THE OPENING week of the IT Sports Mixed Tennis League saw three of Appleton Roebuck and Bishopthorpe’s teams meet, resulting in an unlikely hat-trick of 55-53 scorelines.

A final round win by Appleton’s unbeaten Dave Luscombe and Pauline Belt edged the win in their contest, while Bishopthorpe won the other two fixtures.

In division six, Alan Wilkinson and Elizabeth Opie won 9-3 to seal victory and, in division nine, Richard Barwick and Julia Campbell also prevailed 9-3 in their second rubber to take home the points for Bish.

Division One champions Poppleton started the defence of their title with a win against York with last year’s top-scorers Nick and Rebecca Turnbull winning 33 games.

Paul Birch and Charlotte Mitchell ended with a 10-2 triumph at Wetherby Castlegarth to help Dunnington edge to victory by two games.

Wigginton were comfortable winners against York seconds, led by the unbeaten Oli Hicks and Denise Crane.

Newly-promoted Sutton on Derwent swept aside Heworth in division two, spearheaded by Chris Hobson and Cordie Cavill who, like Matt Ward and Vicky Bland, scored 29 games.

Sue Peach and Barney Baker helped Poppleton beat division three rivals Rowntree Park despite Ed Martin and Sandra Pauw finishing with a 11-1 win.

York’s Neil Johnson and Jill Le Pla edged their side to the points against Wigginton.

Wilberfoss’s Tim Hunt and Chris Oldfield top scored with 27 games won at Riccall.

But the biggest winners of the week were David Lloyd, who overwhelmed Rowntree Park in division five with Tony and Fiona White only losing two games.

Mother-and-son Christine and James Edmond won 28 games for Rufforth as they defeated Alne.

Tim Madgwick and Sophie Adams won 26 games to inspire Stillington to victory against Dunnington in division five.

An impressive 28 games were claimed by John Latham and Carol Mackinder as Wilberfoss overcame Cawood.

Phil Sinton and Phillipa Page won 31 games for Rufforth in division seven and proved too strong for Stillington.

A 12-0 triumph for Liam Moore and Julia Barber clinched the honours for Bubwith against Cliffe.

Josh Hunt and Ed Hope claimed 32 games for Tollerton in a division eight win win against Appleton Roebuck.

Newly-promoted Rufforth saw off Poppleton in division nine with Jack Benson and Vicky Wrigley winning 26 games.

Dag Nygaard won all three rubbers with partner Fran Critchley for David Lloyd in a well-matched opener against Fulford.

Despite winning their final rubber 10-2, Simon Ewbank and Claire Kettle found themselves on the losing side as Sutton on Derwent went down by just four games to Wilberfoss.

The other division ten match saw York debutant Robin Karfoot and the experienced Jean Jaram win 31 games, as all three pairs proved too strong for Bishopthorpe.