KINGSCLERE Quails look set to retain their Whitchurch League Division One bowls title after they won at Littleton 59-37.

Hyde Abbey have now played their matches in hand, but still trail by 29.5 points after they suffered losses to Andover B (65-45) and Alton Social (46-39).

Basingstoke Town maintained third spot after a thrilling 49-44 win over St Mary Bourne.

Division Two leaders Whitchurch Yellows are nine points clear following their 60-40 win over St Mary Bourne Eagles and Marnell B are second after catching up with their backlog of games.

At the bottom, four teams – St Mary Bourne, Hook Hares, Old Basing and Howard Park C – are in the mix for relegation.

Basingstoke Diamonds secured promotion in Division Three after beating Friary 54-47.

Thornycroft A went ballistic with a 72-27 win over Town’s Jokers, but they are still only half a point ahead of the Jokers in second place.

Andover C won promoted from Division Four following a 57-47 win over Hyde Abbey B. Oakley C beat Old Basing Royalists 61-54 and Thornycroft B won 70-33 against Howard Park B.

The Stan Hardman League is in its final week, apart from some outstanding fixtures, which will be played by next Thursday.

The play-offs would appear to be settled and in the Central Division they will be between AWRE B and Town, while Cove and Farnborough will contest the Eastern Division.

The Southern Division is yet to be decided and will be between Hook Sapphires, Alton Social and Four Marks.

In the Western Division, four teams, Medstead, Whitchurch, Kingsclere and Andover, are still in the picture.

Loddon Vale won a friendly match against Camberley 117-98, thanks to winning rinks skipped by Gary Lovett (33-9), Judy Foyle (18-12), Steve Foyle, Pauline Oxlade (14-12) and Ian Laming (22-16). The only losing rink was Brian Ambler (37-14).

The bowls world was saddened to learn of the passing of a real gentleman, Dr Bill Sammons, who played at Alton for many years and was President of Hampshire in 1995.

He passed away on July 26.