HERMITS J kept within touching distance of Division Four leaders Baildon B in the Bradford League – but were given an almighty scare in their derby against Hermits K as they looked to maintain their 100 per cent record.

The K team were not there just to make up the numbers and powered into a 4-2 lead, with Joseph Healey and Michael Butler winning two each to rock the J team onto their heels.

Brian Cooper is normally a reliable figure for Hermits J but he lost his first two singles before beginning their comeback with a win over Eric Rhodes.

Then it was the turn of long-time team-mates John Margerison and Stuart Stead to continue the recovery, with Margerison stopping Healey in straight games before Stead gained a 3-1 verdict against Butler to give the J team the lead for the first time.

They opted for a doubles combination of Stead and Cooper and the choice paid off as they were 3-1 winners against Healey and Butler to give a relieved Hermits J a 6-4 success.

There is also a Hermits-Baildon battle at the top of Division Three but a weakened Baildon A team lost ground on leaders Hermits G as they went down to Hermits H.

Norman Swift rolled back the years for Hermits with a treble and although Peter Warner won twice for Baildon, it proved in vain as Geoff Parkes won two and Roger Swithenbank one as Hermits H did their clubmates a favour with a 7-3 victory.

Division One: Yeadon A 4 Dewsbury Tog B 6, Embassy Police A 7 Embassy Police B 3, Hermits B 1 Highdale A 9. Division Two: Fastbats B 1 Hermits C 9, Hermits D 4 Highdale B 6, Hermits C 7 Hermits E 3. Division Three: Hermits F 4 Pudsey B 6, Baildon A 3 Hermits H 7, Rastrick 10 Unity B 0. Division Four: Baildon C 10 Baildon D 0, Hermits K 4 Thornbury 6, Baildon C 10 Hermits M 0, Hermits J 6 Hermits K 4, Thornbury 3 Baildon B 7.

* THE Bradford Closed Championships will take place on Sunday, December 4 at Keighley Table Tennis Centre.