THE Hermits teams in Division 1B of the Bradford Table Tennis League are on course for a private title battle as the season enters its final quarter.

Hermits B took over in top spot after beating bottom side Fastbats B.

The Hermits trio of Shamir Bose, Ian Warner and Andy Braithwaite raced into a 5-0 lead and, although Fastbats rallied as Greg Hill won two and Helen Shields one, Hermits finished strongly, with Warner taking the last singles and the doubles with Bose for a 7-3 success.

Hermits A, meanwhile, made it five defeats in a row for former leaders Unity B.

Matthew Shaw was missing for Hermits but Marcus Reynolds and Sarfraz Khan rose to the occasion and were both unbeaten in a 6-4 victory.

Hermits A are now just four points behind their clubmates with a game in hand and they look set for a one-two finish.

RESULTS – Division 1A: Dewsbury Tog 7, Unity A 3; Yeadon A 9, Dewsbury Tog 1; Embassy Police A 8, Highdale A 2; Dewsbury

Sedbergh 10, Yeadon A 0. Division 1B: Unity B 4, Hermits A 6; Fastbats B 3, Hermits B 7. Division 2A: Unity D 2, Unity C 8; Yeadon B 7, Embassy Police C 3. Division 2B: Hermits E 5, Hermits F 5. Division 3A: Pudsey B 7, Hermits H 3; Thornbury 7, Unity E 3; Fastbats D 4, Hermits I 6. Division 3B: Hermits J 9, Hermits L 1; Baildon D 8, Hermits K 2; Fastbats E 4, Baildon C 6.