DAVID LLOYD were ousted from the top of the Tyke Petroleum Men's League after narrowly losing a tremendous home contest to reigning champions Rowntree Park.

Confident captain James Denmark spread the jam thinly against a full strength Lloyd first team and he was rewarded by all three Park pairs scoring evenly with a match-winning total of 63 games. Ben Orton and Jan Dyl edged a maximum 3-22 in vain for Lloyd, as their team mustered just a half point more.

Poppleton captain Nick Turnbull beat predecessor John Moore and went on to score 3-25 with partner Jack Hannah, but ended on the losing side as York roared back with a 23-13 final round to pip their hosts 57-51.

Wigginton jump to third, winning their division one battle, with Ben Walker and Jason Whiting topping with 3-29, but it was Starbeck who won the war.

In the clubs’ triple-header, Starbeck 2’s captain Steve Hubbard and Simon Holian boasted 3-28 against Wigginton 3 in division five, while Starbeck 3’s Colin Lefley and Rowan Brookes top-scored with 3-33 at Wigginton 4 in division seven.

Dunnington notched their first win back in the top flight after a storming 21-15 final round at Knaresborough.

Harrogate Racquets maintained their 100 per cent winning record in division two after beating former men's league champions Bubwith.

York 2 were dumbfounded against whipping boys Harlow. Steve Shipley and Ivan Dechovsky helped the Harrogate side to ten points in a close match with six 7-5 rubbers. Roland Hom partnered Dechovsky to 3-24.

Copmanthorpe claimed all 12 points at home to strugglers Fulford 2, while Wigginton 2’s Chris Burnham and Matt Waudby performed admirably with 3-30 in their win at bottom team Wetherby 2.

Josh Beavers and Tom Craddock won a fantastic match for Fulford 1 in division three with 3-30 against an otherwise dominant Sutton-on-Derwent, who had to settle for five points.

Sherburn’s Steve Duree and Phil Bremner scored 3-29 at Rowntree Park 2, but their teammates could add only another 23 games between them and it was Park who pinched the points 56-52.

Bubwith 2 eyeballed their first level three win, but a 24-12 final round by Rufforth snatched the match for their visitors - their first win.

Division five's Cawood also opened their account when pipping York 3.

David Lloyd 2 were knocked off the top of division five by a rampaging Heworth, for whom Jason May and Nick Fullick top-scored with 3-24. Copmanthorpe 2 took only two pairs to Wilberfoss and division six runaway leaders Poppleton 3 enjoyed a 12-pointer at four-handed Wheldrake.

Wilberfoss 2 won the local derby at Sutton-on-Derwent 2, despite host captain Mark Pryce and Dave Nowell remaining unbowed with 2½-25. Sheriff Hutton stay in the hunt after a convincing dismissal of Boston Spa 2.

Ian Crowther and son Luke were both unbeatable for Cliffe in their division seven derby at Riccall. Cliffe stay third but within six points of second-placed Riccall and with a game in hand.

In division eight, Strensall menace the top two Racquets and Alne & Tollerton 1 with their fourth win in as many matches. They beat Dunnington 2 58-50. Bishopthorpe 2 claimed a first win at home to Alne & Tollerton 2. John Cragg helped Paul Lewis to an unbeaten 2½-21, matched exactly by youngsters Tom Myers and Sam Maxwell.

Harlow 2 also boasted two unbeaten pairs, scoring five points between them, but it was visiting New Earswick who took the win 59-49.