Boulton's back as A team are held

Their Z side gave the runaway leaders a hard time at the Southsea club but had to settle for an honourable draw.

Simon Petrie did well and Nigel Ward took two off hot-shot Mike Talmondt as the A team came under pressure.

Support for the skipper finally came as ‘Saintly’ Tony Hansford dominated against Arthur Newland to make it 6-6.

A break of 38 by the impressive Scott Compton got Copnor A over the line 7-5 against Al’s Club.

Ant Lacey and Jon Sunderland were also on the scoreboard, rubbing out away doubles by Matt James and Mark Kingswell.

Mark Tillison kept Cowplain Z ahead against bottom-of-the-table Craneswater Q.

The former ’Ville potter registered a 49 to join Frank Baxter and Steve Hughes in the winners’ enclosure.

Leon Kelley cut the deficit to 8-4 at the expense of Andy Hall.

Leigh Park A staged a late recovery to win 7-5 against visiting Copnor D.

Tim Coombs and Darren Loveday put the city boys ahead but Mark Raynor, Dusty Tingley and Richie Burnett had other ideas to wrap up the win.

Emsworth also chalked up a 7-5 victory as Cowplain A were well represented by Neil Stewart and Jamie Wilson.

However, Chris Hardyman’s charges nicked it with help from Shaun Toms and Greg Harding.

Normal service was resumed in division two as Bellair A picked up an 8-4 win at Copnor E.

Jim Hutton, Greg Jones and Phil Skinner put the Havant side in charge, before John Oldfield made it look better.

Second-placed Craneswater R moved closer as Andy White, Andy Carter and Harry Yard set up a 9-3 success.

Yard scored 41 in both frames.

Portchester X spanked North End Bowls 10-2.

Karl Turp, Lee Gaylor, Ashley Bendall and captain Jason Tame were all on target.

Cowplain Gas celebrated an 8-4 triumph at Bellair B thanks to Gary Swatton and Carl Fuggle.

All three division three fixtures returned a 7-5 winning scoreline for the home side.

Second-placed Copnor Xcels pipped Cowplain C thanks to doubles from Kev Figgins and Sam Laxton.

Kelvin Connor scored for Ray Axton’s side.

Bottom-of-the-table Cuestars got through against Craneswater.

Callum White, Rio Smith and Mark Lloyd all played their a part to counter a brace apiece by Ioan Moon and Brian Elsegood.

James Curtis and Pete Gorvin gave Cowplain B the advantage against a Colin Ricketts-inspired Leigh Park B.