9:50am Tuesday 30th June 2009
THE title battle in division one of the Tyke Petroleum Men’s Tennis League is no longer a two-horse race.
Leaders Dunnington crumbled to a 69-39 defeat at champions Bubwith, who did not lose a rubber.
Second-placed Fulford were hit by a revitalised Poppleton side, who pulled off an unexpected 67-41 victory. John Moore and Mike Binns scored a staggering 28 against the title favourites.
Rowntree Park defeated York 67-41 to move within two points of the leaders with a game in hand. Paul Adams and Kevin Davison won an impressive 22 games.
Knaresborough finally broke their duck in division two, with a thrilling draw against Wigginton.
David Lloyd still lead the way with an eight-match 100 per cent record.
The bottom four sides played the top four in division three and the top four all won.
Pocklington still lead after 28 games from Jim Bloom and Darren Nicholson-Smith were the highlight of a 74-34 win over Dunnington.
Despite John Heads and Danny Burke scoring more than half their games, Wilberfoss’ revival came to an end with a 61-47 defeat by in-form Sutton-on-Derwent.
Tim Hunt and Tony Downing’s mammoth 29 games earned Stamford Bridge a win at Appleton Roebuck.
York 2 stay fourth after a remarkable match at Civil Service in which captain Bob Audsley and Neil Giltrap arrested a catastrophic collapse by the visitors.
In division four, Bishopthorpe won their first match of the season, beating two-pair Sheriff Hutton 93-15.
Boston Spa 2 reclaimed top spot with a defeat of title challengers Castlegarth 2, while Rufforth faltered with a draw at home to Alne & Tollerton, for whom Phil Tomlinson and Howard Thompson battled to 26 games.
Terry Haw and Josh Beavers won all three rubbers – 23 games – for Fulford 2 at Starbeck 2 in division five but still ended up on the losing side.
Heworth came from behind to beat Bubwith 2 57-51 and clinch only their second victory of the season.
Copmanthorpe 2 extended their lead after a win at home to bottom club York 3.
The promoted teams are faring well in division six, with Rowntree Park and Cliffe both winning comfortably again.
Civil Service 2 ran amok at below-par Wigginton 3 to win 97-11, with Steve Gagen and Gavin Orrey scoring 34, along with captain John Coop and Richard McLaren.
In division seven, Riccall held on for a vital win against Bishopthorpe 2, despite a supreme effort from Kelvin Riches and Jason Levesley who scored 24 games.
York 4 got a vital win against rivals David Lloyd 2 to go three points clear in second place behind leaders Wheldrake.
Dunnington 3rds beat Pocklington 2nds 66-42, with 26 games notched by Rob Rhodes and James Goodwin.
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