Martin Lowe came within one point of losing his unbeaten record in division one of the Northern Powergrid York & District Table Tennis League.

The Coneysthorpe ‘A’ player came back from match point down to beat Graham Hatfield, of Holgate ‘A’, and lead his side to a narrow 6-4 victory.

The champions enjoyed an easier time overcoming bottom side RI ‘C’, winning 9-1 with Lowe and Asley Hodgson extending their lead at the top.

Three wins from exciting Shepherds ‘A’ youngster James Atkins was not enough to ensure victory against a determined RI ‘D’, who claimed their first doubles success of the season to secure a draw.

RI ‘B’ edged out Holgate ‘A’ in a keen tussle, while Crescent ‘B’ were too good for Coneysthorpe ‘B’, who also lost 7-3 to RI ‘C’, though Chris Londesbrough was unbeaten.

Filip Wojtkowiak was in good form, but his RI ‘D’ side still lost 7-3 to Bootham ‘A’.

Mick Wilcockson and Paul Robertson were undefeated in RI ‘A’s 8-2 success over Coneysthorpe ‘B’.

Bootham ‘C’ inflicted University ‘A’s first defeat of the season in division two, winning 7-3, though the students were without the unbeaten Senri O’Hara.

Rudy Huang won the points for the losers, but the winners maintained their form with an 8-2 success over Holgate ‘D’, Rich Ingleby in charge.

Sides have to finish in the top five to guarantee playing in division two next season and John Eastwood and Ed Wardman guided Crescent ‘C’ to an emphatic 9-1 win over BT ‘A’ to get them to fifth.

Tramways are also fighting for their future in the division and their survival hopes took a blow in a narrow defeat at Bootham ‘B’, but a decisive 8-2 win over Shepherds ‘B’ now sees both sides locked together in a play-off spot.

Mike Robinson was in excellent form in both games.