HARROGATE Academy replaced Poppleton at the top of the Tyke Petroleum Men’s Tennis League following a 7-38 victory at Copmanthorpe.
Poppleton were beaten by third placed David Lloyd and have been knocked off the top spot in division one for the first time this season.
Poppleton 2 made up for their first team’s losses - returning seven points from a tight tussle with David Lloyd 2 in division two. The contest ended all square in games with Poppleton captain Dave Jones and Matt Everatt returning 2-19.
Division two leaders Racquets were unfazed by their first match on grass, losing just a single rubber at Sutton-on-Derwent to stay nine points clear. Jon Smail and Malcolm Titchmarsh led the way with an unbeaten 2½-22.
Starbeck stay second with two solid pairs returning maximum points at Bubwith. Ryan Carrick and Simon Dickinson were untouchable with 3-31.
Honours were almost even when neighbours Boston Spa and Wetherby criss-crossed the A1 to tangle in two divisions. With a ten-pointer, Boston Spa 1 saw off visiting Wetherby 1 to leave both clubs level at the top of division three. Spa’s Matt Lewis and Dave Aspland with 3-23 were key to Wetherby’s first defeat of the season.
Paul Adams put in a rare appearance for Rowntree Park 2 and ended unbeaten with Ed Martin on 2½-20 at York 2 who, nevertheless, recovered after a team effort took the balance of the points.
A 10-2 final rubber from Gary Saunders and newbie Charlie Grasby pinched a narrow win for Starbeck 2 in a close contest at home to Wigginton 2.
Alan Partington and Graeme Butcher drew a blank in division four as Academy 2 routed Copmanthorpe 2 to complete a club double. All three Academy pairs made hay to close the gap on their local rivals. Racquets 2 stay narrowly ahead after Sutton-on-Derwent 2 conceded.
Jon Alexander and Dom Wright - with 3-27 for Wigginton 3 against Starbeck 3 - avenged their second team’s defeat in division three. Appleton Roebuck 2 notched their second win from just three matches with a good return against Rufforth. Wetherby 2 turned the tables - beating Boston Spa 2 in division five, mirroring their club’s defeat up in three. Youngster Ollie Boyes-Park teamed up with Marc Bickers to return an unbeatable 3-24 for the Castlegarthers.
A gutsy team effort saw Heworth 2 scraping home with a 22-14 final round at former division seven leaders Pocklington. Youngsters Ben MacAulay and Jack Hoare could not be beaten - returning 2½-24 for David Lloyd 4 against Sheriff Hutton.
Division eight leaders Strensall maintained their 100% record with a comfortable victory over Poppleton 3. Dan Simmonite made his 2017 debut with 3-21 with James Whitwell. All three Wilberfoss 2 pairs proved unbeatable, conceding 1½ points through three drawn rubbers against Wheldrake.
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