Tennis: Winning return for York captain Pete Goodall (From York Press)

Tennis: Winning return for York captain Pete Goodall

9:58am Tuesday 24th July 2012 in Sport

York Tennis Club were buoyed by the return of captain Pete Goodall after being out for two months with a serious ankle injury.

And he made an instant impact, partnering Nick Linfoot to win their final rubber 11-1, and help York to an 8½-3½ triumph over Tyke Petroleum Men’s Tennis League division one rivals Poppleton 2 at Clifton Park.

In-form Pocklington pulled off a tremendous 8½-3½ (62-46) win against title challengers David Lloyd. Ed Barker-Wyatt and Ben Dyer were imperious with a match-winning three from 27 for Pock.

There were double celebrations in Boston Spa as a 10-2 result at Starbeck has put them into trophy contention in division two, with a match in hand over the leaders.

Paul Kaye and Jamie Dewar gleaned three points from just 22 games for Spa. And the Boston club completed the double over their local rivals, as their thirds pipped Starbeck 3 with a late flurry in a tight match, for 61 games and 8½ points in division seven. Ralph & Trevor Grote were unbeaten for Spa with 2½-22.

A final round 11-1, and three points overall from Andy Cousins and Alex Wilkin, swung the other division 2 derby in which Knaresborough King James pipped leaders Castlegarth 55-53.

Wigginton regained top spot, after overwhelming a doughty Stamford Bridge 10½-1½ on Saturday, but then collapsing 2-10 to bottom team Bubwith, who only lost one rubber. Paul Blackett and Mark Harris returned 2½-24 against the new leaders.

York 4’s division six promotion ambitions were dented as they fell to their fourth defeat in a row, at home to Stamford Bridge 2.

James Meadows and Lewis Neave made hay on York’s artificial surface with a maximum 3 from 25 in their side’s 9-3 (64-44) win. Unbeaten Copmanthorpe moved within three points of the top of division three, with two matches in hand, after a stupendous 10-2 result at promotion hopefuls Appleton Roebuck, where Dave Atkinson and Wayne Isherwood gelled for a 3-from-24 haul.

Wigginton 2 managed a remarkable 10-2 defeat of Copmanthorpe 2 to move 20 points clear at the top of division four, despite losing four regulars, including their captain and top-scorer, to first-team duties.

Bishopthorpe stay second after a tight contest at Fulford , where 3-27 from Rob Williams and Jonny Kay won them the bonus for a 7½-4½ win. A tremendous contest in division five saw Bubwith 2 pinch a fine victory at leaders David Lloyd 2.

With eight rubbers ending 7-5 or 6-all, it was John Himsworth and Al Southwell’s 10-2 which stole the team bonus, seven points and rounded off a successful weekend for Bubwith.

Harlow moved to within four points of top spot after an 11½-point annihilation of third-placed York 3.

Andy Bennett and Jasper Jacob were unstoppable with 3-29 for the Harrogate side.

A mid-match 10-2 from Mark Andrews and Fraser Davis swayed the division six result for Cliffe with 58 games and the narrow 7½-4½ success propelled them out of the danger zone to fifth.

Only Dave Maultby and David Gamble could manage a point for Pocklington 2 on Wigginton’s carpets. Wigginton 3 ease 15 points clear of chasers Boston Spa 3 as Neil Storey and Chris Cheeseman top-scored with 3 from 28.

Wigginton 4 calmed their relegation concerns with a big win at Strensall against relegation rivals Dunnington 3.

Ben Dance and Phil Wheatley nailed the ‘perfect score’ of 3 points from just 21 games for Wigginton in a contested match with six 7-5 rubbers.