HOLGATE ‘A’ were 7-3 victors over Railway ‘B’ in division one of the NEDL York and District Table Tennis League.

Holgate were grateful to contributions from John Farmery and Graham Hatfield, although Hatfield won two of his sets by the narrowest of margins.

Railway ‘C’ are in second place in division two after an 8-2 defeat of Holgate ‘E’, with the losers taking four of the sets to five games but losing all of them.

Rich McCarthy and Pat Swindell were unbeaten.

Holgate ‘E’ had earlier lost 7-3 to Bootham ‘B’, for whom Gareth Bryning and Jim Mills were undefeated.

George Morrison was unbeaten as BT ‘A’ moved away from the relegation places with a vital 6-4 success over fellow strugglers Shepherds ‘B’.

Shepherds gave themselves a good chance of staying up with a 7-3 win over two-man Sessions ‘B’, who are now bottom.

Holgate ‘D’ edged out Holgate ‘C’ 6-4.

There is a terrific battle at the top of division three with leaders NEDL/Bootham thumping Shepherds ‘C’ 8-2, with Alan Wren and Nigel Reeson undefeated.

However, second-placed Bootham ‘C’ beat the same two-man opposition 9-1 to close the gap.

Bootham ‘D’ swept aside Sessions ‘C’ 10-0, with John Lloyd, Matt Ayres and Richard Collyer successful.

Norwich Union ‘A’ thumped Railway ‘H’ 9-1 to go top of division four.

Divisional champion Matt Graham and Adrian Church were undefeated.

Railway ‘H’ picked up a notable 8-2 win over two-man Holgate ‘G’, who had earlier beaten Railway ‘E’ 6-4 with Mike Belton unbeaten.

Jeff Brown led Railway ‘F’ to a 6-4 win over Railway ‘G’.

Howard Lewis included a victory over Ray Holroyd, who is second in the averages, in his three singles wins as Norwich Union ‘B’ won 7-3 at Hartrigg Oaks.

• Don’t miss our Park Life supplement, free with The Press today, for pictures from the junior section of the York Closed Table Tennis Championship.

The tournament included a new junior doubles category, with youngsters playing for the Betty Norman Trophy, sponsored by Sainsbury’s.