FOSSILS toured the Isle of Wight for the third time but the weather dictated the outcome of their games.

The veteran side should have won against Porchfield in the opener but the hosts ended up pushing for the victory.

Porchfield found scoring difficult against Fossils openers Martin Mudway and Cliff Rawlings, conceding just 31 runs in 23 overs.

Liz Dean (3-49) and Colin Groves (2-41) took wickets as Porchfield declared at tea on 129-6 with only Knight (36), Nightingale (29) and Wackerel (28) reaching double figures.

Tony Chapman, Bill Wood and Fred Lloyd soon returned to the pavilion before Brian Scott (42) and Dick Brown (32) put on 60 runs at a good rate to take the Fossils to 92.

But it went wrong as Alan Riddle took 3-8 from four overs and Fossils were left hanging on for a draw.

Geoff Southall and Rawlings defended as fielders crowded around the batsmen.

At Westover, Barry Briscoe (60) and Geoff Southall (7) put on 47 before the latter's attempt at hitting the ball out of the ground ended his innings.

Brown (37) and Kevin Gilbert (27) took the bowlers to town before Gilbert was run-out. Dean and Chapman then thrashed a few quick runs to take Fossils to 183-5 from 40 overs.

Ron Chapman (21) and Andy Birt (12) batted slowly against accurate bowling by Mudway and Graham Thorne.

When the first wicket fell, John Kelsey (43) and then Alan Rhone (53) made hay against Fossils' second string bowlers as the rain set in.

Playing on in terrible conditions, Westover completed a six-wicket win in 40 overs, thanks to an excellent 41 not out by Alan Ball.

The game against Ryde was called off because of the weather, so Fossils moved on to Hungerford for the fourth match. Gilbert hit 83, including three sixes and 10 fours, to put on 89 in quick time with Colin Groves (45).

Scott lashed an excellent 55 before he holed out. Derek Ebbage (18) and Ted Lloyd made the most of the last few overs to take the Fossils to a respectable 216-4.

In reply, Jim Harding (4) was well caught by Ebbage off Dean and Alan Merriott made 27.

Alan Bryan hit out for 40 and the score stood at 75-3 from 18 overs when the rain ruined what looked like a good, tight finish.

Groves bowled three overs, taking 1-5 to finish his tour on a high note.