YORK singles champion Martin Lowe went down to his first defeat of the season in division one of the Northern Powergrid York and District Table Tennis League.

Lowe crashed 11-7 in the fourth game to Paul Robertson, of RI ‘A’, but it was not enough to prevent champions-elect Coneysthorpe ‘A’ registering a 6-4 win.

Division two leaders RI ‘C’ were grateful to Rich McCarthy as they had a great match with Bootham ‘B’, needing a doubles win for a narrow 6-4 success. They have a huge lead and look certain to be in division one next year.

RI ‘F’ will be going down to division three, as their relegation was confirmed as they lost 9-1 to RI ‘E. Ivan Guilliatt picked up the point for the losers, claiming the scalp of Dave Jackson in a shock win.

Shepherds ‘A’ veteran Keith Webster led his side to an 8-2 victory over relegation-threatened Bootham ‘D’.

Webster’s clash with opposing captain Dave Quinlan was an epic five-game contest and he edged it, before also guiding his side to a shock 8-2 win over a weakened RI ‘C’.

Tramways gave their hopes of surviving the drop to division three a boost by picking up valuable points in a draw with an illness hit Shepherds ‘C’. John Flintoft was the top player.

Bootham ‘C’ were dumped 7-3 by a below-strength Shepherds ‘B’, for whom Andy Fletcher and the resurgent Nathan Taylor excelled, and they were then held to a draw by RI ‘D’.

Jonathan Chabry was in fine form for the railwaymen, and Simon Prins picked up a superb win over Mike Cooper, before Bootham ‘C’ mopped up a 9-1 win over RI ‘F’.

Guilliatt again turned in a good performance, this time overcoming Richard Ingleby in a five-game affair.

A weakened RI ‘D’ gained another draw, holding second-placed RI ‘E’, who still look booked for a play-off to get into division one.

Shepherds ‘B’ maintained their march up the table with a decisive 7-3 win over Shepherds ‘C’, with Fletcher and Taylor again impressing.