Poppleton, Fulford and Dunnington all got off to winning starts in the new Fulford Ladies Invitation Tennis League division one campaign.

Fulford edged out Tadcaster 61-47 in a close match in which no couple won all three rubbers.

Fulford's number one pair Julie Reilly and Jill McCreedy were top scorers, winning 24 games.

Poppleton beat newly-promoted Bubwith 66-42. Rosie Cantrell and Sue Peach top scored with 24 wins followed by Jill Schofield and Liz Bramley with 23.

Dunnington won 62-46 at another promoted team, Bishopthorpe.

Denise Bolam and Suzie Booth were the only couple to win all three rubbers. Andrene Watson and Chris Smith won 21 games to be top scorers for Bishopthorpe.

In division two, Strensall met a strong Castlegarth team and went down 71-37.

Kate Durkin and Sylvia won 28 games and all their three rounds while Alison Tattersall and Kath Biswell were top scorers for Strensall.

York beat Wheldrake 59-49, aided by Carmel Parry and Catherine Smithard who won 24 games.

Cawood had the edge over Appleton Roebuck who are looking to bounce straight back to division one. Cawood's Anne Talbot and Georgina Worley won 9-3 8-4 10-2 to top score with 27 wins.

Newly-promoted Rowntree Park beat Selby 61-47. Jean Jarem and Sandra Robinson were the only couple to win all their three rubbers, collecting 24 games.

Tollerton's Jean Thompson and Sandra Jennings were on top form to record 10-2 9-3 and 11-1 victories in a 71-37 win over Poppleton.

New Earswick had a 66-42 home win over Dunnington, Chantel Lancaster and Cath Jackson winning 27 games to finish unbeaten and Sandra Burley and Hattie Griffin unbeaten with 24 games.

Wigginton needed the experience of Ann Mead and Val Renshaw to help them win 57-51 at Civil Service. Civil's Wendy Catchpole and Jackie Ritchie won all three.

Cliffe won 62-46 against Wistow and 60-48 against Poppleton, Shirley Leak and Mary Pepper standing out in the first game.

In division four, Ellie Batty and Sandra Meads won 23 games to top score for Sheriff Hutton in their 57-51 defeat at home to Fulford, for whom Jean Haw and Anne Appleton won 21 games.

Riccall beat Poppleton 77-31 without losing a single rubber. Margaret Stanford and Carol Hearn recorded the first 12-0 of the season.

Dunnington just egded a 55-53 victory at Sutton upon Derwent, Jean Yates and Rena Boreman remaining unbeaten for the winners.

Wheldrake hung on to win 56-52 at Bishopthorpe in division five.

Newcomers Pocklington got off to a good start with the biggest win in all divisions, 89-19 at Selby. Christel Hetherton and Louise Kettlewell top scored, winning 31 games.

Appleton Roebuck and Knaresborough drew 54-54 while Wheldrake just overcame Bishopthorpe in another tight match 56-52.

Updated: 11:45 Tuesday, May 15, 2001