DUNNINGTON’S philosophy of pairing youth and experience paid off handsomely as all three couples recorded good scores against division one strugglers Poppleton as matches resumed in the Fulford Ladies Invitation Tennis League.

Karen Mitchell and Rosie Todd only dropped a couple of games as they top scored.

Margaret Whitehead and Sarah Dwyer clinched 31 games in York seconds' heavy defeat of bottom club Starbeck, while Pocklington overcame David Lloyd 63-45.

Leaders York 1 kept their 100 per cent record intact with a 75-33 win at Bishopthorpe.

Castlegarth crushed a below-strength Wigginton 83-25 to keep the pressure on at the top of division 2, Lucy Wright and Charlotte Todd including a 12-0 in their 30-game return.

Rufforth rose to third after a 59-49 victory over Pocklington 2.

Fulford 1 had a convincing win over Dunnington to remain top, a point ahead of Castlegarth whom they face next.

Cliffe were unable to field a team to play at Boston Spa and so prop up the table.

The top two in division three could not be separated as Fulford 2 and Castlegarth 2 battled out a draw.

Garth’s third couple, hampered by injury, clung on for three vital games in the last rubber.

Sarah Atkinson and Laura Simpson claimed 30 games for Copmanthorpe 1 as their good run continued with a 73-35 triumph at Tollerton.

The two unbeaten teams met in division four, with Bubwith beating David Lloyd 2 68-40.

New Earswick crept up to third after a double-header against Riccall, one of which they won comfortably, the other being a much closer affair.

Nicky Georgiou and Theresa Roberts Hardy bagged 23 of Earswick’s 55-game total.

Dunnington 3 are still seeking their first points after losing to a good team performance from Boston Spa seconds, for whom all three couples scored over 20 games.

Sutton had a 56-52 win at Poppleton seconds.

Bishopthorpe 2 made up ground on division five leaders Wigginton, who had a free week, with a 61-47 win at bottom club Knaresborough.

Gerry Screeton teamed up with Nicola Ramshaw to claim 24 games for Wilberfoss in their tight victory over Heworth.

The top two in division six had comfortable victories, David Lloyd 3 beating Dunnington and Fulford 3 hammering Stamford Bridge 87-21, aided by a 31-game haul from Maggie Middleton and Charlotte O’ Shea. Poppleton 3 beat Appleton to go third.

Karen Pratt and Sarah Cormer took all 12 games in their final rubber to ease Wilberfoss 2 to a 58-50 victory against Rufforth in division seven, while Copmanthorpe 3 toppled leaders Bubwith to go second.