Marchant inspires Waverley with big brace

It now looks like it's a two-horse race for the Portsmouth & District League division one title.
Southsea Waverley's Matt MarchantSouthsea Waverley's Matt Marchant
Southsea Waverley's Matt Marchant

The top four all had two matches in the week and the results of those games appear to have hampered the chances of Fareham and Rowner.

Waverley maintained their lead at the top of the table with back-to-back wins.

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On Friday they travelled to Gosport and won by 26 shots – with both clubs taking two rinks.

Three were close but it was the astonishing 30-shot success for Matt Marchant’s group that meant Waverley picked up the win.

In their rearranged game at Fareham on Saturday, they won by 12 shots.

Once again the four games were shared and once again it was Marchant’s rink – who beat Charlie Bailey’s men by 15 shots – that proved decisive.

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Alexandra kept up the pressure by also winning both their games.

In a rearranged match with Rowner on Thursday, they had an excellent 22-shot away win.

Each club won two rinks but Alex took the game thanks to the 31-shot success of Marty Wake’s side.

On Friday they beat Fareham by 30 shots – completing a bad two days for their rivals.

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Alex won on all four rinks, led by the 17-shot triumph for Clive Carter & Co.

Rowner also capped a bad two days as they fell to a 13-shot defeat at the hands of Priory on Friday.

Priory won three rinks, led by the 11-shot win for Nigel Mundy’s group.

At the bottom of the table, Waterlooville did themselves a power of good by defeating Lee-on-the-Solent by 14 shots on their carpet.

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Ville won on three rinks with the Solent team having to thank Martin Ellis & Co for not being whitewashed for the second game running.

It now looks like it will be two from Lee, Gosport and College Park who will be relegated, although Lee have played two more than their rivals.

In division three, Portsmouth Water took over the lead at the top of the table after their 35-shot, all rinks win at Gas Social.

Pete Leggett’s rink led the way for the Watermen as they won by 16.

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Previous leaders Phoenix lost at Emsworth by 12 and only picked up three points from the game.

For Emsworth, the 13-shot winning margin for Alan Lee’s rink settled the match.

Pembroke Gardens had an excellent 14-shot win at Crofton and are now only nine points behind Phoenix in third, with a game in hand.

Pembroke won on three rinks, with Les Maddock’s line-up being the pick of the bunch.

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In the other game to be played, Bridgemary won the peninsula battle at neighbours Forton by 35 shots.

Both clubs won two rinks but Forton could not contain the Bridgemary sides led by Vic Clark and Brian Adams, who both had big victories.