WITH TEN matches postponed, the Tyke Petroleum Men’s Tennis League got off to a less congested start than might normally be the case.

Last year's first division runners-up Rowntree Park opened with a 58-50 victory over Academy (from Harrogate). Park had greater strength in depth with all three of their pairs in the points.

Division two champions Dunnington were brushed aside by David Lloyd on their return to the top flight.

Ben Orton and the returning Jan Dyl top-scored for David Lloyd with 3-28.

Copmanthorpe fared better, narrowly losing a tight tussle away at York, for whom Pete Hall and Paul Whurr earned their spurs with 3-24.

Champions Poppleton’s season opener at home to Wigginton was among the re-arranged games.

Relegated Racquets were in no mood for messing about in division two.

Mark Hinchcliffe and Ben Brown topped out with an impressive 3-30, sweeping aside newly-promoted Appleton Roebuck by 75-33.

It was a subdued start to the new campaign for Sutton-on-Derwent who submitted to a Fulford side they easily beat last season. There was a captain’s innings from Sutton’s Max Los and Nick Ridley with 2½-21.

Last year’s division five champions Wetherby kicked off their campaign with an away drubbing of last season's division four trophy winners Starbeck 2.

Promising youngsters David Woon teamed up with Wetherby’s David Corbyn for a maximum 3 points and 29 games.

With their opponent’s first team opener postponed, unlucky Boston Spa found it tough going away to a bolstered Wigginton 2.

Promoted Wigginton 3 enjoyed thheir first game at the next level up with an 80-28 win at Rufforth.

Stu Langley and Scott Farquhar were the morning’s 'top guns' with 3-33.

Sutton-on-Derwent 2 took only two pairs to play Academy 2.

Racquets 2 returned from Copmanthorpe 2 with 9½ points in a match they narrowly lost last year. John Topping and Jamie Pert achieved a perfect return with 3-30.

Harrogate Spa edged a thrilling see-saw match at home to Bubwith 2 in their York men’s league debut in division six. A final 11-1 rubber from Jonathan Guiritan and Adam Yates secured the points.

A welcome return for Selby's Daryl Young, who scored 3-31 with Mark Hodge, as they scalped York 4 in their division six opener.

Harrogate’s Harlow took only 2 pairs to Cawood.

Pocklington beat a freshly levelled-up Wigginton 4 in a result which mirrored the drubbing they handed out at the end of last season. James Eaglesfield and Richard Hart had the pluck and courage to stay unbeaten for Pock with 2-20. Only perennial-battler, Alan Wreglesworth offered any resistance for Wiggy - returning an unbeaten 2½-22 with Adam Houghton.

Tim Mandle enjoyed an unbeaten partnership with new star Gary Cashmore, returning 2½-24 for Bishopthorpe 2 in division eight. However, visitors Knaresborough 2 easily saw off the tail-enders to wrap up a 9 point away win.