THE division one title race in the York & District Table Tennis League was thrown wide open as second-placed York RI ‘A’ inflicted the first defeat of the season on leaders Coneysthorpe ‘A’.

The 7-3 victory for RI reduced Coneysthorpe’s lead at the top to only five points.

Martin Lowe was undefeated for the losers, while Mick Wilcockson, Filip Wojtkowiak and Paul Robertson all contributed two wins for the victors.

Robertson went agonisingly close to defeating York number one Lowe before losing 12-10 in the fifth.

Coneysthorpe ‘B’ remain in third place, after a close 6-4 win over Holgate ‘A’.

Aidan Ranftler picked up three wins for the losers, including an excellent win over in-form James Rule.

Nathan Horsley and Richard Crowther led York RI ‘B’ to a 9-1 triumph over York RI ‘C’ and Jimmy Mills was in top form for Bootham ‘A’, his three wins being key in a tight 6-4 victory over University ‘A’.

Division two leaders Holgate ‘B’ showed no mercy in a 10-0 whitewashing of bottom placed Shepherds ‘D’.

Second-placed Shepherds ‘A’ thrashed York RI ‘E’ 9-1, thanks to Andy Fletcher and Nathan Taylor, both of whom beat the highly rated Sam Imbo. Bootham ‘D’ and Tramways fought out a tense 5-5 draw, with Mike Robinson unbeaten for Tramways.

York RI ‘D’ smashed Holgate ‘C’ 9-1 with youngster Matt Roberts and the experienced Pat Swindell each claiming trebles.

Dave Rawlings was the star in a 7-3 victory for Bootham ‘C’ against Shepherds ‘C’.

In division three, University ‘B’ had an important 8-2 victory against Bootham ‘E’, although the cause of the losers was not helped as injury forced the retirement of their top player, Pete Corner. Thornton-le-Clay remain in strong contention after Alan Balmforth and Neil Lynch steered them to a convincing 8-2 triumph over BT ‘B’.

RI ‘F’ kept up the pressure with a 10-0 whitewashing of their ‘G’ team.

Despite the efforts of Richard Collyer, Burnholme ‘B’ picked up welcome points in a 6-4 victory over Bootham ‘F’ while Holgate ‘D’ and BT ‘A’ shared the points in a 5-5 draw.

Burnholme ‘B’ remain on top of division four with a 10-0 thumping of Crescent ‘F’ and York RI ‘H’ maintained their promotion challenge as Paul Greenwood and veteran John Stokes led them to a 9-1 thrashing of York RI ‘I’.

Mark Godliman was too good for new boys Haxby & Wigginton, his treble helping Trustmarque to an 8-2 victory.

Steve Taylor was unbeaten for Crescent ‘G’ in a 5-5 draw with Bootham ‘G’.