POCKLINGTON 2 were denied the division three title in the Fulford Ladies Invitation Tennis League as back-to-back defeats to Starbeck handed their rivals the title.

Starbeck won 77-31 at Pocklington, with Becci Jones and Lynne Garne teaming up to take 28 games, and they repeated the feat the following week with captain Diana Lang and Ali Wales top-scoring with 25 games.

Riccall’s survival hopes were dealt a blow as they lost to Rowntree Park and Boston Spa 2.

It is still possible for them to escape relegation after Boston Spa 2 were beaten by already relegated Poppleton 2 after they were docked games for fielding an ineligible player.

Rowntree Park’s win takes them up to third in the table with matches still to play.

Bishopthorpe 3 have been crowned champions of division six after Stamford Bridge fell to Appleton Roebuck 2 in a close match.

Roebuck’s third couple, Jo Illingworth and Mary Jane Murray, won 16 games and that proved decisive in confirming a top-four finish.

A last-gasp win for Cawood secured their survival in division five.

All three couples scored heavily but Lorraine Bishop and Ruby Anderson led from the front with 30 games.

The win leapfrogged them over Sheriff Hutton, who were relegated alongside Bubwith. Copmanthorpe 3 completed the fifth tier fixtures by beating Dunnington 3 56-52, with Claire Fuller and Lynda Withers notching 24 games.

There is now only one match remaining in division one after David Lloyd 1 completed their inaugural season in the top flight with a crushing win over Fulford 1, who were only able to field four players and were then further hampered by injury.

In division two, Copmanthorpe 1 are still battling for survival after they narrowly beat relegated Wigginton 1 55-53 thanks to 26 games from Julie Wood and Maggie Zhang.

They now need a victory against champions Pocklington 1 to avoid the drop.

Elsewhere, Castlegarth 2 continued their rise up the table with a win over Fulford 2 59-49.