IAN Warner has been a model of consistency for Hermits D in Division 2A of the Bradford League this season.

Not only has he played in every one of their 23 matches, his reliability on the table has enabled Hermits to have the title in their sights.

Hermits recorded win number 22 against third-placed Highdale B – and once again Warner was their talisman.

Gary Foster was in fine form for Highdale, winning his first two singles, but the champions elect were still 5-2 ahead when unbeaten Warner clinched the match with a 3-0 verdict over Foster to take his tally for the season to 65 wins from 69 sets.

Hermits were 7-3 victors and now have a 21-point lead over Fastbats A with two matches left, needing just three more sets to become champions.

There was a great finish in the Division 1A clash between Unity A and Hermits A.

The match was nicely poised at 4-4, with Ian Gomersal and Phil Cawser taking two each for Unity while Sam Clayton won three for Hermits and Martin Bowers added a single.

In the last singles, Matthew Shaw put Hermits 5-4 up as he pipped Neil Harris 14-12 in the fifth game – but honours finished even as Cawser and Harris overcame Clayton and Bowers 12-10 in the deciding game for a 5-5 outcome.

Results – Division 1A: Unity A 5 Hermits A 5, Dewsbury Tog 5 Yeadon A 5. Division 1B: Unity C 0 Unity B 10, Hermits B 7 Pudsey B 3. Division 2A: Unity D 6 Fastbats B 4, Embassy Police C 9 Unity D 1, Fastbats B 4 Fastbats A 6, Hermits D 7 Highdale B 3. Division 2B: Pudsey B 3 Hermits I 7, Hermits F 2 Hermits H 8, Rastrick 0 Hermits G 10. Division 3A: Hermits K 7 Unity E 3, Baildon A 8 Baildon C 2. Division 3B: Fastbats D 0 Hermits N 10, Hermits L 6 Baildon D 4, Thornbury 4 Hermits M 6.