year's winners Portsmouth, who then met Southampton, winners over Aldershot and Camberley, in the final.

Portsmouth lost just one mixed and one men's to retain the cup with a score of 180-106 on points.

The cup and plate will be presented at the Hampshire AGM on July 3.