DORSET'S crushing defeat of Cornwall took them to the top of the table.

They are 10 points clear of Devon, who could regain first place if they win their game in hand against Somerset.

Devon and Dorset will then lock horns with each other in the final match of the season to decide the destiny of the championship.

Dorset's latest victory, played out at the Plymouth Life Centre, saw them deliver a solid all-round performance with wins on five of the six rinks.

The best result of the day was achieved by the west Dorset quartet of Margaret Hooper, June Searle, Isabelle Addison and skip Freda Yates, who plundered 39 shots against a Christine Johnstone-led four that could only muster 11 in reply.

Yates and co dominated throughout and won 14 of the 21 ends played.

Another anchor result for Dorset came the way of Sally Rowe, Daphne Gale, Pat Cornick and Lynn Howard.

Howard skilfully skipped her four to a 32-11 victory over Cornwall's Barbara Jones.

Jan Barteluk, Ros Gwatkin, Kay Johns and Janet Emerson had to work hard for their victory over the Cornish rink, led by Cynthia Perrin.

The teams were drawing 8-8 at the halfway stage before Emerson and her team-mates gained the upper hand to finish 21-14 to the good.

A workmanlike performance could best describe that of Sally Williams, Sandra Hubbard, Sue Maggs and skip Sandie Smith.

They gained another rink win for Dorset as they defeated Betsy Mutton and her Cornish four 21-16.

A battle royal took place between Dorset's Margaret Crawford and Cornwall skip Connie Ellery.

Crawford, supported by Jan Meyers, Frances Hewett and Ann Ankers, played out a ding-dong affair with the lead changing hands regularly.

Dorset held a slim 20-19 lead going into the last end and gained two more shots to secure a vital 22-19 win.

It was left to Cornwall skip Pam Williams to post her county's only win with a 25-9 defeat of luckless Pamela Daters, Carol Baker, Sue Lofthouse and skip Jill Bryant.

The Dorset squad returned home pleased with their overall performance and ready to tackle Devon at Exeter on Monday.