APPLETON Roebuck missed out on the title but are still celebrating promotion from the Tykes Petroleum Men's Tennis League third division.

Tom Shouksmith’s side needed eight points against a full-strength Sherburn to pip David Lloyd 2 to the silverware but could only manage 5½.

Sherburn had also been chasing the nine points they needed to win promotion and fell 2½ points short of that target.

A see-saw contest saw the two teams battling to a 54-54 draw - with neither attaining their main goal.

Rob Jones scored 3-25 with captain Shouksmith to ensure that Appleton were at least elevated to division two as runners-up.

The result also means that David Lloyd 2 are 2016 division three champions.

Racquets vowed to bounce back after being relegated from division one.

Defeat at home to local rivals Academy ensured that Racquets finished next to bottom of the table.

Mat Parry and Adam Rider were on top form with 3-29 for Academy who have adjusted well to York’s top flight.

In division two, Wigginton 2 went out with a bang. Needing all 12 points to avoid the drop, they won all but three at home to the division’s former front-runners Bubwith. Matt Waudby and Chris Cheeseman took three points from just 22 games won for Wiggy.

In division four, Racquets 2 finally pulled out all the stops, defeating both their relegation rivals by a similar score to avoid dropping back into the bottom tier.

Adrian Walker won six precious points and 52 games over the course of their last two matches, partnering captain Graham Wild and Jack London.

Bishopthorpe tempted Rob Williams out of men’s league ‘retirement’ to help gather the 2½ points they needed to avoid the plunge.

Appleton Roebuck 2 finished third bottom of division four and will drop into division six next year.

“We’re better off staying in this division,” announced Copmanthorpe 2 captain Dave Dearing after finishing runners-up in division four.

“It makes it easier for us to introduce younger players to the men’s competition,” he added.

Copmanthorpe 2 signed off with a seven point winning margin at home to Fulford 2. Rob Abbott and Mark Blackburn were the day’s joint top-guns with 3-30.