THE IT Sports Mixed Tennis League's opening fixtures saw reigning division one champions Poppleton start with a win against Wigginton – with siblings Nick and Rebecca Turnbull dropping just one game.

Runners-up Dunnington got the better of York 1sts with both sides having some new faces in their sides.

Paul Blackett and Wendy Stirke were unbeaten, sharing a 6-6 with Dunnington's Greg Ashcroft and Karen Mitchell. Newly-promoted Heworth pushed Fulford all the way, with their first couple of Ollie Hicks and Louise Haritakis winning 28 games, but lost out as Fulford sealed the win with a high-scoring final round.

Sherburn opened their campaign in division two with a two-game win against relegated Rufforth led by Tristan Gretton and Rachel Huggins, but were unable to beat James Edmond and Sue Yoward.

Nils Morosz and Kate Dance ensured the points for Rowntree Park in their opening win in division three with another winner by just two games at Cliffe.

The two promoted teams clashed in the opener with visitors York yet again getting the better of David Lloyd led by unbeaten Reg Favell and Jill Le Pla who outscored team-mates James Hirst and Siobhan Gilfillan.

Another pair to be unbeaten were Wilberfoss's Alex Gurnell and Chris Oldfield as they entertained Sutton upon Derwent.

Copmanthorpe bounced back to winning ways with top scorers Johnny Kay and Laura Simpson leading the way with 32 games against Wetherby Castlegarth in division four.

Newly-promoted Riccall had new pairing George Lintott and Louise Marshman heading the scoring with 31 games, just ahead of Andrew Dunning and Michelle Hall, against visitors Rowntree Park.

Stillington and Alne looked to be heading for a close match until Stillington had to concede the last rubber due to injury in division five.

Fulford and Cawood did share the points after Fulford's top scorers Alex Herriott and Pam Campbell won their last rubber 10-2 but were unable to defeat Cawood's Chris Abbott and Lesley Savage.

David Morritt and Liz Taylor won all three rubbers for 29 games as their side David Lloyd beat visitors Sutton upon Derwent who were relegated last year.

The other relegated side, Appleton Roebuck, entertained Poppleton and took the points with Geoff Bullock and Amber Hickman also winning 29 games just ahead of Steve Temple and Sara Heron.

Neighbours New Earswick and Heworth kicked off division seven with a very close encounter – except for the unbeaten pair of David Latimer and Emily Broadbent who won their final rubber 11-1 to take the win.

Again, just one rubber decided the outcome of Sutton upon Derwent's match against Copmanthorpe as Mark Dadvar and Claire Fuller won 10-2 in an otherwise tight game.

After just missing out on promotion on games difference, Bishopthorpe opened with a win against Appleton Roebuck – although they were unable to beat Roebuck's Steve Temple and Suzanne Webb.

The two promoted teams clashed in their opener with Rufforth's Tom Frame and Kate Lewis top scoring against Wilberfoss.

Unbeaten Tony and Fiona White couldn't stop David Lloyd going down – after being unbeaten last year – against a very useful looking Fulford side in division nine.

Top scorers Ben Taylor and Su Watson sealed the win with a 10-2 finish with good support from experienced Graham Cook and Pam Mason.

Patrick Tasker and Anne Davies won a very valuable 24 games for Dunnington as they grabbed the win from visitors Appleton Roebuck by just four games.