POPPLETON narrowly won the title shoot-out at Rowntree Park in the Tyke Petroleum Men’s Tennis League.

As the top two pairs battled themselves to an overall draw, the match was claimed by Poppleton’s third pair stand-ins John Anderson and Alex Larkman pipping Park’s third pair by just 7-5 to claim the extra rubber and game in a 55-53 steal.

Nearly 15 points ahead now, it is Poppleton’s title to lose going into the holiday period.

Starbeck scraped a draw in their local derby and won their first bonus points, despite only securing two rubbers to Academy’s five.

York got both barrels, heavily losing both their double headers at David Lloyd.

Freddy Batchelor-Collins shot a maximum and 26 games with Ed Barker-Wyatt as David Lloyd peppered York for all but half-a-point on the indoor carpet in division one.

Noel Baden-Thomas and Marc Jones hit York 2 for 3-24 on the outdoor courts,i n a 10½ point haul which sees Lloyd 2 regaining top spot in division three.

Copmanthorpe are clear favourites to win division two, defeating Wigginton 2 to go 16 points clear. David Beattie and Dave Atkinson did it for Cop with 2½-28.

A second successive slip for Bubwith, this time at Sutton-on-Derwent, has left them in peril of missing out on the top table for a third year running.

Louis and Zak Los trampled the former front-runners with 3-27 to put Sutton in with a tilt at the second promotion place.

The division three front-runners fought themselves to a standstill with Stephen Duree and Phil Bremner dominating with 3-29 for Sherburn against last week’s leaders Rowntree Park 2.

The Ziegler brothers (Ed and Will) and their respective teams battled to an honourable draw but Ed and Appleton Roebuck claimed an extra point having won the rubbers 5-4 against Will’s Boston Spa.

Having lost to bottom team Racquets 2, Starbeck 3 bounced back to the top of division four demolishing third-placed Bishopthorpe. Rowan Brookes and Chris White were in another league with 3-30.

Gordon Bruce and Neil Giltrap were similarly lethal with 3-27 for chasers York 3, run more closely by Copmanthorpe 2.

It was a red letter day for Wetherby in division five, walloping Wilberfoss to open a 23-point lead. Jeremy Reddish scored 3-26 with Nigel Williams whilst regular partner David Corbyn went one better, 3-27 partnering Roger Fawcuss.

Just five matches left, makes this look an unassailable promotion decider. A ‘good knock’ too for Wetherby 2’s Mike Park and son Ollie with 3-22 at Starbeck 2 keeping them away from the danger zone.

Marcus Hewlett and John Topping’s 3-23 saw off former leaders Cawood to open a 12-point gap for Academy 2 at the top of division six.

Heworth 2 enjoyed a ding-dong of a contest but only managed to close out one rubber as Harlow 2 dug in for nine points.

Bubwith 2 could only raise four players to face Pocklington who were happy to accept just their third win.

Another 12-pointer for Riccall who’ve taken 47½ points from their last four matches. Rex Pocklington and George Lintott. for Riccall, were the day’s (senior) top guns with 3-32.

Sutton-on-Derwent 2 moved up to second with a heavy defeat of hosts York 4. George Hobson helped out, ending unbeaten on 2½-26 with Julien Field.

Wheldrake beat Bishopthorpe 2 as Stephen Murtagh and Don Grant impressed with 3-23.

Alne & Tollerton 1 look a shoe-in now for the division eight trophy. Josh Hunt and Matt Fletcher are ready for a higher level, returning 3-28 at third-placed Wilberfoss 2.

That result, and their easy home win against David Lloyd 4’s juniors, puts Wigginton 3 securely in the second promotion spot but they do have a visit from the leaders looming.

Selby scrapped out a rollicking win at home to David Lloyd 3 with Marc Hodge and Jason Clark irrepressible with 2½-27.