PALMERSTON are still blazing the trail at the head of the Hampshire Inter-club League following an 8-0 whitewash of Longmeadow.

The home wins of Livi Bell and Barry Grinaway, plus a dazzling 32-12 away success by Tony Grant's rink, backed by a tighter victory from Neil O'Donovan's quartet saw Palmerston home.

They now lead by three points from East Dorset, who stayed in the hunt with an eight-point haul against New Milton.

Banister Park (29) stay third but marginally lost ground in the Bramley Bowl title race as they could only pocket seven points against Loddon Vale. Havant (28) are fourth after their 7-1 success against Riverside.

Atherley, humbled by Victory in the Famous Grouse Four Nations Classic, beat their Portsmouth rivals comfortably in a league match that saw the first drawn rink of the campaign.

Results and skips' scores:

Palmerston 106 (8) Longmeadow 56 (0). Skips' scores: (Palmerston first) L Bell 29 B Hillard 12, B Grinaway 24 N Hillier 19, N O'Donovan 21 P Anthony 13, T Grant 32 F Judd 12.

New Milton 50 (0) East Dorset 101 (8). Skips' scores: (New Milton first) M Cox 12 B Tappin 30, R Robinson 13 M Squires 21, K Frost 12 J Rigby 23, C Tabor 13 J Plomer 27.

Havant 91 (7) Riverside 60 (1). Skips' scores: (Havant first) T Bailey 38 S Doig 7, G Jones 12 P Cox 21, D Turner 17 E Bates 12, B Harman 24 G Doig 20.

Loddon Vale 76 (1) Banister Park 79 (7). Skips' scores: (Vale first) J Smith 29 D McEwan 6, C Lewis 18 D Graydon 28, P Tarbutt 13 S Rice 28, M Tooth 16 K Marsh 17.

Chawton Park 61 (0) Rushmoor 93 (8). Skips' scores: (Chawton first) J Fensom 17 L May 25, J Kellow 16 K Langfield 23, G Roberts 14 C Moore 16, W Plumpton 14 T Cuming 29.

Atherley 81 (6.5) Victory 68 (1.5). Skips' scores: R Wilkinson 21 T Pullin 14, I Bunday 22 G Starks 22, M Spreadbury 18 L Reeves 20, R Sutton 20 N Fairall 12.