DAVID Lloyd York 1 took a huge step towards retaining the Tyke Petroleum York Men’s Tennis League title with a narrow win over second-placed Wigginton 1.

The 62-46 victory leaves David Lloyd seven points clear at the top of division one - but with three games each left, both clubs are still in with a great chance of the championship.

Centrepiece of the David Lloyd victory was a 26-game return from first pair Dale Fawcett and Ben Crichton, the latter playing his first game of the season.

Third-placed David Lloyd Harrogate 1 beat second-bottom Racquets 1 in a Harrogate local derby, thanks in the main to two 24-game hauls from Rich Bancroft/Tom Collyer and Ed Appleyard/Oli White.

Relegation-threatened Racquets’ situation was compounded by third-bottom Copmanthorpe 1 scraping past basement side Sherburn 1 57-51.

Division two leaders Boston Spa 1 have a 16-point cushion at the top after convincingly beating second-placed Fulford 1 64-44. Matt and Steven Lewis starred for Boston with a solid 24-game total.

Wigginton 2 are still in with a chance of promotion, despite a 52-56 reverse away at Starbeck.

David Lloyd York 2 increased the pressure at the top with a narrow 55-53 victory at Rowntree Park 1, despite a sparkling 23 from the home side’s first pair of Paul Adams/Ian Macauley.

In a clash of the bottom two, Wetherby 1 inflicted a bruising 95-13 win over their visitors Poppleton 2. All three home pairs - Harry Full/Ollie Bowles-Park, Nigel Williams/Rich Whaley and Oli Newscombe/Mike Butterworth - scored in the thirties to keep Wetherby’s division two survival hopes alive and condemn Poppleton to division three.

Third-placed Wilberfoss 1 had an excellent 58-50 win over division three table-toppers Sutton-upon-Derwent 1. A consistent 22 from first pair James and Tim Hunt keeps Wilberfoss firmly in the promotion picture.

York 2 closed the gap on the leaders following their 63-45 victory at Harrogate Racquets 2, who remain in the thick of the relegation tussle.

Bubwith 1 leapfrogged opponents and fellow relegation candidates David Lloyd Harrogate 2 with a 66-42 win. All three pairs - Doug Smith/Liam Moore, Rob Jackson/Mark Harris and Alastair Southworth/Shaun Pinchbeck - scored in the twenties.

Appleton Roebuck 1 sealed Alne & Tollerton's relegation with a crushing 81-27 win.

l For the full report, see www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport.

A shock result in division four saw top side Wigginton 3 defeated 51-57 by bottom club Starbeck 2. Wigginton remain in pole position but the result keeps Starbeck’s survival hopes very much alive.

Second-placed Harrogate Spa 1 travelled to Strensall 1 and came away with the spoils, winning 59-49. The result cements the former’s second place and may have effectively put an end to Strensall’s promotion charge.

Ben Drummond/Neil Hawkins were a model of consistency for Rowntree Park 2, achieving nine games in each of their three rubbers. This helped defeat Copmanthorpe 2 64-44, heightening Cop’s relegation worries.

Division five saw top-placed York 3 host bottom club Appleton Roebuck 2. York emerged victorious 75-33, with 20-plus contributions from all three pairs - Bradley Austin/Jack Lewis, Chris Hughes/Andy Graham and Dean Brazenhall/James Hirst. The result strengthens York’s hold on the top spot and makes Roebuck’s relegation a mathematical certainty.

Promotion-seeking Heworth 1 came away from their trip to Riccall with a 65-43 victory, founded on a splendid 25 from first pair Nick Latcham/David Hicks. The result leaves their hosts embroiled in a tense relegation dogfight.

Fulford 2 entertained Rufforth in a relegation scrap but succumbed to a 38-70 defeat and fall five points behind their visitors.

Selby kept their promotion hopes alive with an excellent 67-41 away win at David Lloyd York 3, thanks in large measure to an imperious 28 from first pair Jack Wood/Daryl Young.

Sutton-upon-Derwent 2 had a fine 71-37 over visiting Bishopthorpe 1 in division six. The result eases Sutton’s relegation worries but condemns Bish to tier seven for next season.

The form book was turned upside down in division seven as Harrogate Spa 2 beat top-of-the-table Harlow in a thrilling Harrogate derby. Spa’s first two pairs - Martin Yates/Ian Charters and Mark Upton/Tom Barker each accumulated 23 games, while a solid 20 from Paul and Ben Toulman completed the comfortable victory.

In division eight, New Earswick could field only two pairs against the visiting Knaresborough 2. Their 81-28 win keeps Knaresborough’s promotion hopes alive.