The Division Four title race looks set to be the closest of all in the Bradford Table Tennis League, with the top three teams taking it in turns to lead the way.

Only three points separate Rastrick, Laisterdyke B and Hermits G, with every set proving crucial in the one-point-per-set format.

Laisterdyke must have thought they would start the new year in pole position following a 9-1 victory at Baildon B.

Mukhtar Khan and Mohammed Murtaza were both unbeaten, while Azim Afzal added two wins – but Rastrick responded in a tougher encounter against fourth-placed Hermits H.

Mick Whitham, Ronnie Maystone and Brian Banks swept aside the Hermits challenge for a 10-0 success which gave their team a one-point lead at the summit.

Division Two is proving to be the draw division in the league, with almost a quarter of the fixtures played ending all square.

Unity D and Fastbats B was the latest contest to finish even after another tight encounter.

Fastbats led 4-2 as Greg Hill took two points, while Keith Smith and Helen Shields won one each. But Dave Mitton was the saviour for Unity with three wins, including an 11-6 fifth-game verdict against Hill.

Adrian Worth pipped Smith 15-13 in the deciding game and Unity took the doubles as Mitton and Jonathan Greaves edged Hill and Smith 11-8 in the final game.

Bradford League, Division One: Unity B 0, Dewsbury Sedbergh 10; Highdale A 10, Fastbats A 0. Division Two: Unity D 5, Fastbats B 5; Hermits B 10, Unity C 0. Division Three: Unity E 8, Hermits D 2; Fastbats C 1, Hermits E 9. Division Four: Pudsey B 10, Laisterdyke C 0; Hermits F 7, Fastbats D 3; Baildon B 1, Laisterdyke B 9; Rastrick 10, Hermits H 0. Division Five: Hermits I 10, Hermits K 0; Hermits L 7, Unity F 3; Thornbury 8, Hermits J 2; Baildon D 7, Fastbats E 3.

Yorkshire League, Division One: Leeds-1 9, Bradford-1 1; Dewsbury-2 4, Bradford-1 6; Hull-1 9, Bradford-1 1.