POPPLETON kept the champagne on ice after seeing their wait to be crowned Tyke Petroleum Men’s Tennis League champions extended by David Lloyd.

Having already been the only team to defeat Popp this season, David Lloyd fielded their strongest side to complete the double

Sean Evans and Dale Fawcett dropped just half a point to Liam Earnshaw and Popp captain Nick Turnbull, who again finished unbeaten.

The final result still left Popp needing five points to secure the title.

In division one, Copmanthorpe were relegated following defeat at The Academy.

But revenges was exacted by Cop II, who claimed the division four title after defeating their Academy counterarts with Jonny Kay partnering Piers Forster to 2-19.

Paul Blackett and John Moore breezed to 3-26 for York to help defeat Rowntrees in a result which ensured both teams avoid the drop to division two.

Racquets have won promotion back to the top-flight, but only after hanging on at home to strugglers Sutton-on-Derwent.

With Zak and Louis Los at third pair, Sutton stormed a 24-12 final round for a remarkable draw.

Three good pairs, topped by a captain’s performance of 3-28 at Appleton Roebuck by Govind Baker with Arran Tate, kept Fulford in with a shout of promotion, if not the champions’ trophy.

Captain Stephen Duree and Imran Jehangiri top-scored with 3-30 as dark-horses Sherburn saw off Knaresborough to move to within eight points of the division three trophy, with a match in hand over the leaders.

Knaresborough face a tough derby at Boston Spa in their final match, to avoid their third relegation in successive seasons.

A fantastic 23-13 final round stole Starbeck II an unlikely win at Wigginton II to boost their chances of avoiding the drop.

A team performance got all three ’Beck pairs into the points and, with a match in hand, they are well-placed to stay in division three.

Wigginton III got revenge for the club and now have a good chance of staying in division four after defeating Starbeck III.

Andy Galloway and Jon Alexander won a maximum 24 games for Wiggy.

Appleton Roebuck II edged a topsy-turvy match at Rufforth to keep their division four hopes alive, despite a tremendous debut by the latter’s Ros White.

Seven division five teams are still threatened by relegation.

Boston Spa II surprisingly battered neighbours Wetherby II to give themselves every chance of survival.

Captain Ralph Grote and Stuart Kerr led the rout with 3-23.

Neil Hawkins and Ben Drummond did likewise for Alne & Tollerton to offer hope for the division eight champions and plunge opponents York III into danger.

Riccall’s Andrew Dunning and Steve Capewell shone to remain unbeaten at champions Wilberfoss with 2-19.

With a final round 23-13, Wheldrake earned a thrilling draw at York IV - a result that, nevertheless, condemned the former to relegation, where they will also join David Lloyd IV in division eight next year.

York IV have signed off, setting a target of 89 points for a division six place, which they are likely to surrender before the end of the campaign.

John Huffington and John Rennison, with 3-28, cracked tough nuts Wigginton IV to keep alive Wilberfoss II’s hopes of a division five start next year.

Selby ended the campaign by overcoming division seven’s Sheriff Hutton to post a fingers-crossed total of 99 points.

Captain Colin Fone and Daryl Young aced 3-28 for Selby.

Wigginton IV, meanwhile, did not lose a single rubber at Heworth II in the scramble for division seven tennis next year. Phil Anderson and Neil Storey claimed 3-26.