RIVERSIDE ladies have won promotion to Division One of the Hants and IOW League for the first time in the club's history.

A comprehensive 9-0 win over Winchester B on Saturday clinched the Division Two title just 12 months after winning Division Three.

Although beaten in one of their four matches by Hale Gardens, the runners up also lost a match, leaving Riverside as the champions on rubbers won.

Saturday's triumph re-warded the dominance of Linda Machin, Carol Rogers, Liezl Cuff, Fiona Barrett, Carolyn Barry and Kay Cropp.

Claire McDonald and Fiona Symonds who played in earlier matches were also pat of the honour-achieving squad.

Captain Carolyn Barry could not hide her delight and is already looking forward to next year.

"Everyone has played extremely well to get promotion two years running. Now we can test ourselves against the best," she said.

Riverside A men will also be in a new division next year - but a lower one. Defeat at Warsash A on Saturday - their fourth in five matches sealed relegation from Division Three A, a week after the club's B men also went down.

Salisbury's late bow in the Wiltshire Mixed Knock-Out as one of the seeded teams was marked with a one sided win over Chiseldon who found themselves outclassed at Harnham in Sunday's quarter-final. Next up is Ramsbury or Purton.

Midweek brought a narrow win for Riverside over Salisbury at Harnham as the A teams of the two clubs came face to face in the Sarum League.

Capture of the second set on a tie-break by Riverside's Graham Hull and Nick Stamp in a high quality men's rubber, proved crucial as Riverside strengthened their grip on second place.

Riverside's winning run of 8-0 victories in Division Five of the Apsley League reached six on Sunday at home to Hants Club D team.