Simon Beetham hit a half-century to rescue Lymington from an uncertain 17-3 and set up an eventual four-wicket win over Fawley in the ECB Royal London national club championship at Holbury.

Chasing Fawley’s modest 134-8 in 45 overs, Lymington lost Darren Cowley first ball and then saw both Damien Edwards and Cameron Grierson perish before their reply reached 20.

Dom Hand (35) and Beetham steadied the ship, the Lymington captain going on to make an undefeated 56.

Cowley enjoyed far more success with the ball, his left-arm spin bowling yielding a 3-12 return as Kieron Earl (27) and Smith (31) top scored for Fawley.

New Milton had high hopes of beating a Ventnor side weakened by the departure of several lead players, but they came a cropper in the Steephill bowl and lost by 12 runs.

Rob Snell was Ventnor’s hero, hitting a half-century and ripping out three of Milton’s top four batsmen.

A budding star on the island music scene, Snell initially imposed himself with the bat, hitting a six and seven fours in a lively 54 which propelled Ventnor to 94-3.

Neil Westhorpe (42) and Martin Blackman (20) eased the island side to 170-8, despite Dan Loader chipping in with 3-21.

Ventnor’s prospects looked bleak when Mark House (40) and James Haggaty (33) took the New Milton reply to 73 without loss.

But rain was falling in the Steephill bowl.

“It came just at the right time for me and juiced the pitch up,” Snell said.

New Milton promptly lost four wickets for 12 runs – three of them to Snell, who finished with 3-36.

Lee Beck (40) kept the pot bubbling for New Milton, but Hugh Callaway (4-31) continued to make inroads and in the end Ventnor successfully defended their 170, bowling the visitors out for 158.

Former Trojans left-hand all-rounder Chris Blake made an unbeaten 53 on debut for Totton & Eling – a club in transition – but was unable to spare the Eels from a 61-run defeat by emerging West of England Premier Division 1 side Potterne, from Devizes.

Little left-hander Luke De Souza underpinned Potterne’s 247-6 with an undefeated 131, while Tom Bereford (42) continued his encouraging early season form before Blake made his mark. Totton closed 186-6.

Dan Damley-Jones was the hero of a handsome 92-run win by Burridge at Bashley (Rydal), where the visitors slumped to 26-3 and later 59-4 (Rick Ankers 27).

But, with wickets falling all around him, Damley-Jones steadied the Burridge ship with a superb 75 not out, which almost single-handedly guided the total to 171-9.

Burridge, for whom Kevin Nash took 3-20 and Simon Watkins 2-16, made a dismal 79 all out.

Portsmouth were left kicking themselves after allowing Sussex Premier League newcomers Middleton to wriggle out of trouble at 152-9 and post a match winning 209 at St Helen’s, Southsea.

Ish Ahmad (3-41) and latterly Rich Locke (3-36) seemed to have Middleton on the ropes, but last man Tony Ender hit 44 to put the Sussex side in the driving seat.

Portsmouth, who conceded 37 extras, were well placed but behind the clock at 110-2 through Matt Shaw (38), Jack Marston (33) and Portchester old boy Rich Locke (37), but the challenge petered out with 21 wides proving costly. Portsmouth closed 189-6.