IT'S three out of three for Ventnor, whose bid for a fifth successive Premier 2 crown has made a positive start.

They won by three wickets at Old Tauntonians & Romsey, but are mindful of the mounting challenge coming from Rowledge, the other unbeaten side.

Charlie Forward (60) defied Ventnor for a sizeable chunk of the OTR innings, but got precious little support as Nono Pongolo (4-25) created inroads in his two nippy spells.

Rob Snell (2-16) also made an impact, but it was Andy Whyte's mean spell - 1-18 in ten overs - which pegged the OTR run rate.

But Ventnor found that chasing 168 was no easy task.

Indeed, when they sank to 83-5 against Max Smith (2-13) and Wahid Khan (2-34), it looked odds on an Old Tauntonians victory.

But Ian Hilsum (48) found a valuable partner in Pongolo (32). Together they doubled the score and took Ventnor to the brink of a nervy victory.

Rowledge, meanwhile, made short work of Havant II, dismissing the visitors for 94 after posting a healthy 226 themselves.

Rowledge got their runs on the board through Chris Yates (35), David Lloyd (30), Ricky Yates (30) and Justin Larresey (25), while Ian Metcalfe (27) made important runs late on after Mark Stanley's mean spell of 2-14.

With several key players supporting Pompey at the FA Cup final, Havant were unlikely to mount a serious challenge.

Pete Hobson (31) did his bit, but David Lloyd (3-14) and ex- Totton & Eling seamer Adam Sharp (4-6) gradually cut their way through the order to leave the visitors a sorry 94 all out.

Neighbours Lymington and New Milton tasted success.

Lymington got off the mark with a two-wicket win over Hook & Newnham Basics, while David Wheeler's century set up a comfortable New Milton success against visiting Burridge.

Christian Pain (3-22) caused initial problems for Hook & Newnham, who were rescued from 85-5 (Ben Thane 29) by Ben Briggs (50) and Matt McNally (31) at the Sports Ground.

They took the score to 161-5 before a five-wicket spell by Australian Craig O'Shannessy (5-34) reduced Hook & Newnham to 171 all out.

Martin Hunt (48) guided Lymington from 50-3 to 117, but the hosts suffered several middleorder hiccups against Keith Lovelock (4-21) before they stumbled across the finish line.

Pain (30) and O'Shannessy (22) did their bit before Mark Newton and teenager Tommy Barton secured an uneasy two-wicket win.

After several seasons, Wheeler announced his New Milton comeback in style with a cracking 107 in the 124-run win over Burridge at Fernhill.

Milton were in some difficulty at 25-4 (Steve Williams 4-22) when Wheeler arrived at the crease but, supported by James Whitehurst (35), the imposing all-rounder struck a splendid century to steer his team into the box seat.

Once Neil Cunningham and Iain Brunnschweiler fell cheaply, Burridge's response ebbed away - Lee Beck (5-28) and Dan Loader (2-8) doing the damage in a disappointing 86 all out.

Purbrook are winless and propping up the table after losing a rain-affected affair at Liphook & Ripsley by 46 runs.

Liphook's 230-8 (Tom Cledwyn 43) left Purbrook a slightly reduced target of 219 off 45 overs.

Craig Robson (55) and Sean Figgins (59) shared a century partnership, but Dave Winter's 5-41 proved a match winner for Liphook.