VIKING A took a huge step towards winning their fourth consecutive Ladies 4 League title by beating nearest rivals Beechdown A by 6-0,

The Viking team of Juliet MacAskill, Julie Shawley, Alison Crawford and Deborah Vincent had too much firepower for their opponents and their win stretched their lead at the top to ten points.

There were two matches in Open Division One this week with the focus on the battle to avoid relegation as the bottom three were in action.

In the first match bottom side Andover were only able to field two pairs against BH Pegasus A and fell to a 9-0 defeat.

Hat-tricks from all three pairs, Rob Clayburn/Nick Choi, Nick Reid/Martin Davey and Ramsay Domloge/Warren Johnson saw BH Pegasus A gain maximum points and move within one point of second placed Hurst A with a game in hand.

Andover Sports A did their chances of avoiding relegation no harm with a 7-2 win over rivals Beechdown A to move within three points of them, having played a game less.

With six of the the nine rubbers going the distance in a hard-fought match, it was Andover Sports A who came out on top in five of those three setters to complete a welcome victory.

Triples from Adam Turner and his partner and Ben Sellers and Ian Swatton, together with a single from Nithin Veeraarasu and Jamie Cooper saw the home side over the line.

Hurst B took a narrow one point lead in Open Division Three following a 6-3 away victory over Beechdown C, albeit having played one game more than second placed Beechdown B.

A triple from Keith Lawrence/Chris Puxley, a brace from Davinity Powis/John Lang and a single from Richard Silk/Martyn Chapman saw them home, with a brace from Ollie Rabley/Steve Webber being the main scorers for their opponents.

Phoenix A closed to within three points of Mixed Division Two leaders Beechdown B with a 7-2 win over Beechdown C.

Hat-tricks from Greg Sudell/Alison Rendall and Matt Hawkins/Melissa Wolfe helped to maintain their 100 per cent record, whilst Beechdown C remain third from bottom.

Andover Sports B gratefully accepted nine points after Phoenix B were forced to concede. This lifted Andover Sports B into third place, just one point ahead of Viking B in fourth and three points behind second placed Phoenix A.