Escrick have snatched the second promotion place in division ten of the IT Sports York and District Mixed Tennis League behind unbeaten champions Bubwith after finishing with a winning flourish to their season.

Escrick faced Tollerton and won comfortably 54-43, thanks to top scorers Ruby Gourlay and Nick Bentley, who were unbeaten.

They were well backed by Joan Dunwell and Keith Bickerdike, who won 22 games, and third couple Rachel Lewis and Paul Blades.

Escrick won their final match against Wistow and edged out Selby, who will finish third after losing their penultimate match to a strong Sutton-on-Derwent side 50-49.

Selby completed their campaign with a win, led by Sarah Pearse and Andrew White who won 30 games, and were just two points outside gaining a promotion place in a race which went down to the wire before the issues were settled.

Last year's winners of division one, Fulford, ended on a high note to secure fourth place.

They defeated relegated Tadcaster 60-48 with Govind Baker teaming up with Julie Reilley to be undefeated, winning 23 games.

York will be the bridesmaids for the third year running as they completed their programme with their only defeats coming at the hands of title winners Poppleton.

York finished with an impressive games difference but yet again they failed in their quest to regain the title that they lost to Fulford three years ago.

Rowntree Park seconds have slipped one place in division five after being beaten by Appleton Roebuck by the narrowest of scorelines, 55-53.

Appleton were one game up after the first round and shared the next two to take two points in a competitive encounter.

Games difference has settled the relegation issues in division six after Cawood ended with a win at Poppleton 58-50 and avoided the drop.

Lesley and Terry Savage completed a successful season and helped their side to stay in the division by winning 22 games.

Despite beating Tadcaster in a rain-affected match, Sheriff Hutton were relegated, along with Tadcaster, being edged out on games difference.

Three teams finished with eight points and Sheriff Hutton have the worst aggregate behind Dunnington and Cawood.

In division eight the future of another of Cawood's teams also came down to game difference.

Cawood notched a 56-52 victory over divisional champions Wistow, with top scorers Shealagh Elcock and Rod Hudson pulling out all the stops to win the final rubber 9-3 to seal the victory.

However, relegation-haunted Cawood then suffered a setback against Strensall.

It was also a crucial game for Strensall as only a win would seal promotion and they came away with the points they needed to step up.

Strensall's Carol and Matt Ward came up with the desired scores and they are promoted along with champions Wistow.

Cawood had to wait for the final matches to be completed but as it turned out it was Dunnington who lost out and will be relegated by a games difference of just three.

The title decider in division nine was played between Sutton-on-Derwent and Riccall.

Home advantage proved decisive for Sutton who ran out winners 59-49 to take the title with Riccall finishing as runners-up.

Sutton built up a useful first round lead but were pegged back by a determined Riccall side who just failed to gain the winning edge.

Clubs should note that the presentation evening will be on Friday, October 6, at Dunnington Sports Club.

Tickets and details will be sent to clubs shortly.

Clubs who still have trophies from last season are asked to return them to the league secretary as soon as possible.

It looks as though Louise Listera and Wendy Stark will face a stiff challenge in protecting their IT Sports Ladies Doubles title this term.

Entries are already flooding in for the tournament which starts on Saturday, September 9, and will will be staged at a number of centres around the York area.