Table tennis: Iron Mike sends RI ace Chabry to rare defeat

It was a fast, high quality encounter, with Robinson, unbeaten on the night, winning 13-11 in the dramatic final game.

His display helped to ensure a 6-4 win for his side, to follow up an earlier Dave Hough-inspired 8-2 win over RI ‘F’, and eased their relegation worries.

Shepherds ‘B’ picked up a surprise 8-2 victory over a depleted two-man Shepherds ‘A’ team in their battle to avoid the drop to division three. It was then followed by another win, 7-3, over fellow strugglers Bootham ‘D’, where Andy Fletcher and Nathan Taylor starred.

Division one leaders Coneysthorpe ‘A’ were given a fright by University ‘A’, coming through narrowly 6-4, as Martin Lowe retained his unbeaten record. Anders Hammarback picked up two fine wins for the losers.

Third-placed Shepherds ‘C’ dropped three points to two-man bottom side RI ‘F’, for whom teenager Matt Roberts collected two excellent wins, and Dom Ainger surprised John Eastwood.

Division three leaders Shepherds ‘D’ posted a 7-3 success over RI ‘G’, Chris Hutchinson and Paul Kozyra playing well.

Bob Young confirmed his status as the division’s top player as Holgate ‘C’ kept up the chase in second spot after a narrow win over BT ‘B’.

Simona Stanynaite sparkled for University ‘B’, winning her sets in straight games as the students edged out Bootham ‘E’, who bounced back as Matt Ayres starred in a draw at BT ‘A’.

Holgate ‘D’ shaded the bottom of the table clash with Aviva ‘A’, but both sides remain in relegation trouble. Howard Lewis was the top player as Aviva ‘A’ beat RI ‘H’ 8-2.

Aviva ‘B’ kept their division four promotion hopes alive after a close encounter with Holgate ‘E’, while there was a notable 6-4 success for a two-man Trustmarque team over RI ‘I’, thanks to a maximum haul from Dom McHugh.

Pete Waring, Keith Hood and Tom Lines excelled to secure a Holgate ‘E’ whitewash of RI ‘K’.