Fastest woman Jo Kelsey finished second overall. DA5767P2SALISBURY ladies hailed it their unlikeliest victory of the season on Saturday, when they beat Kingsley 5-4 despite winning fewer sets and fewer games than their opponents.

Kingsley won ten sets to Salis-bury's eight and pocketed 16 more games, but lost the match because the home side took victory in two rubbers that were settled by a deciding tie-break.

The games deficit was explained by the domination of Kingsley's first pair of Adele Tarrant and Catherine O'Con-nor, who dropped only ten games, winning all six sets.

The win - Salisbury's second from their third match of the season - was a valuable step towards Division One security with two further matches to come.

Downton ladies, who play at a lower level, completed their four-match programme with a second win away to Alverstoke B. Ann Matthews and Rita Hampson won three rubbers, as did Fiona Saunders and Sheila Youings. The 7-2 win should ensure another season in Division 4B.

There were timely wins for the Salisbury and Riverside B men's teams.

After two defeats, the Salis-bury side toppled Kingsgate 6-3, lifted by a treble from Roger Witt and teenager Matt Stringer.

At Lyndhurst, Riverside's second team kept their hopes of promotion from Division 5B alive, when earning their third win from four.

The hard-earned 5-4 triumph was built on a fine treble by first pair John Barry and Craig Wensley. Third pair Nigel Jones and Simon White excelled to claim both of the other wins - one of them by beating the home side's first couple.

In the same division, Down-ton A felt the full power of the likely champions when they were floored 8-1 at Ringwood by the David Lloyd team, whose first pair included former Salisbury talent Norman Taylor.

The David Lloyd side at Southampton were too good for Downton's B side, whose line-up included three under 16s, due to first team call-ups and unavailabilities.

Hampshire Veterans League action in midweek included a very rare draw at Basingstoke where Centre Court and River-side Over 40 ladies finished level, not only on rubbers but sets and games as well.

The latest win for Riverside's over 55 men at home to Lee on Solent, achieved on games, was a tribute to Bernard Roberts' refusal to retire after pulling a muscle in the opening minutes.

In the Sarum League, unbeaten Riverside A returned to the top of Division One by beating Wellow A.

Wins against Goodworth and Coombe Bissett in the space of four days sent Sandleheath spurting up Division Two.

Unbeaten Winchester A moved to the top of the Under 14s Sarum League when inflicting a first defeat on defending champions Downton A.