RIVERSIDE A and And-over A made further ground at the top of Division One of the Sarum League while Downton A tasted victory for the first time.

Andover A's all round strength was enough to clinch their third successive win, despite losing the men's rubber when visiting Salisbury A. Riverside who lost narrowly at Andover in the season's first match, gained their third maximum win when debut-makers Andrew James and Fiona Barrett contributed to a dominant performance against Winchester A.

Victory by young guns, Peter Matthews and 13- year-old Harriet Davies, in one of the mixed rubbers proved all-important as Downton A edged victory over Riverside B in a very close match at Wick Lane.

Action in other competitions brought a fourth successive defeat for Salisbury ladies in the National Club League at Roehampton, a third win in a row for Riverside who are seeking promotion from Division Five in their first season in the Southampton-based Apsley League, and a second defeat in the Hants and IOW League for Downton B men, away to Lyndhurst A.

In the Hants Veterans League, Cathy Ball and Mandy Lynch relished in victory in a tie-break decider after sharing two sets on tie-breaks in a marathon win by Riverside Over 40 ladies against Centrecourt B. Chris Knight and Phil Sutherland won two deciders in Salisbury Over 45 men's marathon win over Riverside that stretched to 10pm, at Harnham, but Riverside, thanks mostly to James Bell and Bernard Robert, won the Over 55 duel.