Fulford 2 bounced back from a heavy home defeat against Heworth by narrowly winning the return fixture to top a volatile division five in the Tyke Petroleum Men’s Tennis League, writes Ian Hillman.

Josh Beavers, in a rare appearance outside division one, partnered Patrick Herriott to a maximum haul, including a 7-5 defeat of Heworth’s top duo Ollie Hicks and Nick Latcham. Fulford’s 7½-4½ win moved them a point clear of David Lloyd 2, but fewer than five points separate the top four teams.

The only match in the top flight saw Wetherby move a step closer to safety after scooping seven precious points in an extraordinary match at Dunnington. Starting the brighter, Wetherby took 4½ points and 42 games from the first two rounds, only for the hosts to storm back with a 2-24 return to tie the match 54-54. Roger Fawcuss and David Corbyn were unbeaten for Wetherby with 2½-21.

There was steely determination from York 2 in division two. They won five rubbers 7-5, drew a sixth and took the remainder for a massive 11½ points from only 66 games won at Sutton-on-Derwent.

They swap places with their hosts, who drop to fourth. In division four, Starbeck 2 have nearly 30 points of promotion insurance after comprehensively defeating third-placed Rufforth. Tom Hendry and Chris Noddings were on form for the Harrogate hosts with 3-27.

Cawood’s Chris Abbott and Graham Bond battled hard for a maximum 3-22 games at home to Poppleton 3, which helped their side to four points despite them only fielding two pairs. Heworth 2 have given themselves an outside shot at promotion from division six after a demolition of out-of-sorts Wigginton 3. Loch Trimingham and Mike Boothman were unbeaten with 2½-26 for Heworth.

Wetherby 2’s 11-point trouncing of Wigginton 4 gave them a one-point lead over Harrogate Racquets at the top of division eight. The week’s top scorers were Mike Connolly and Nick Lumb with 3-31. Wetherby 2 and Racquets have been promoted.