ROWNTREE Park stretched their lead at the top of Tyke Petroleum Men’s Tennis League division one to 26 points.

The five chasing teams, separated by just eight points, are now in a battle to avoid the extra division one relegation place.

Wigginton dropped two spots after being scythed down at Fulford by former team-mate Angus Bradshaw, partnering Sean Evans to 3-29.

Andy Holmes and Ben Orton knocked off 3-26 away to Copmanthorpe, but champions David Lloyd slipped back into the drop zone.

Poppleton 1 squeezed up to second after narrowly pipping former captain John Moore, now at York. Although Pop lost five rubbers, the haul of games against York’s third pair pinched them the bonus 55-53.

In division four, Poppleton 3 feasted on points against a York 3 side made up entirely of fourth team players.

Dunnington need maximum points if they are to catch division two leaders Bubwith, but they could only muster 8½.

On his first team debut, Jack Batchelor impressed with an unbeaten 2½-26 partnering Dunnington captain Paul Birch against York 2.

Harlow stars Ivan Dechovsky and Steve Shipley paired up at home to David Lloyd 2 and bagged the day’s top tally with 3-32.

Harlow have a match in hand over second-placed Dunnington, but are 30 points adrift.

Knaresborough top division three once again after having two unbeatable pairs against Poppleton 2. Artem Fyodorovs hit 3-27 with Andy Cousins in a tidy 58-50 away win to leapfrog above Starbeck.

Wigginton 2 struggled to avenge their first team’s drubbing as Fulford 2 took an early lead. A 23-game final round eventually did for their visitors 57-51.

Twins Patrick and Alex Herriott only just missed a maximum for Fulford, losing out 7-5 to unbeaten Kevin Fairclough and Chris Cheeseman.

In division four, Harrogate Racquets notched their fourth 12-0 result at Bishopthorpe. Richard Shannon and Mark Roberts top scored with 3-29 in an 82-game haul.

Chasers Academy, stay third after dropping points at strugglers Riccall.

Division five’s Wetherby 2 are looking good for a second successive promotion. Mike Connolly and Nick Lumb scrapped to two draws and finished with 2-22 in a tough match at Rufforth.

Wetherby reaped 9½ points from just 62 games as Mike Abel and Bob McNaughton maxed with 3-23.

Nick Latcham and Ollie Hicks were firing on all cylinders for Heworth, returning 3-26, but hosts Cliffe who took the match.

It could be a photofinish as three teams race neck and neck at the top of division six.

An inspired debut for James Pittaway, partnering David Luscombe to 3-29 for Appleton Roebuck 2 at home to unlucky New Earswick, keeps the league newbies top by half a point.

Sutton closed up in second after a holiday demolition of Bishopthorpe 2, while Wigginton 3 are third on games won after helping themselves to all 12 points against Wigginton 4.

Strensall climbed to third in division eight with 10½ points against Harrogate Racquets 2.

Luke Blackburn and Will Watts scored 32 games for division eight leaders Copmanthorpe 2 at Pocklington 2, including a 10-2 against Trevor Loten and Larry Thompson, who were the only scorers for Pock.